Junior Kobe Olson was named Sweet Home’s Outstanding Wrestler Sunday evening at the team’s awards potluck.
The team celebrated its second straight regional championship this year and a fourth-place state trophy.
Olson, who finished the season 51-8 and won a state title at 120 pounds, was presented with the newly named Pat Baxter trophy.
““We named the outstanding wrestler award after Pat Baxter,” Coach Steve Thorpe said, referring to the longtime wrestling supporter who died Jan. 26.
“I chose to do this because of her over 60 years of dedication to Sweet Home wrestling. Also, Pat bought the first Outstanding Wrestler trophy in 1956 with her babysitting money. There wasn’t a trophy and so she bought one. It’s only fitting that this award is in her namesake.”
Olson also won the Most First Takedowns Award with 47 and was one of three Workhorse Award winners, which goes to a wrestler who pushes himself and teammates, with senior Tyrel Miller and sophomore Ricky Yunke.
Rookie of the Year was freshman Robert Watkins, who took third place at state and finished 43-14 at 106 pounds.
Junior Bryson Denver was named Ironman Award winner, which goes to wrestlers who overcome adversity – illness, injury “or not feeling like coming to practice.”
The Most Falls Award went to seniors Miller, who finished 47-10, and Joe Rasmussen (45-15), who both finished with 38.
Additional honorees were:
n Mothers Shawna Yunke and Amanda Royer, honored for their assistance to the team during the season;
n Can’t Pin Award (most technical falls) to Olson;
n Most Weight Gained (after the season) – 24.8 pounds, also to Olson;
n Comeback Kid Award, to Gavin Baskin;
n Better Late Than Never Award, to senior Brandon Keenon, who joined the team late in the season after not wrestling since his freshman year. He took third place in state at 185 pounds with a 15-3 record;
n Best Locker Room Talk, to Tyrel Miller;
n Best Quote, to Joe Rasmussen; and
n Lucky Thorpe Didn’t Kill You Award, to Justin Kurtz, for mistiming his weight-loss plans at a critical moment.
Miller was the sole fourth-year letter winner. Taking home their third letter were Olson, Rasmussen, Tyler Fincher and Jake Porter.
Second-year letters went to seniors Gavin Baskin, Dalton Doerfler, Hunter Olheiser, Daniel Rooney and Keenon, juniors Denver, Jonathan Elder, Oscar Hernandez, Devin Stafford and Dillon Stutzman, and sophomores Bryce Coulter, Justin Kurtz, Boden Petersen and Ricky Yunke.
First year letter recipients were Watkins, Boe Baxter, Marissa Kurtz, Hayden McDonald and Robbie Yunke.
Participation awards went to Nick McIntyre, Hunter Rooney, Levi Hernandez, Noah Moore, Austin Oakley and Damion Schocker.
Thorpe challenged his departing wrestlers to stay focused on excellence.
“I challenged the underclassmen to earn the right to sit at the senior table,” a privilege limited to those who wrestle as seniors. “Don’t be a part-time wrestler or a part-time student. Don’t blow your opportunities by choosing to break training, doing drugs or making bad decisions.”