Kobe Olson qualified for nationals with a fourth-place finish in freestyle and folkstyle in the Junior Western Regional wrestling tournament held June 21-23 at Holt Arena at Idaho State University in Pocatello.
The West Region is the largest in the United States, with 11 states, and is the only open region open to wrestlers from any region who wants to compete. Sixteen states were represented.
Olson, who wrestled 22 matches at 126 pounds, also competed with the Oregon West Region Dual teams in freestyle and Greco before competing in the junior championships.
Robbie Yunke wrestled 15 matches, placing fifth in Greco at 105 pounds in the Schoolboy division.
“He had a good tournament,” said Coach Steve Thorpe.
Also competing was Ricky Yunke, also at Cadet 126, in both duals and individual. He did not place after wrestling 18 matches.
Travis Thorpe wrestled 16 matches at 112 pounds in the Schoolboy division in the individual tournament, but did not place.
Jackson Royer wrestled 10 matches at 91 pounds in the Schoolboy division.
Steve Thorpe said the younger wrestlers “competed very good” even though they didn’t place. “I am very proud of these young men and how they represented not only
Oregon, but the city of Sweet Home.”
In addition to Olson, qualifiers from Sweet Home who will wrestle at the ASICS/Vaughn Cadet and Junior Nationals July 18-25 in Fargo, N.D., are Bryce Coulter, who will compete in the Cadet 170-pound division, and Tyler Schilling, who will wrestle in the Junior 126-pound division.
Sweet Home will host its annual Santiam Wrestling Camp July 11-14. The camp will serve as the Cadet and Junior National Team training camp as well as the mandatory camp for members of the Oregon Cultural Exchange Team that will tour South Africa July 27-Aug. 15.
Sweet Home wrestlers Schilling, Ricky Yunke, Tyler Fincher and Travis Thorpe will make that trip, along with Steve Thorpe as a coach and Steve Schilling as an official.