Newberg senior Tommy Siciliano celebrates after pinning Hillsboro's Mikie Rodriguez in the 130-pound final at the Reser's Tournament of Champions Jan. 30 at Liberty High School in Hillsboro. Siciliano, who pinned all three of the opponents he faced, was chosen as the tournament's outstanding wrestler. (Photo by Matthew Ginn/Trillium Media Services)

OK, awhile back I promised more wrestling photos “later this week.” Now, nearly three weeks later here we go.

I’ve been shooting wrestling for a few years now, and at the big tournaments there is always a lot of emotion in the title matches. Despite the fact that they’ve just expended all of their energy over the course of the match, you can pretty well bet that the winner is going to jump up and down and scream with excitement while the loser expresses agony as they lie defeated on the mat. It makes for great pictures.

You can pretty much count on that, unless it’s the guy I’m covering. And it’s not that all of my subjects have lost: I’ve photographed a number of champions—notably those from Hermiston—at the state level, Reser’s Tournament, and other meets. Great wrestlers, all. But they’re the most reserved winners I’ve ever seen. Most of the time you’re lucky to get a fist pump or even a smile out of them.

Newberg’s Tommy Siciliano does not fit into that category. And at this year’s Reser’s Tournament of Champions he fell into my sights.

Now a senior, Siciliano won his weight class at that tournament in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The same years he won the state titles at 103-, 112-, and 119-pounds, respectively.

He was a heavy favourite going into the 2010 Reser’s Tournament at 130-pounds, and he didn’t disappoint.

After winning his first two rounds by fall, Siciliano won his semifinal match by forfeit (his expected opponent was injured). His title bout against Hillsboro’s Mikie Rodriguez was perhaps the most anticipated match-up of the tournament.

The pair started out at a furious pace, but with the slightest mistake by Rodriguez, Siciliano capitalized. Just 70 seconds into the match, Rodriguez had his shoulders on the mat. When the referee slapped the mat, Siciliano leapt to his feet and jumped around the mat in jubilation for several seconds.

It was great to see such unbridled joy on the young man’s face. Then I think he realized that it was his fourth title at the tournament, and he stuck his fingers up in the air for the crowd to see.

Here are a few pictures of that, along with the other two winners that Newberg produced: Joey Chandler, who beat Roseburg’s Dylan Fors at 160 pounds, and Rory Oliver, who beat Wes Heredia of McNary at 215 pounds.