Senior Brock Crocker and freshman Colton Schilling were named the Sweet Home wrestling team’s Outstanding Wrestlers Wednesday at the team’s awards potluck.
Crocker and Schilling, who both won individual state championships at this year’s 4A tournament, also received the Most Takedowns award, with 35 each. The award recognizes the wrestler who records the most initial takedowns in the first round of matches.
Schilling, who set the school record for falls in a season with 33, also received the Most Falls award.
The Iron Man Award, which goes to the “guys who fight through injury and illness to achieve success,” according to Coach Steve Schilling, went to Taylor Tagle and Tyler Cowger. Tagle suffered a shoulder injury at the Reser’s Tournament of Champions that hindered him the rest of the season, in which he placed second at the state finals. Cowger, a freshman, is undergoing knee surgery on both knees now that the wrestling season is over, Thorpe said.
The Extra Mile Award, which goes to “someone who did all the extra things that make Sweet Home wrestling what it is,” as Thorpe put it, went to Matt Grove, who was ranked No. 1 in the state coming into the season but couldn’t wrestle because of a broken elbow sustained in a soccer game. Grove became an assistant coach for the Huskies this year.
His twin brother, Mitch Grove, was one of two recipients of the Workhorse Award, which goes to wrestlers “who work hard, no matter what.” Senior Marshall Arndt, who first wrestled as a high school sophomore, was the other honoree.
The Rookie of the Year was senior Christian Whitfield, who joined the team and wrestled as a heavyweight after having not wrestled since eighth grade. Whitfield won the district championship with a surprise pin of a heavily favored opponent and made the state tournament.
Thorpe reviewed the Huskies’ season, which included a team title at the Oregon Classic tournament, second place in the state 4A tournament and a 24-1 dual meet record.
“We had a good season this year,” he said. “We accomplished goals. We fell short in a few places, but that doesn’t take away what we did.”
Fourth-year letters went to: Brock Crocker, Mitch Grove, Matt Grove, Tyler Holly, Brad Pitts and Taylor Tagle.
Third-year letter winners were: Kyle Hummer, Kris Newport and Marshall Arndt.
Second-year letter winners were: Scottie Stockman, Michael Harry,
Jacob Jewell and David Rinehart.
First-year letter winners were: Tyler Cowger, Colby DeCleve, Zach Gill, Brian Sorensen, Nate Melcher, Trever Olson, Wade Paulus,
Colton Schilling, Hunter Bidwell, Ty Harvey, Chance Jucutan, Mandy Binks and Christian Whitfield.
Thorpe said this year’s freshman class of wrestlers is a “very special” group, several of whom came in with extensive national wrestling experience and two of whom wrestled internationally before entering high school. He noted that four of the Husky freshmen qualified for the state tournament and Schilling and Cowger placed first and third respectively.
“We’re graduating nine wrestlers,” Thorpe said. “Some of these guys will fill their shoes next year. This is a very good group and I’m very excited. It’s similar to the seniors who are sitting here.”