Sweet Home finished its dual meet season with wins over Elmira (43-36) and Lebanon (39-33) on the road Thursday, Feb. 5.
The Huskies finished as Sky-Em Conference champions, with a 29-4 dual-meet record.
The win over Lebanon was satisfying for the Huskies, who have developed a healthy competition with the Warriors in the last decade.
“It was good to get some big wins there,” Coach Steve Thorpe said. He said freshman 160-pounder provided the turning-point victory.
“Bryce Coulter locked us in. We were behind and he pinned a guy who had pinned him earlier in the year.”
But all that is history. What matters now is the regional tournament this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13-14, at Cascade High School. Wrestling starts at noon both days.
Twelve teams will be competing for four state berths in each weight class.
“Our goal is just to qualify as many guys to the state tournament as we can,” Thorpe said. “That is how we’re going into it.”
Seeded wrestlers for Sweet Home are freshman JC Elder at 106 pounds (No. 4); sophomore Kobe Olson (No. 1) and freshman Ricky Yunke (No. 2) at 113 pounds; senior Anthony Hardee (No. 2) and sophomore Tyler Fincher (No. 4) at 120 pounds; senior Tyler Schilling (No. 1) at 126 pounds; junior Tyrel Miller (No. 1) at 132 pounds; junior Joe Rasmussen (No. 2) and sophomore Jake Porter (No. 5) at 138 pounds; senior Joe Salsbery (No. 2) at 145 pounds; senior Jason Miller (No. 5) at 152 pounds; senior Cole Ashcraft (No. 5) at 182 pounds; and junior Gavin Baskin (No. 3) at 220 pounds.
“We’re at a part of the season where you just have to show up and wrestle,” Thorpe said. “We’ll see what we can do. We do not want to overlook anybody. We just want to wrestle every single match and hopefully get as many guys in the state tournament as we can.”
Thorpe said the Huskies have already exceeded expectations.
“It’s been a fun season. These guys have been a fun group to get to coach. They have worked very hard to be where they’re at. But none of it matters now. All that matters is this week.”
Sweet Home 43, Elmira 36
106 – JC Elder (SH) pinned Logan Walker (E) 1:08; 113 – Ricky Yunke (SH) won by forfeit; 120 – Kobe Olson (SH) pinned Riley Craig (E) 1:13; 126 – Anthony Hardee (SH) pinned Jasper Kamerer (E) 3:02; 132 – Tyler Schilling (SH) pinned Anthony Tena (E) 1:40; 138 – Tyrel Miller (SH) pinned Garth Evenson (E) 0:23; 145 – Joe Salsbery (SH) maj. dec. Brandon McElhose (E) 20-6; 152 – Mason Walker (E) pinned Jake Porter (SH) 1:18; 160 – Ethan Agnes (E) pinned Travis Petersen (SH) 2:42; 170 – Jason Miller (SH) dec. Levi Hanson (E) 10-7; 182 – Ray Dollahite (E) pinned Cole Ashcraft (SH) 2:56; 195 – Connor Schauer (E) won by forfeit; 220 – Matt Engholm (E) pinned Gavin Baskin (SH) 0:57; 285 – Zane Wardwell (E) won by forfeit.
Sweet Home 39, Lebanon 33
106 – Jacob Galster (L) dec JC Elder (SH) 9-7; 113 – Ricky Yunke (SH) pinned Joseph Hayes (L) 0:34; 120 – Kobe Olson (SH) maj. dec. Dylan Robb (L) 15-6; 126 – Anthony Hardee (SH) maj. dec. Cameron Alley (L) 9-1; 132 – Tyler Schilling (SH) pinned Mitchell Allen (L) 4:09; 138 – Joe Rasmussen (SH) maj. dec. Terry McCord III (L) 12-3; 145 – Tyrel Miller (SH) pinned Orasio Lopez (L) 0:39; 152 – Tanner Sallee (L) pinned Jake Porter (SH) 4:11; 160 – Bryce Coulter (SH) pinned Jakeb Cripe (L) 3:48; 170 – Jason Miller (SH) dec. Ryan Davenport (L) 7-1; 182 – Colton Sallee (L) won by forfeit; 195 – Brandon Dawson (L) pinned Cole Ashcraft (SH) 1:21; 220 – Jesse Wynn (L) pinned Dalton Doerfler (SH) 0:21; 285 – Arien Craggett (L) pinned Gavin Baskin (SH) 0:37.