Sweet Home’s wrestlers placed sixth in the Rose City Classic, which drew 34 teams from Oregon and Washington last weekend.
“I believe this was toughest Rose City Tournament we’ve ever wrestled – big brackets, big competition,” said Coach Steve Thorpe, adding that that’s exactly what he is looking for at this point in the season. “It’s not February right now. We’re just trying to get kids matches right now and compete against great teams.”
The Huskies scored 203 points, finishing behind Newberg (348.5), Sprague (227.5), Thurston (236), White River, Wash. (235.5) and Tahoma, Wash. (225).
Other 4A-Division schools in the tournament were Cascade, 11th with 157.5 points; and defending state champion Tillamook, 17th with 141 points.
The top finisher for Sweet Home was senior Travis Thorpe, who was second at 160, falling to Asher Ruchti of Thurston, a returning state champion, 3-1 in the final.
Freshman Jake Sieminski placed fourth at 106, his only losses coming at the hands of Washington wrestlers.
Senior Jackson Royer was fifth at 138 pounds, losing a major decision to Angel Sanchez of Westview and then falling 3-2 to Michael Fox of Willamina before beating Aidan Carroll of Enumclaw, Wash. In the fifth-place match.
Sophomore Brayden Newport was sixth at 145, his only loss to a 4A opponent coming from Kane Nixon of Cascade (12-2).
Also competing for Sweet Home were Treyson Smith and Kyle Watkins at 113, Brandon Elder at 120, Trenton Smith and Connor Ford at 126, Keegan Fox and Christian Gregory at 132, Kaden Zajic at 138, Tristan Spencer at 145, Gavin Walberg and Ethan Spencer at 152, Isaac Schaffer at 160, Jesse Jamison at 170, Jake Fanning at 220 and Colby Gazeley at 285.
In the girls competition, “War of the Roses,” senior Lexi Schilling was third at 115 pounds and junior Jessy Hart was fifth at 130. Also competing were Paige Chafin at 115 and Kami Hart at 190 pounds.
The girls tournament drew 250 wrestlers, so many that organizers had to split some of the brackets, Steve Thorpe said.
The boys were missing several of their varsity wrestlers and only entered 19 of the 28 possible slots they had available.
“To be sixth was not bad, because we were without a full crew,” Thorpe said.
On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Huskies hosted a four-way meet, beating Stayton 69-12, South Albany 69-9 and Reedsport Charter 78-4. For details on those matches, see this story at sweethomenews.com.
Sweet Home’s boys will wrestle at the Northwest Duals this Friday and Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. both days, at the Linn County Expo Center. The girls will wrestle at Liberty High School Saturday.
Sweet Home 69, Stayton 12
106 – Jake Sieminski (SH) pinned Wyatt Hooper (S) (1:37); 113 – Treyson Smith (SH) maj. dec. Ben Adams (S) 14-3; 120 – Kyle Watkins (SH) pinned Cody Murphy (S) (1:21); 126 – Rian Howard (SH) pinned Donald Morgan (S) (0:13); 132 – Eli Howard (S) pinned Connor Ford (SH) (1:24); 138 – Keegan Fox (SH) won by forfeit; 145 – Jackson Royer (SH) won by forfeit; 152 – Brayden Newport (SH) won by tech fall over Jason Ritchie (S) (18-1 4:27); 160 – Travis Thorpe (SH) pinned Connor Hollenbeck (S) (1:32); 170 – Isaac Schaffer (SH) pinned Blayke Anglin (S) (0:33); 182 – Nich James (SH) won by forfeit; 195 – Tucker Weld (SH) won by forfeit; 220 – Johnny Sylva (S) pinned Jake Fanning (SH) ( 2:24); 285 – Colby Gazeley (SH) won by forfeit.
Sweet Home 69, South Albany 9
106 – Jake Sieminski (SH) won by forfeit; 113 – Treyson Smith (SH) won by forfeit; 120 – Logan Bond (SA) dec. Kyle Watkins (SH) 3-2; 126 – Rian Howard (SH) pinned Kellen Hanson (SA) (2:16); 132 – Connor Ford (SH) dec. Camden Deford (SA) 3-2; 138 – Keegan Fox (SH) pinned Isaiah Abrao (SA) (2:35); 145 – Jackson Royer (SH) pinned Avery Adams (SA) (1:08); 152 – Brayden Newport (SH) won by forfeit; 160 – Travis Thorpe (SH) won by forfeit; 170 – Isaac Schaffer (SH) won by forfeit; 182 – Nich James (SH) won by forfeit; 195 – Tucker Weld (SH) won by forfeit; 220 – Jake Fanning (SH) pinned Austin McCormick (SA) (4:45); 285 – Mathew Cobb (SA) pinned Colby Gazeley (SH) (2:49).
Sweet Home 78, Reedsport Charter 4
106 – Jake Sieminski (SH) pinned Jose Martinez (R) (1:47); 113 – Treyson Smith (SH) pinned Aaron Soloman (R) (1:36); 120 – Kyle Watkins (SH) pinned Skyler Sunder (R) (0:30); 126 – Rian Howard (SH) pinned Adam Soloman (R) (1:20); 132 – Christian Solomon (R) maj. dec. Connor Ford (SH) (13-1); 138 – Keegan Fox (SH) won by forfeit; 145 – Jackson Royer (SH) pinned Austin Manicke (R) (1:18); 152 – Brayden Newport (SH) won by forfeit; 160 – Isaac Schaffer (SH) won by forfeit; 170 – Travis Thorpe (SH) pinned Justin Cassaro (R) (4:50); 182 – Nich James (SH) pinned Miguel Velazquez (R) (1:45) ;195 – Tucker Weld (SH) won by forfeit; 220 – Jake Fanning (SH) won by forfeit; 285 – Colby Gazeley (SH) won by forfeit.