After a largely forgettable win 72-7 conference win over an under-manned Junction City team Thursday, Jan. 5, Sweet Home’s wrestlers are in for a tougher challenge Wednesday evening, Jan. 11, when Elmira and Churchill come to the Main Gym.
At Junction City, the Huskies won six matches by forfeit and six by falls, the latter coming from Tyler Schilling, Justin Nicholson, Scottie Stockman, Ty Harvey, Tyler Coger and Zach Gill.
Things may be different Wednesday, as Elmira brings the No. 1 heavyweight in the state at the 4A level, Kyle Smith, who was undefeated as of last week.
“We want to beat Elmira because they’re conference and they count toward our seeding (at regionals),” Coach Steve Thorpe said.
Churchill was ranked fifth in the 5A division last week, and has the No. 1 wrestler in the nation at 170 pounds in Zac Brunson, who recently signed to wrestle at Illinois after winning a national championship in freestyle last year at the Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D.
Churchill has seven other wrestlers ranked in the top 10 in 5A, including No. 1-ranked 152-pounder Chase Kearny, who is the coach’s son.
“That’s why we put together a schedule as tough as it is – so we can wrestle tough wrestlers,” Thorpe said. “We get an opportunity to wrestle some of the best kids in the country and Oregon has some of the best wrestlers in the country. We’re going to get after it and do what we can do.”
Matches start at 6 p.m.
Following the Wednesday duals, Sweet Home heads to the Oregon Classic in Redmond, where it will face some of the top teams at the 4A level – at nearly full strength for the first time with the return of Colton Schilling and Trever Olson, who had been sitting out with injuries.
Sweet Home 72, Junction City 7
106 – Tyler Schilling (SH) won by fall. Opponent’s name not available. 1:07; 113 – Justin Nicholson (SH) pinned Nulf (JC); 120 – Erik Garcia (SH) won by forfeit; 126 – Colton Schilling (SH) won by forfeit; 132 – Scottie Stockman (SH) pinned Jeremy Goodwin (JC) 4:22; 138 – Ty Harvey (SH) pinned R. Armondo (JC) :30; 145 – Tyler Cowger (SH) pinned M. Long (JC) :09; 152 – Trever Olson (SH) won by forfeit; 160 – Nick Hall (SH) won by forfeit; 170 – Alex Armstrong (SH) won by forfeit; 182 – Ben Goodman (JC) maj. dec. Chance Jucutan (SH) 15-4; 195 – Wade Paulus (SH) won by forfeit; 220 – Wolberg (JC) def. David Skeen (SH) 10-6; 285 – Zach Gill (SH) pinned S. Foley 1:08.