By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.–  For most freshman, the idea of competing well at state or even districts is just an after-thought.

For most, they’re trying to grow accustomed to the grueling grind of High School athletics with the speed, the strength of the competition, etc.

In wrestling, you may be on the Novice team, maybe the Junior Varsity squad.  Maybe even see a Varsity match or two later on in the season, depending on your team’s needs.

As for North Salem’s Ian Carlos, he surpassed all of those steps.

The freshman didn’t just compete at the Varsity level, but he succeeded as well.  Carlos finished second at Districts and was one controversial call away from forcing overtime in the 126 State Title match and finished his freshman campaign with a 27-2 record.

“It’s pretty fun you know, just coming to High School and already competing at state and in the finals it’s good experience,” Carlos described his journey to this point.

Leading up to his District run, Carlos suffered a back injury that knocked him out for a couple of weeks and had two days worth of practice leading into the district tournament.

“At districts I had a back injury before that, I came into the match a little hesitate, I wasn’t really myself,” Carlos said.  “I was out for a good four weeks, then I went two days of practice and wrestled districts.  So that kind of messed up my game you know.  I wasn’t 100 percent.  So it was a little more challenging.”

But he battled through the injury.

An 11-0 Major Decision on Sprague’s Brody Stone, followed by a first round pin of McNary’s David Allen in 42 seconds.

To get into the finals he pinned Jose Lucas Lucas of Forest Grove in 2:29 before losing a tough 4-3 decisions to the Vikings Matthew Johnson to finish District Runner-Up.

But with the two weeks in between Districts and State, it allowed the freshman phemon to take some time to heal up so he can make a push for that State Title.

“I got a lot of rest. I didn’t practice much, I did what I could do,” said Carlos.  “If I felt my back going again I just took the rest of the day off.  I’d go ride the bike, walk on the treadmill or something, just to make sure my weight was ok.

“A lot of rest, a lot of icing.  Making sure my back was good and get ready for state.”

The thrill of the State Tournament.  The best of the best from all over the State.

Roseburg, Tigard, North Medford to name a few and the thrill of that competition drove Carlos to want to do great in the bracket.

“It was pretty exciting, to be wrestling with somebody that could be better than me or just as good as me.  It gives me a thrill,” he said.  “I like to wrestle good people; it’s what pumps me up for my match.  If I know you’re going to be good, I get really excited and I just go after it.”

After drawing a Bye in the first round, Carlos pinned Senior Cole Brouhard of Grants Pass in the second round.  Advance to the Quarterfinals with a win over David Douglas and shutout Simon Brown of Cleveland to reach the finals against Roseburg’s Bennett Mesa.

But, in the match against the junior from Roseburg, Carlos was called for stalling in a tied 2-all match that ultimately decided the State Title.

A questionable call described Carlos as he found himself in a difficult situation in-match.

“I wasn’t stalling to be honest.  I came in on the leg at the end and I tried coming up and he grabbed my arm and made it look like I was stalling but I’m stuck here, I couldn’t get my arm out and he’s trying to flee the mat.”

Though disappointed, Carlos holds his head up high.  Head Viking Coach Andy Pickett was impressed with how his freshman wrestler did in his first year in High School and first year at the varsity level.

“It’s weird, he doesn’t look like he’s pressured, he doesn’t get nervous, he’s not worried,” said Pickett.  “I don’t know what causes that, but I love it whatever it is.  Whatever it is I love it.  I don’t know why he’s been able to make a great transition; it’s probably all the youth wrestling he’s done.

“So when he goes out there to wrestle, whether it’s dual meets or the State Finals, it’s just another match to him.  You can tell that nerves don’t get to him as it does to some juniors and seniors.”

With Parrish Middle School and Houck Middle School wrestling on the basketball court and Carlos observing from the stands, he’s already looking towards his next big challenge in the Cultural Exchange Tournament in the coming weeks as he looks to carry his momentum into his sophomore year.

“It’s going to be pretty exciting,” he said on the tournament.  “If you win that I heard you get to go to Japan and compete over there.  Train with all their wrestlers, so it’ll be a good experience.”

An experience worth experiencing to say the least after an incredible freshman campaign.

Reflecting on this year however, he noticed that noticeable jump from middle school talent to high school title.  But in Carlos’ own particular way, it drives him to be better.

“It’s a lot different than wrestling kids, eighth-graders and middle schoolers,” he said.  “It’s a lot different in strength.  Big difference in speed, it’s a big jump from big kids level to high school and college level wrestling.

“Next year, going to make the best out of it. Do what I can, get that State Title.”

While most freshman are just getting accustomed to the high school experience, North Salem’s Ian Carlos has taken it to the next level in his first year in high school.

Jeremy McDonald is a professional sports journalist in the Salem/Portland area and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalist in Oregon with B.S. degrees from Southern Oregon University in Journalism (2011) and Health/PE (2013).  Got a story idea? Email him at jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com or on Twitter at @J_McDonald81