A pair of Reedsport wrestlers compete in the finals of the 119-pound weight class as Cody Manues works to turn over Tim Spangle during the bout Saturday evening. Manues made the pin to win the title. World Photo by Lou Sennick.

MYRTLE POINT — When Glide was announced as the runner-up at the Sunset Conference (Class 3A District 3) wrestling tournament Saturday night, a huge roar went up from Reedsport’s team and a bright smile crossed the face of coach Phillip Lopez.

For the first time since the 1960s, the Braves are district champions.

Reedsport qualified 13 wrestlers for state, placed all 21 of its wrestlers and held off a charge from tournament favorite Glide in the finals Saturday night to secure the district title.

“We were on this week,” Lopez said. “It helped that every single one of our guys placed. I’m pretty excited.”

The Braves had just two district champions — 119-pounder Cody Manues and 152-pounder Eli Garner — but scored enough points earlier in the tournament to hold off the Wildcats and their six champions.

Reedsport finished with 302 points, while Glide had 285.5. Myrtle Point was third with 214, with Coquille a distant fourth with 97.

In addition to the two winners, five Reedsport wrestlers finished second and six more won third-place matches to qualify for state.

“It had to be a total team effort,” Lopez said.

“I think it’s awesome,” said Manues, one of six seniors on the team.

The Braves had seven wrestlers in the finals, to eight for Glide. Even though the Wildcats got more titles, the late charge wasn’t enough.

“Glide was close to us,” Garner said. “Phillip said we needed two champions to stay ahead.”

Garner took it upon himself to make sure that happened by winning a tough final against Coquille’s Cody Messerle in the 152-pound final.

Messerle had a takedown in the final seconds of the first period to take an early 2-0 lead, but Garner scored an escape in the second. Messerle opted to start in the down position in the third period and Garner got him on his back briefly 30 seconds into the round for a two-point near fall and a 3-2 lead.

In the final 15 seconds, Messerle almost scored a reversal, but Garner held on for the one-point victory.

Garner said he was just trying to hold on at the end, and felt pressure to win for the team after finishing second at district in his weight class last year.

“It’s my senior year,” he said.

In contrast to Garner, Manues didn’t need to win his match, because he was going against teammate Tim Spangle, so the Braves were going to get the champion points anyway. Manues scored a pin 48 seconds into the third round.

Glide won three head-to-head matches with the Braves in the finals.

Corey Melton beat Justin Halstead for the title at 112 pounds, Cole Walker topped John Covey at 130 and, in one of the night’s best matches, Jason Rondeau edged Nic Morris in the 215-pound final.

Morris had an escape 45 seconds from the end of the match to force overtime, but Rondeau scored a takedown 30 seconds into the sudden-death period for a 6-4 win.

Glide’s Gabe Forrester (140 pounds) and Brock Halter (145) posted impressive wins, while Thomas O’Connor (171) beat teammate Robin Bollinger.

But Myrtle Point helped Reedsport when two Bobcats beat Glide wrestlers for individual titles.

Eric Rains beat Cody Kame at 125 pounds and Zack Sykes topped Kyle Fields for the crown at 171.

Sykes, who placed fourth at state as a freshman and sophomore, but was injured last year, got his first district crown with a second-round pin.

His reward was the outstanding wrestler title for the upper weights.

“It was a good tournament,” said Sykes, who won his other two matches with first-round pins.

Myrtle Point’s other individual title came in an all-Bobcat final at 103 pounds, where Johnny Campbell topped Ryan Love.

Gold Beach got titles from its top two wrestlers — Brandon Harding and Travis Moore, who each were runners-up at the Class 3A state tournament last year.

Harding beat Coquille’s Colton Holmes, a two-time state placer, in the 135-pound final and was named outstanding wrestler for the lower weights.

“He’s good,” said Harding, who said he wouldn’t mind facing Holmes again in the final at the state tournament. “That would be awesome.”

Harding said he’s excited about the state tournament, which begins Friday in Portland.

“I feel good — especially after that match,” he said.

Moore dominated Reedsport’s Cesar Lira in the 189-pound final, recording a first-round pin.

“I had a good weekend,” said Moore, who added he wanted to take control early in the final.

“I’ve been trying to wrestle more aggressive lately.”

The other champion Saturday was Coquille’s Jason Smith at 285 pounds, who gave up about 50 pounds to Cascade Christian’s James Humphries, but won with a pin in the third round.

Far West League

South Umpqua had four individual champions and claimed the league title in the Far West League meet at Siuslaw High School.

The Lancers finished with 238.5 points, while runner-up Brookings-Harbor had 201.5. Douglas had 182.5 and North Bend 175.5.

Brandon Bowers (103 pounds), Alex Hunt (135), Triton Crane (152) and Bo Younker (189) all won titles for the Lancers.

Brookings-Harbor had two champions — 112-pounder Ray Mazyck and 140-pounder Willie Bennett.

North Bend qualified seven wrestlers for the Class 4A state meet, which starts Thursday in Portland.

Korey Karavanich (145 pounds) and James Baker (160) claimed district titles, while Nick Cheser (112) and Nathan Kelly (140) finished second. Jake Schneider (119), Kyle Deming (125) and James Allison (189) all finished third in their weight classes to earn berths at state.

Siuslaw had two champions and five state qualifiers.

Denver Conrad (171) and Cameron Thrall (285) won their divisions, while Aaron Bernhardt (152) was second and Ryan Bottensek (140) and Devin White (285) were third.

The other individual champions were from Douglas — David Yecha (119 pounds), Derek Findlay (125), Tyson Dahl (130) and Andrew Neilsen (215).

South Umpqua had the most state qualifiers, with 10. Douglas and Brookings-Harbor qualified eight each.