Two Mitchell Lofstedts could have squeezed into the oversized gray and red Raiders T-shirt that was handed to the compact 131- pounder in Roseburg High Athletic Director Russ Bolin’s office on Tuesday.

Nonetheless, Mitchell formally declared that Southern Oregon University was a perfect fit for him that day.

“When I added up all the positives and negatives, it was Southern Oregon,” Lofstedt said. “Other people wanted me to go to Oregon State for their reasons, and I just had to make my own decision.”

The 18-year-old senior, Roseburg High’s most eminent wrestler, selected comfort over style, signing a letter-of-intent to wrestle at the NAIA school in front of parents Dorene and Brent, brother and future Raider teammate Trevor and 13-year SOU coach Mike Ritchey.

Mitchell, who amassed an unprecedented three consecutive state titles and won 92 straight matches as an Indian, made his final choice during a recruiting trip to Ashland two weeks ago.

“It was an easy decision,” said Mitchell, whose career was capped off at Memorial Coliseum in Portland in February with the Indians winning their second consecutive 6A state title.

Mitchell comes from a line of Raider wrestlers, though his pedigree did not sway his decision, he said. Trevor, who videotaped Mitchell signing as part of a senior capstone project, is a three-time All-American who wrestles at 133 pounds, and their father also wrestled at SOU.

“That was one of the reasons I probably wouldn’t want to go, to just follow the family,” said Mitchell, a 119-pounder in high school who will wrestle at 125 in college. “I like the school, and college is to get an education, too.”

Southern Oregon wins twofold, getting its highest-ranked recruit ever — Wrestling International Newsmagazine tabbed Mitchell fourth best in his high-school weight class — and filling a vacant spot at his newer, heavier weight.

All that made Tuesday a very good day for Ritchey.

“That says something to his ability and the respect he’s gained nationwide,” the coach said. “That caliber wrestler will raise the caliber of the wrestling room.”

Ritchey kept tabs on the younger Lofstedt’s high school career as it quickly took off, hoping all the while that he’d eventually get a shot to coach him.

“It was a natural to watch his progression, and the challenges of being a Lofstedt wrestler takes a little bit of pressure, so he’s been able to handle that very well,” Ritchey said.

The Raiders finished 11th at NAIA National Tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last season en route to their 38th consecutive winning season. Their last national championship came in 2001.

Next season, Ritchey predicts Mitchell will be facing opponents who’ll regularly know his name because of the reputation he’s gained as a perennial contender.

“He’s able to rise to the occasion and wrestle in big matches,” Ritchey said. “There’s a lot of wrestlers around, but not everyone can perform when they are underneath the light.”

Mitchell said Roseburg wrestling coach Steve Lander and several others urged him to consider Oregon State, but that ultimately the decision was his and his alone.

“I know he wanted me to go to Oregon State because he went there and he wants a Division I champion,” said Lofstedt, who hopes to focus on writing and music in Ashland. “If you are a coach, you want your wrestlers to do good. I respect him a lot and I owe a lot of my success to him. Of course, I want to make him happy, but I also have to go in my own direction.”

Lofstedt is eager to begin this newest chapter in his life, but said he won’t soon forget the great memories he and his teammates made together.

“You can be good individually, but when your team is good it is worth so much more,” Mitchell said.