The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club honored McNary’s Max Blanco (Wrestling),West Salem’s Tommy Slack (Boys Basketball), West Salem’s Mia Piexoto (Girls Swimming), North Salem’s Icela Sanchez Rodriguez. (Girls Wrestling) and McNary’s Josh Friesen (Boys Wrestling). The SSBC also honored West Salem’s Reese Lawson, McNary’s Ali Martinez and North Salem’s Mariko Sonis for winning State Wrestling Titles.

The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Les Schwab Athlete of the Week, from McNary Wrestling, is Max Blanco.

Max is a junior for the Celts. At the OSAA 6A State Championship Tournament Max came in as the #1 seed at 106 pounds. He won his round of 16 match over West Linn by technical fall. He beat a West Salem rival by fall in 1:36 and then beat a wrestler from Glenco by technical fall to reach the finals where he beat the #2 seed from Mountainside by a 9-7 decision.

This is Max’ second Athlete of the Week award.

The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Les Schwab Athlete of the Week, from West Salem Boys Basketball, is Tommy Slack.

Tommy is a senior for the Titans who finished with a 17-9 season record and a 11-1 Central Valley Conference record, ultimately making it to the second round of the playoffs. Tommy came up big in the final two games of the regular season. In the 60-50 retribution win over McNary that sealed the first conference championship in ten years, he had a huge fourth quarter and finished with 18 points and 5 boards. He again scored 18 and pulled 5 boards in the 65-59 win over Sprague to wrap up the regular season. Tommy, a 3-year starter, led the team in scoring 2 of his 3 years and averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds this year.

This Tommy’s second Athlete of the Week award

Senior Athletes of the Year

The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Senior Athlete of the Year for Girls Swimming, from West Salem, is Mia Piexoto.

Mia swam in four events at the OSAA 6A State Swimming Championships. She was part of the 7th place girls 400 freestyle relay and the 4th place girls 200 freestyle relay. Individually she finished 9th in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:08.04.

Mia was a two-time Athlete of the Week for swimming.

Senior Athletes of the Year are sponsored by Gatti and Gatti Law Firm.

The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Senior Athlete of the Year for Girls Wrestling, from North Salem, is Icela Sanchez Rodriguez.

Icela wasn’t seeded in her bracket, but immediately upset the #2 seed from Forest Grove, in a 10-3 decision. She then beat a Tualatin wrestler with a 7-1 decision before facing West’s Reese Lawson in the final. Icela finished the season at 14-2.

Icela was a two-time Athlete of the Week.

Senior Athletes of the Year are sponsored by Gatti and Gatti Law Firm.

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The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Senior Athlete of the Year for Boys Wrestling, from McNary, is Josh Friesen.

Josh came into his bracket as the 3-seed and proceeded to win five matches, defeating a wrestler from Sheldon in the round of 16 by fall at 2:56. He then beat a Roosevelt wrestler by a 11-2 major decision. He won the state championship t he defeated Cougar Friesen (no relation) from Newberg by fall in 1:43.

Josh finished his season at 33-5.

He was previously honored as an Athlete of the Week.

Senior Athletes of the Year are sponsored by Gatti and Gatti Law Firm.