Sweet Home is sending 12 wrestlers to the state championship tournament this weekend at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, led by two second-seeds, Tyler Schilling at 126 pounds and Tyrel Miller at 132.
It’s time for the Huskies to deliver, Coach Steve Thorpe said.
“We’re in a state tournament now. Everybody has to wrestle, plain and simple. There’s nothing you’re going to do this week to get in better shape. The hay’s in the barn, so just go there and wrestle.”
This year things are a little different for Sweet Home, as is the case with all 4A teams, who will have had a two-week break going into Friday’s preliminaries.
The OSAA dictated the change to what the 6A Division has been doing for years – holding regional or district championships two weeks before finals.
“Hopefully, we’ll get our kids peaked right,” Thorpe said.
Schilling, for whom this will be his fourth OSAA championship, said he plans to take the tournament one match at a time.
“I’ve got to look at each match the same,” he said. “If I’m wrestling a first=round match in my regional or state championship, have to look at each match the same. That’s what I’ve tried to do this year and that’s really changed my wrestling.”
Miller said the two-week break gives wrestlers a chance to heal up and retaper for state.
“I got fifth last year,” he said. “Everybody wants to go all the way. I’m just going to wrestle hard.”
113-pounder Kobe Olson, who got a taste of state last year as a freshman, finishing one match away from placing, said he plans to do better this time around.
“I’m hoping I bring my “A” game to state and do something good,” he said.
Preliminaries start at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, and runs till 9:15 p.m. Consolation bracket bouts continue on Saturday at 8:30 a.m., with championship semifinals beginning at 9:45. Championship finals will begin at 6:30 p.m.
In the 4A Division, Crook County is “hands-down” the favorite to win,” Thorpe said. Henley qualified 15 wrestlers and has a good shot at being second, but although the Huskies are picked to finish ninth, their coach noted that they’ve overachieved all season.
“We’re not supposed to trophy, but we are still going in there with intentions we have at every state tournament – to trophy,” he said.
Wrestlers who are scheduled to compete for Sweet Home are:
n JC Elder, who is not seeded in the top eight at 106 pounds. Elder, a sophomore who is 30-18 going into the tournament, will open against Baker sophomore Dawson Dollarhide (14-8).
n Kobe Olson, seeded fourth at 113 pounds. Olson, a sophomore who is 43-7 going into the tournament, will open against Molalla freshman Wyatt Perkins (17-12).
n Ricky Yunke, seeded sixth at 113 pounds. Yunke, a freshman who is 35-5 going into the tournament, will open against Scappoose sophomore Tyler Cooper (22-8).
n Anthony Hardee, seeded seventh at 120 pounds. Hardee, a senior who is 37-9 going into the tournament, wioll open against Scappoose junior Braxton Sue (40-6).
n Tyler Fincher, who is not seeded in the top eight at 120 pounds. Fincher, a sophomore who is 6-6 going into the tournament, will open against third-seeded junior Jerry Mealey of Corbett (30-3).
n Tyler Schilling, seeded second at 126 pounds. Schilling, a senior who is 50-2 going into the tournament, will open against Crook County sophomore Zachary Lawson (31-12). Top seed in that division is defending champion Trayton Libolt, also of Crook County, who is 44-2.
n Tyrel Miller, seeded second at 132 pounds. Miller, a junior who is 48-5 going into the tournament, will open against Madras senior Jarred Dupont (24-7). Top seed in that division is Banks senior Collin Purinton (47-0).
n Jake Porter, seeded third at 138 pounds. Porter, a sophomore who is 31-11 going into the tournament, will open against Phoenix junior Jessi Daniels (15-9).
n Joe Rasmussen, seeded fifth at 138 pounds. Rasmussen, a junior who is 26-10 going into the tournament, will open against Klamath Union senior Patrick Williams (25-8).
n Joe Salsbery, seeded seventh at 145 pounds. Salsbery, a senior who is 5-2 after moving to Sweet Home from Taft in mid-season, will open against Ontario freshman Jason Gissel (15-13).
n Jason Miller, seeded fifth at 152 pounds. Miller, a senior who is 39-14 going into the tournament, will open against Tillamook senior Drew Owens (23-8).
n Cole Ashcraft, who is not seeded in the top eight at 182 pounds. Ashcraft, a senior who is 25-21 going into the tournament, will open against third-seeded Chase Anderson of Klamath Union (25-3).