Clint Powers is strong and healthy again.
He is a wrestling champion again, as well.
Powers, a senior at Skyview who won Clark County, district, and regional championships as a sophomore, has returned from an injury-ravaged junior season to stand atop another impressive podium.
Powers beat Brandon Romaine of Canby, Ore., in the 130-pound finals Thursday night at the Pacific Coast Wrestling Championships at Hudson’s Bay High School.
Winning this event, featuring 32 teams from three states, has special meaning for Powers. It was here last season, after finishing second, he decided to have season-ending surgery on his shoulder.
“I worked really hard to come back. I’m still not at the top of my game, but this feels really good,” Powers said.
Powers and Dillon Thomas of Union won championships for Clark County.
Michael Nguyen of Evergreen, wrestling at 112 rather than his usual 103 pounds, finished second. Max Proudfit of Union, at 285 pounds, also took second place.
Oregon City’s Jared Groner pinned Proudfit in the finals. Turned out that was a huge match for the team championship. The Pioneers totalled 142, with Tumwater finishing second at 138, Canby third at 135.5, and Union finishing fourth at 134.
Union had six placers to finish the best among the Clark County entrants.
Thomas did not make it past the first day of this tournament last season. He called this the biggest tournament victory of his career, although he doesn’t pay too much attention to the prestige of one event or another.
“I just come to wrestle. I don’t care which tournament it is,” he said with a smile.
He credited the coaching of former Clark County great Kyle Bounds — who is helping out with Union this season — for turning Thomas from first-day elimination into the champion in 12 months. Bounds won three state championships for Columbia River before excelling in college. Thomas beat Nehemiah Salo of Klahowya 8-3 in the 171-pound finals.
“I just had to get out there with aggression,” Thomas said. “I had to get into him, the intimidation factor.”
Thomas led 4-0 early, but Salo got a reversal and had Thomas in a bad spot for a split second.
“He had one move that got everyone today,” Thomas said. “I had to protect against that. I had to get up quick.”
Thomas got a reversal just seconds later for a 6-1 lead and the match was his.
Powers had an easier match against Romaine, rolling to a 12-4 decision.
Now, Powers has a decision to make. He actually missed weight for the first time in his career and wrestled up at 130 pounds.
“I’m going to have to figure out the weight class I think is best for me,” Powers said. “I’m told it will be my decision, but it’s tough.”
He looked unstoppable Thursday night, but he said he knows he is far from his potential.
“I knew it was my day, but it’s not my time,” Powers said. “The time will come when I put everything together.”
Nguyen also wrestled up, weighing in at 110 pounds and entering the 112 class. He was trailing by three in the third period, had to try to make something happen, then found more trouble. Daniel Page of Tumwater got him 8-0.
“I’m disappointed, but I’d be a lot more disappointed if I’d lost at 103,” Nguyen said. “I thought I could have done better.”
Matthew Nguyen, Michael’s twin brother, is Evergreen’s 112-pounder, and Michael had to get one last shot of brotherly love toward Matthew, who finished third.
“It does have its benefits,” Michael said. “Now I get to say I placed higher than Matthew at his own weight.”
Of course, Matthew can say he only lost by two points to Page in the semifinals. So that family battle will continue.
Evergreen was the next best Clark County team, finishing 17th with five placers.
The next big high school tournament in the region is the Clark County championships Jan. 14-15 at Skyview High School.
All four of the county finalists from this tournament will be favored to advance to the finals at Clark County. Leading the way will be a wrestler who was not able to defend his title last season.
Clint Powers is back.
