By Ryker Burr
For The New Era
After what would’ve been the first chance to wrestle in front of its home crowd was cancelled due to storms earlier in the week, Sweet Home’s wrestlers headed to the LaMont Simmons Thurston Invite on Saturday well-rested and with an urge to continue their strong start to the season.
At the Thurston Duals – featuring mostly 5A level teams from all over Oregon and even a competitor from Washington (Bend, Churchill, Creswell, Thurston, Tillamook and Orting) – Sweet Home’s boys finished as runner-ups to Thurston, a team that has placed second in the 5A state classification for back-to-back seasons.
Junior Jesse Landtroop led the day for the Huskies, besting Thurston’s defending state-runner up sophomore Tanner Brumble by decision 15-8.
In addition to Landtroop, sophomore Eli Cruz, junior Kyle Zajic, and seniors Tytus Hardee, Lynkin Royer, and Luke Rosa all went undefeated.
Head Coach Steve Thorpe also highlighted one of his freshmen for demonstrating courage: “Macen Rosa showed a lot of courage. He went up a weight class, unselfishly, for us.”
The girls team – which competed in an individual tournament, also placed second to Thurston, gapping Bend, Churchill, Creswell, and Tillamook.
The Huskies finished with 187 points, behind Thurston’s 306 and well ahead of Tillamook (117.5).
One highlight for Sweet Home in the tournament was that Bailey Chafin returned for the first time after a serious knee injury she suffered in the state final last year.
Chafin started off her senior campaign by pinning her way through the 135-pound bracket. She didn’t allow a single point in her final two matches, pinning Thurston’s Mikala Frye in just 15 seconds, then taking the crown with a pin over Tillamook’s Kelly Garcia.
“She did a great job. She’s not where she’s going to be that’s for sure, but every day she’s getting closer to full health,” said Thorpe.
Junior Alizeah Weikel also pinned her way through her 115-pound bracket in brisk fashion, wrestling a total of only 44 seconds on the day.
“She has an aggressive style that paid off,” Thorpe explained.
Sophomore and first-year wrestler Bailey Newens shocked the field by dominating the 190-pound bracket and taking home the victory.
“[That was] a nice surprise for us,” Thorpe said.
Second-place winners for Sweet Home were sophomores Sydney Dominy (145), Bella Rico (130), and Lyla Ventura (110).
Third-place winners were: freshman Hailey Ayala (155) and sophomores Natasha Marin (105) and Raelyn Andrews (125).
Fourth-place winners were sophomore Hailey Borromeo (135) and junior Madison Looney (145).
Next week will be one of the biggest of the year for the Huskies, as both the boys and girls head to the Northwest Duals – one of the toughest tournaments in the state – on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 29-30, at the Linn County Expo Center; and then to the Linn Country Championships at Central Linn High School on Friday, Jan. 2.
“We’re looking for bragging rights for the county,” Thorpe said.