State showdown.

Byline: STEVE MIMS The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - Gary Bowden calls it "the match that everyone in the state is talking about."

The Thurston wrestling coach is referring to the expected showdown between Thurston's Luke Hogle and Hermiston's Jeremy Larson in the 160-pound final at the Class 4A state tournament this weekend. Larson is the No. 1 seed, Hogle is No. 2, and both are undefeated.

"I definitely expect that match," Hermiston coach Curt Berger said. "We will do our job, I'll say that. I haven't seen Hogle yet this year, but it sounds like he is doing the same thing as Jeremy."

Larson is 39-0 this season, while Hogle is 35-0. Both coaches describe their wrestlers in similar terms.

Bowden calls Hogle "a battering ram. He is relentless. Luke just pounds you and goes after you."

As for Larson?

"He has tremendous conditioning and never lets up," Berger said. "He is a great kid, a tremendous worker, and he is a winner."

Larson and Hogle are also equally talented in the classroom, as Hogle carries a 4.0 grade-point average and Larson is at 3.96.

If Larson and Hogle meet in the final, it will be a rematch of a 152-pound semifinal match from last year that Larson won 7-5 in overtime. Larson went on to win the state title, while Hogle placed third.

Although only a sophomore, Hogle expected big things last year.

"I was disappointed because I thought I should have won that match," Hogle said. "I gassed. I was tired and made a stupid mistake in overtime."

Bowden was sitting on the mat for that match.

"My recollection was that Larson did a `quick-shoot' and Luke wasn't ready for it," Bowden said. "He caught Luke off guard."

Larson and Hogle are the clear favorites at 160, followed by third-seeded Nick Salzman of Hillsboro. Two other contenders are Matt Tompkins of Redmond and Jared Haller of Bend.

"Jeremy pinned both Tompkins and Haller, so I think he and Luke are the class of that weight," Berger said. "I expect to see that as the final match, and we look forward to it. We want to win state, but we aren't saying that will be easy."

Hogle and Larson have not met this season, but Hogle said he has seen the Hermiston senior wrestle.

"I've seen him a little bit, and I know what I will do when I get in there," Hogle said.

Bowden said the outcome could be determined by which Luke Hogle shows up at state.

"Luke has two phases," Bowden said. "There are some tournaments when he will have his `A' game and be unstoppable. I've seen him go out and take on good wrestlers and reduce them to little piles. He completely manhandles them. If he is wrestling like that, I think he can beat Larson.

"Then there are other times when he is nagged by an injury or not as intense. I'm not sure he can beat Larson if he is wrestling like that."

To be at his best, Hogle is keeping up a hectic workout schedule.

Hogle competes up to 11 months out of the year and often heads to club practice in the evening after practicing with Thurston in the afternoon. He also runs in preparation for the state tournament, which runs Thursday through Saturday at Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

"I am just trying to be in better shape," Hogle said. "That's about all I can do."

That is an attitude that Hogle has exhibited since he started wrestling when he was 8 years old. Hogle was in second grade when Bowden first saw him on the wrestling mat, and he made an immediate impression on the coach.

"Oh yeah, he was a tough kid," Bowden said. "But I didn't realize he would become this good. You can't predict how hard someone will work, and Luke has become one of the best workers I've ever seen."

Ten days ago, Hogle was dominant in winning his second consecutive district title. He pinned Willamette's Gabe Villalobos in the quarterfinals, defeated Marshfield's Lee Mason 10-2 in the semifinals and then defeated North Eugene's Kevin Crafton 15-3 in the championship match.

"Right now I'm wrestling pretty well, better than previous years," said Hogle, who was the district champion at 152 as a sophomore. "I've been getting better all year and trying to peak for state."

Hogle has come up just short of his goal during both of his first two trips to state.

As a freshman, Hogle hoped to place in the top six but finished seventh. Last year, he eyed a state title, which is the goal again this year.

While still seeking a state title, Hogle is a reigning national champion. Hogle won the national cadet freestyle championship for wrestlers age 16 and under in Fargo, N.D., last summer.

"He went to the tournament and just dominated everyone," Bowden said.

Hogle got a lot of benefits from that experience.

"I felt pretty confident going in, but I didn't expect to win," Hogle said. "I learned a lot last summer."

Hogle hopes he has learned enough during the past year to reverse the results if he gets another shot against Larson.

Hogle is just one of many Colt wrestlers who could contend for a high finish at the state meet.

Thurston's Casey Krull and Jon Walker met in the 112 final at the Midwestern League district meet and could face off again at state. Krull, who beat Walker 13-3, is ranked No. 1 in the state at that weight, while Walker is ranked second.

Heavyweight Steve Blatchley has been banged up lately, but is ranked fourth at 275 after finishing second at district. Teammate Mat Gardner, who placed fourth at state at 103 last year, is ranked sixth at that weight this year.

District champion Johnny Bowden is ranked seventh at 189, while Brett Arand is ninth at 145.

Luke Barr is ranked 18th at 152, and Rob Weinhold is 19th at 171. Both won district titles.

Thurston will also take a pair of wrestlers to state who placed third at district. Kevin Fipps is ranked 25th at 125, and Isaac Schaaf is 28th at 140.

Bowden said the Colts can get into the top five teams at state with a solid effort. Hermiston is the defending champion and favorite to repeat, while Newberg, Oregon City, Roseburg, Crater and Redmond are the other top contenders.

CAPTION(S):

WAYNE EASTBURN / The Register-Guard Thurston junior Johnny Bowden (top) is ranked seventh at 189 pounds heading into the state wrestling tournament.