REDMOND, OR -- Redmond High honored their 5A State Champion Wrestling Team at a school assembly Tuesday.

Redmond High Coach Kris Davis tells KBND News how it felt when he realized the team would win State, “Totally surreal. Like, this is actually happening. Once you’re in that kind of zone, and you’re trying to figure out the math and going through the process of it all. You’re just engulfed by it and every match counted at that point. And we were just racking up wins at the end of the tournament. And it was like hey, were doing this the way that we planned it.”

It has been 64 years since the last time the Panthers won the Finals.

“My grandfather was the coach on that team in 1959 and so, that’s a huge thing for me. My dad coached here when I was going to high school here, and now, I’ve took over. It’s just a really special thing for me and my family. And obviously the community of Redmond has really rallied around us,” said Davis who credits his athletes and their parents, for their hard work and dedication to the program, “We peaked at the right time at the end of the year. It was just a fun experience.”

Senior Ryan Batti says Saturday’s win was unforgettable, “It was like a cold chill down my back. Just like, was super shocking and overwhelming with excitement.”

This was Junior Jared Ake’s mission from the start of the season, “Our team goal was to win a state title and my personal goal was to place top 3 at state, which I achieved this year.”

The Panthers finished 4th in 2021 and ’22; after winning this year, Coach Davis predicts the team could be even better, and back on top of the 5A podium in 2024.