Simpson, Epling earn gold medals at state wrestling tournaments Burns Sports Burns Wrestling Crane Sports Crane Wrestling Sports February 21, 2018February 22, 20180 Top: Evan Gunderson puts in a cradle in his first-round match. Bottom: Kyran Simpson of Burns placed first in the 3A 138-pound division. (Photos by LINDY WILLIAMS) The Burns Hilanders’ Kyran Simpson brought home the gold medal from the OSAA 3A State Wrestling Tournament held Feb. 16-17 in Portland. Simpson won three of his four matches by fall on his way to winning the 138-pound weight class. The Hilanders’ Evan Gunderson placed second at 153 pounds, Trace Prosser (182) placed fifth, and Justin Winn (113) and Dawson Williams (138) finished sixth. Burns placed seventh in the team standings with 92 points. The team title went to Willamina/Falls City with 181.5 points, followed by Nyssa with 161, and Glide with 130. Match results for the Hilanders are as follows: 106 — Devin Dickie won by fall, 3:52; lost by fall, 0:55; won by major decision, 8-0; lost by fall, 0:22. 113 — J. Winn won by fall, 0:38; won by fall, 5:43; lost by injury default, 5:21; lost by medical forfeit; lost by medical forfeit. Crane’s Elijah Epling (right) won the 2A/1A 170-pound weight class. 132 — Sebastian Johnson received a bye; lost by decision, 5-1; lost by fall, 5:40. 138 — Simpson won by fall, 1:49; won by fall, 0:34; won by decision, 8-5; won by fall, 3:00. 138 — Williams lost by tech fall, 19-4; received a bye; won by fall, 2:56; won by fall, 3:38; lost by fall, 2:03; lost by fall, 2:39. 152 — E. Gunderson won by fall, 2:55; won by decision, 9-2; won by decision, 6-2; lost by decision, 6-2. 160 — Harlan Gunderson won by fall, 3:06; lost by tech fall, 17-2; lost by fall, 4:51. 170 — Mick Winn received a bye; lost by tech fall, 21-3; won by major decision, 11-2; lost by fall, 1:37. 182 — Prosser won by fall, 0:42; won by decision, 6-2; lost by fall, 0:56; lost by fall, 3:36; won by decision, 6-4. ••• The Crane wrestling team only sent three wrestlers to the OSAA 2A/1A State Wrestling Tournament held Feb. 16-17 in Portland, but two of the three returned home with individual medals around their necks. Elijah Epling was awarded the gold medal after winning the 170-pound weight class, and Cache Campbell overcame a first-round loss to place third at 138 pounds. Crane placed 10th as a team with 33 points. Culver won the 2A/1A team trophy by scoring 201.5 points to easily outdistance second-place Central Linn with 104 points. Match results for the Mustangs are as follows: 138 — Campbell lost by major decision, 12-0; won by decision, 7-2; won by decision, 10-5; won by fall, 0:52. 152 — Jay Jay Balowski lost by fall, 5:41; lost by fall, 0:48. 170 — Epling won by fall, 3:45; won by fall, 1:45; won by decision, 7-5.