Senior Night for the Sweet Home wrestling team was saved by … Stayton on Thursday, Feb. 13.
The Huskies were scheduled to wrestle their final home dual against North Marion, but the visitors were only able to muster seven wrestlers, due to illness.
“North Marion is way down,” Coach Steve Thorpe said. “They have a new coach, Shane Sheppard, who is working on building the program back up. But they only have 12 kids this year.”
The visitors forfeited eight weights, which were filled by Stayton wrestlers on an exhibition basis.
Thus, he said, it was “a blessing” to have Stayton show up with varsity wrestlers to provide Sweet Home’s seniors with matches on their last night at home.
“It was great to have kids get matches, have that last go around,” Thorpe said.
On paper, Sweet Home won 78-0 over the visitors, who gave Kyle Watkins and Connor Ford some stiff competition at 120 and 126 pounds, Watkins decisioning Martin Pacheco 8-4 and Ford winning a 6-4 decision over Ronaldo Hernandez.
The rest of Sweet Home’s wins came by falls: Jake Sieminski over Alex Farrens in 30 seconds at 106; Rian Howard over Kevin Guzman (0:17); Travis Thorpe over Roberto Ibarra at 170 (0:40) and Nich James over Terrin Sheridan in 11 seconds at 182.
“We really respect what it means to be part of our program and wrestle under the light,” Thorpe said, referring to the spotlight used for special home duals. “Any time you have a Senior Night, no matter what the sport, it’s a very special thing.”
Wrestlers who are departing this year are Connor Ford, Rian Howard, Iakona Howerton, Nich James, Mark Kanngiesser, David McMullen, Bryce Porter, Jackson Royer, Isaac Schaffer, Lexi Schilling and Travis Thorpe.
The Huskies will compete for their sixth straight regional title Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22, at the Special District 2 championships hosted by Stayton. Wrestling starts at noon Friday, and at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with finals in the early afternoon.
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Kyle Sieminski made the Oregon Middle School Dual national team in a qualifying tournament held at Sweet Home Sunday, Feb. 16.
The Oregon team will compete in April at the national duals tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa.