Sweet Home’s wrestlers proved Saturday they can be competitive at more than just the 4A level with a 34-29 win over Hermiston at the Roseburg Duals.
“This was called the Battle of Champions,” said Sweet Home Coach Steve Thorpe, noting that the meet included the defending state team champs from 4A (Sweet Home), 5A (Hermiston) and Roseburg (6a).
“This is the kind of competition we like to chase. It is always great to wrestle not only some of the best in the state but also some of the top kids in the country.”
Danny Johnson (119) and Nick Pitts (160) were the only winners for Sweet Home.
Thorpe said that, despite the lopsided Roseburg score, the dual was closer than the numbers indicate.
“They are very tough and a very well-coached team,” he said.
Against Hermiston, the Huskies managed to pull out some close matches.
Marc Callagan (189), in particular, pulled out a 5-3 key victory that provided the winning margin for the Huskies, Thorpe said.
“It was nice to beat them,” he said of Hermiston. “We had some key matches that led us to the win. We won the close matches. That was the difference.
The Huskies travel to Philomath tonight (Jan. 9), then will compete in the Oregon Classic Friday and Saturday in Redmond.
“Philomath is very tough this year,” Thorpe said. “It will be a tough dual.”
Roseburg 60, Sweet Home 9
103–Drew VanAnrooy (R) maj dec Mitch Grove (SH) 15-3; 112–Steven Evens (R) dec Taylor Tagle (SH) 4-1; 119–Danny Johnson (SH) pinned Harold Stephens (R) 3:33; 125–Mitch Lofstedt (R) won by inj def over Kris Newport (SH); 130–Tyler Lander (R) won by TF Jack Perry (SH) 16-0; 135–Jay Tovey (R) pinned Kyle Hummer (SH) :34; 140–Sam Meacham (R) pinned Brock Crocker (SH) 5:06; 145–Dylan Westeang (R) maj dec Levi Weikel (SH) 10-0; 152–Tony Castro (R) won by TF Keenon Martin (SH) 2-18; 160–Nick Pitts (SH) dec Devan Fors 9-2; 171–Kelley (R) dec Brad Pitts (SH) 9-2; 189–Brandon Ramano (R) pinned Callagan (SH) 3:52; 215–Joe Hennricks (R) pinned Logan Clark (SH) 1:45; 285–Brandon Galvez (R) pinned Shaw Valentine (SH) 3:54.
Sweet Home 34, Hermiston 29
103–Mitch Grove maj dec Massey (H) 13-2; 112–Jorgensen (H) dec Taylor Tagle 2-0 in OT; 119–Danny Johnson pinned Britt (H) 3:09; 125–Kris Newport pinned Scotto (H) :43; 130–Adolf (H) dec Jack Perry 5-0; 135–Olsen (H) pinned Kyle Hummer 2:51; 140–Brock Crocker dec McMahon (H) 4-0; 145–Levi Weikel dec Millard (H) 11-6; 152–Almagues (H) pinned Keenon Martin 3:16; 160–Nick Pitts dec Massey (H) 5-0; 171–Larsen (H) pinned Brad Pitts 1:37; 189–Marc Callagan dec Berger (H) 5-3; 215–Ekblad (H) pinned Logan Clark 2:53; 285–Shaw Valentine pinned Dopps (H) 1:17.
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The Huskies opened their Val-Co season with a decisive victory over Central on Jan. 3.
“I think that is a good way to open up league competition, with a strong win,” Thorpe said. “Central is not the caliber of team that we have been seeing but their kids competed hard.”
Central had to forfeit four matches, which didn’t help the Panthers.
But the Huskies who did wrestle did well – particularly heavyweight Shaw Valentine, who pinned last year’s district runner-up.
“Shaw has worked very hard this year and it is starting to pay off,” Thorpe said.
Sweet Home 75, Central 3
103–Mitch Grove (SH) won by forfeit; 112–Taylor Tagle (SH) pinned Escamilla (C) 1:00; 119–Danny Johnson (SH) won by forfeit; 125–Kris Newport (SH) won by forfeit; 130–Jack Perry (SH) pinned Rardin (C) :56; 135–Kyle Hummer (SH) pinned Cantrell (C) 2:46; 140–Brock Crocker (SH) dec Hethorn (C) 8-7; 145–Levi Weikel (SH) pinned Garcia (C) 2:46; 152–Keenon Martin (SH) won by forfeit; 160–Nick Pitts (SH) pinned Cuevas (C) 1:33; 171–Brad Pitts (SH) lost dec 6-9 to Cadilla (C); 189–Marc Callagan (SH) pinned Martinez (C) 2:45; 215–Logan Clark (SH) pinned Demelo (C) 2:22; 285–Shaw Valentine (SH) pinned Cuellar (C) :49.