Although they didn’t win the state tournament they had hoped for, the Sweet Home Husky wrestling squad met numerous goals established before the season started, coaches said last week during a banquet held at the LDS church hall.
The Huskies finished the season with a 26-2 record, took second at the state 3A tournament, placed five athletes into the finals, and brought home a seventh place finish from the Sierra Nevada Classic held in Reno and again won the Oregon Classic title.
“This is a great celebration,” Coach Steve Thorpe said. “This is our fifth banquet and they just keep getting better and better every year.”
The Huskies lose only five seniors from the talented lineup. They include manager Tyler Horn, heavyweight Andy Ellis, 130 pounder Ross Almason, 145 pounder Israel Helfrich and 171 pounder Trevor Burchardt.
Special team awards included:
Outstanding Wrestler Award: the five state runners up including Andrew Swanson, 103; Chad Emmert, 112; K.C. Stokes, 125; David Helfrich, 160; and Andy Ellis, heavyweight.
The fan appreciation award went to Gerald Cochran.
Workhorse award: Israel Helfrich.
Ironman: Adam Zurcher.
Most First Takedowns: Andrew Swanson with 34.
Most Falls: Andy Ellis and K.C. Stokes with 25 each.
Husky seniors expressed their appreciations to coaches, workout partners and fans.
Ellis leaves the team with one state championship and two runner up titles.
Almason finished third at districts this season and qualified for the state tournament.
Burchardt was second at district and a state qualifier.
Helfrich was district champion and sixth at state.
Coach Thorpe urged his returning wrestlers to “Set goals. If you do nothing, you get nothing on that return. You’ve got to work at it to get better next season.”
The Huskies swept away all league competition. They defeated North Marion 65-8, Stayton 64-3, Central 72-0, Cascade 39-24 and Molalla 64-15.
District placings: 103: Andrew Swanson, first; Chad Workman, fourth; 112: Chad Emmert, second; Mike Aerni, fourth; 119: Neal Workman, first; Jordan Johnson, fifth; 125: K.C. Stokes, first; Kyle Temple, second; 130: Ross Almason, third; Keith Horn, fifth; 135: Adam Zurcher, sixth; 140: Chris Phillips, fifth; Keegan Burnett, third; 145: Israel Helfrich, first; Adam Knight, second; 152: Eric Lambert, second; Levi McCubbins, fifth; 160: David Helfrich, first; Nathan Snyder, fifth; 171: Trevor Burchard, second; 189: Matt Vassar, first; Matt Miner, third; 215: Daniel Brewer, first; 275: Andy Ellis, first; Logan Cooley, fourth.
State placers: 103: Swanson, second; 112: Emmert, second; 125: Stokes, second; 145: I. Helfrich, sixth; 160: D. Helfrich, second; 215: Brewer, eighth; 275: Ellis, second.
Coach Thorpe was named Capital Conference Coach of the Year and Coach Tim Boatwright was named Assistant Coach of the Year.
Category leaders:
Team points: Andy Ellis, 194; K.C. Stokes, 188; Andrew Swanson, 187.
Wins: Andrew Swanson, 36; Israel Helfrich, 35; K.C. Stokes, 34.
Falls: Andy Ellis, 25; K.C. Stokes, 25; Daniel Brewer, 24.
Tech Falls: Andrew Swanson, 4; Trevor Burchard, Andy Ellis and David Helfrich, 2.
Major Decisions: David Helfrich, 6; Andrew Swanson and I. Helfrich, 4.
First Takedowns: Andrew Swanson, 34 and Israel Helfrich, 31.