Newberg's Charlie Evans (right) finished first at 152 pounds in the 6A culminating week tournament. (Photo by Jon Olson)

Perhaps no team has a tougher act to follow this winter than Newberg wrestling.

The Tigers, coming off a 6A title in 2020, put on one of the all-time dominant displays last season by piling up 490.5 points to win the 6A culminating week tournament in late June. For perspective, consider that the record for the OSAA big-school tournament is 366 points, set by Roseburg in 2017.

Expectations remain high at Newberg, where the Tigers bring back nine of their 10 finalists and all five of their champions from the culminating week tournament.

“We lost a lot to graduation, but we've got a lot coming back,” said coach Neil Russo, whose team was unanimously voted No. 1 in the OSAAtoday 6A preseason coaches poll. “I was uncharacteristically outspoken about that group last year. I said some pretty bold things about them, and I 100 percent stand behind them. But I like this group, too.”

The five coming off championship seasons are seniors Nicky Olmstead (126 pounds), Ayden Garver (145) and Charlie Evans (152), junior Hudson Davis (195) and sophomore Zachary Keinonen (113).

Garver, who won OSAA titles at 113 and 126 in his first two seasons, is looking to go out as a four-time champion. He is likely to compete at 145 or 138.

But Garver is a bit behind schedule as he regains his form after suffering a dislocated and broken ankle in the national high school tournament in Fargo in July. Russo will bring him along cautiously.

“He's on the mat and is cleared for full contact and combat, but we're going to pick and choose when and how we use him, at least here before the new year,” Russo said.

Olmstead and Evans also hold OSAA titles to go along with their championships in the culminating week tournament. Olmstead will compete at 132 or 138; Evans is ticketed for 160 or 170.

“We'll figure that out as we go and see what happens to their bodies over the course of the season,” Russo said.

Davis, who is coming off a big football season, will wrestle at 195 or 220. Keinonen will go at 126 or 132.

The returning state runners-up from last season are seniors Ethan Ritchie (120) and Price Pothier (160) and sophomores Isaac Hampton (106) and Brandon Smith (113). Among those ready to break out are sophomore Trae Frederick (third at 138), junior Patrick Negra (fourth at 145), senior Gavin Korkeakoski (fourth at 170) and junior Cougar Friesen (fourth at 160).

Russo said that Frederick, who wrestled behind the graduated Micah Worthington in the team's lineup last season, is “coming into his own. He had a really good summer and fall. We're excited to see him. He's getting out from under Micah and Ayden and those guys. And he's gotten a little bit bigger than they are, so that's nice.”

Negra also has impressed with his progress.

“I think he's going to surprise some people,” Russo said.

The Tigers were so deep last season, Russo often said that it was the best group of 28 ever at Newberg, which has won 12 state championships.

“I think last year was kind of that perfect scenario that coaches dream of,” Russo said. “Not only did we have the numbers and the depth, but they were all spread out pretty evenly.

“I don't think we're quite as deep this year. But I think that first 14 are going to be pretty solid when we're healthy and everybody is where they belong.”

Fitting the wrestlers into their proper slots could take some time, though. The short offseason altered the typical arc between years.

“Kids didn't quite grow as much as they would normally grow from one season to another,” Russo said. “Normally you get them spreading out, especially those young kids that are still growing.”

Newberg will get its feet wet Friday and Saturday in the Rose City Championships, a 22-team tournament at Westview. The event will feature four other top-10 teams in No. 3 Sprague, No. 4 Mountain View, No. 6 West Linn, No. 8 Tualatin, No. 9 Cleveland and No. 10 McMinnville.

The Tigers will see some top regional competition in the Best of the West tournament Dec. 17-18 in Pasco, Wash. They will get a glimpse of national-caliber wrestlers in the Gut Check tournament Dec. 31-Jan. 1 in Kent, Wash.

Newberg enters the season as the 6A favorite, but the Tigers also will have a massive target on their backs. No. 2 Roseburg, which won six consecutive titles before Newberg ended its reign in 2020, will be eager to get back on top. The Tigers will get their first look at the Indians in the Oregon Classic on Jan. 14-15.