Coming off a state wrestling championship for the boys, with most of the top finishers from that team coming back, Sweet Home’s wrestlers are once again eyeing a championship trophy.
But not so fast, cautions Coach Steve Thorpe.
“I think you come off a state title for the boys and, quite honestly, a bunch of people think it’s just
going to happen again,” Thorpe said as he readied for a team practice last week. “That’s an adjustment we’ve had to make this year. It’s going to take more work. The competition is going to be better. We’ve graduated several state placers. It’s going to be a difficult task.”
The most glaring void in the Huskies’ lineup is four-time state champion Kyle Sieminski, now
wrestling for Southern Oregon. Sieminski led Sweet Home to its first state title since 2017, and its ninth overall, but he wasn’t the only contributor. Eighteen wrestlers qualified for state on the boys side and, Thorpe said, all of them scored points for Sweet Home.
He cited sophomore Jesse Landtroop, returning after winning a state title at 106 pounds last spring.
Also back is senior Ashton Swanson, who also was a state titlist at 175 pounds, and other state
finalists – senior Jacob Landtroop at 150, who won his own title as a freshman in 2022, and junior Luke Rosa at 157.
“We have great leadership on both the men’s and women’s teams,” he said. “We’ve got these guys coming in who have that experience of being in the state finals, and several other guys
who were state placers and we had other guys there who weren’t state placers. We got scoring from everyone.”
Other state placewinners who are back are sophomore Keegan Jefferson, sixth at 106 pounds; junior Tytus Hardee, fourth at 113; sophomore Kyle Zajic, fifth at 144; senior Dylan Sharp, third
at 215; and senior Colton Bennett, fourth at 285.
Rounding out the boys roster are: seniors Jackson Barringer, Killan Boggs, Russell Dickerman and Bode Hart; juniors Dillan Davis, James Hearick, Jackson Knight, Lynkin Royer, Jeremiah Steagall and Keagan Vogel; sophomores David Anderson, Domynic Daniel, Bradly Dewitte, Zeek Gosnell, Liam Martin, Jake Mengore, Mason Pickle, Damian Ryan, Conner Spencer, Cael Stevenson, Riley Vaughn, Zane Vickers and Kason Walters; and freshmen Gavin Baker, Thomas Bandy, Braidyn Borello, Ryder Carr, Martin Chelstad, Elijah Cruz, Zach Davis, Braden Eggers, Michael Eggers, Brodee Gay, Dylan Hartsook, Skyler Langdon, Wesley Raynor, Ean Tackett, Jasper Victor and Austin Weinman.
On the girls side, the Huskies are coming off an eighth-place team finish in the 4A/3A/2A/1A division state championships after winning their second straight regional championship, first among 55 teams.
Junior Bailey Chafin is back after winning her second straight state title, pinning her way through the state tournament.
“Bailey won her second state title; anything less than third would have been disappointing,” Thorpe said.
Chafin, who was a dominant competitor in youth wrestling before moving on to high school, did not compete after state last spring due to a shoulder injury, which has since healed, her coach said.
“The timing was perfect,” Thorpe said of Chafin’s surgery.
She’s joined by sophomore Alizeah Weikel, who was one match away from placing last year, and senior Amelia Sullens, who was also a state qualifier last year.
Sullens will provide some veteran leadership, Thorpe said.
“She’s mature and she’s a good leader.
Rounding out the girls squad are seniors Emmaline Durrett and Samantha Villa; juniors Mahala Gourley-Webster, Rylie Hollingsworth, Emma Pangle and Avery Temple; sophomores Eturnyti Allison and Madi Looney; and freshmen Hailey Borromeo, Tabitha Brzezinski, Natasha Marin, Bella Rico and Lyla Ventura.
“We have 16 girls, several of whom are brand new. The younger kids have come in and they’re excited to be part of it. They’ve bought in to what we’re doing. We’ve won back-to-back regional championships and that has to be our goal this year as well.”
Thorpe, who is entering his 34th season with the Huskies, said he’s “inspired” by the effort and commitment he’s seeing from the 65 kids in his wrestling room.
“I was telling one of my coaches today that this team is probably as hard-working as any team I’ve ever coached,” he said. “Everybody, no matter what their skill level, is working to a point to make themselves better.
“We have 65 kids in the room. When a group comes together like that, you can have special things happen.”
He said they’re being coached by a “great” staff, including names known to Sweet Home wrestling fans: Andrew Swanson, Clint Sieminski, Jeff Landtroop and Nathan Whitfield. They are joined by newcomers Shane Sheppard, who coached at North Marion for five seasons after wrestling for Stayton, then at Oregon State and Minot State universities; and Justin Parazoo, who won state titles in 2015 and 2016 while wrestling for Scio, going undefeated in 2016.
“People want to be part of this program,” Thorpe said. “That’s something I’m very proud of. I don’t apologize for it.”
They face stiff competition this year, he added.
“Our region is as good as our region has ever been,” Thorpe said, noting that Cascade returns its entire lineup after taking fourth in state last year and Philomath finished “sixth or seventh.”
“Our region is just loaded,” he said. “It’s not something we are going to run away with. We’re going to have earn whatever we get.”
In addition to those division rivals, statewide, the Huskies should see some tough competition from Crook County, which, Thorpe said, “could be the team to beat,” La Grande “which is always well-coached and always tough,” and Mazama.
“The 4A Division is a very tough division in our state. We’re going to see all of those teams at some point during this year.”
Which brings up the schedule, which Thorpe terms “the toughest ever” for the Huskies, who already have regularly wrestled at least several two-day events. This season that will be five.
“We’ve set our schedule up to go after tough competition in those,” he said.
“It’s inspiring to me to see what the kids are doing – working hard, staying after, coming in early, doing the extra stuff. It’s a good time to be a Sweet Home wrestler right now.
“We’re on a wave and I don’t know when that wave will crash. We’ve got about 130 kids in Mat Club. Our middle school program is set to do great things this year and our high school has 65 kids.
“I’m excited for what we are going to accomplish and I won’t be disappointed if we put in our work. I’m very grateful for the people who support us.”
The Huskies opened their season Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the 12-team Dick Weisbrodt Duals, hosted by Lebanon.
The boys went 3-0, defeating West Albany 43-29, McKay 60-18, and Dallas 44-33.
The girls were 3-1 after defeating West Albany 42-34, Tigard 60-18, and Cascade 48-24, and falling to Dallas 48-36.
“It is great to open up a season at the Dick Weisbrodt Duals,” Thorpe said. “Everyone got matches and it is nice being close to home.
Emma Durrett went undefeated for the girls, as did Jesse Landtroop, Tytus Hardee, Russell Dickerman, Kyle Zajic, Lynkin Royer and Colton Bennett for the boys.
“This tournament lets us know where we need to improve,” Thorpe said. “We did not compete like we need to, but I remind myself that it is early and right now is not as important as February.”
Up next, the Huskies will host Cascade, Elmira, Newport, and Stayton at home on Tuesday, Dec. 18.