The Sweet Home wrestlers celebrated Senior Night Thursday against Central, saying goodbye to 10 Husky seniors wrestlers.
Coach Steve Thorpe noted that the seniors alone have accounted for 851 team points this year, including 93 falls.
This year’s seniors are Sawyer Anderson, who has a 19-18 win-loss record in this, his fourth year, KC Hanscam (11-17, second season), Rob Helfrich (34-5, fourth year), Andrew Knight (17-12, fourth year), Brandon Lawson (24-14, third year), Cory Ottre (12-14, fourth year), Matt Parker (24-14, fourth year), Daniel Smith (13-8, fourth year), Jake Smith (16-9, fourth year) and Kevin Yeung, (7-5, second year). Also graduating this year is Alicia Nichol, who has been a team statistician for four years and served as team manager this year.
“Senior night always has been a very special night – not just special for them, but special for their families,” Thorpe said.
Getting down to business, the Huskies nearly shut the Panthers out, 67-5. Central won one match, at heavyweight, when Marcus Cuellar pinned Sweet Home’s Logan Clark. The Panthers lost a team point when a coach protested a last-second score in overtime by Jake Smith that gave him a 4-2 win at 125 pounds.
“This is a unique group of guys,” Thorpe said of his senior class. “They are not overloaded with talent, but they have a lot of heart and a great, great work ethic.”
He pointed out that Thursday was his fifth and final Senior Night involving a Helfrich, as Rob Helfrich said goodbye to Husky Gym.
“He was Number Five,” Thorpe said. “Now I’m looking for another family.”
Thorpe said the Huskies expect to win the district tournament at Philomath on Saturday, and see that as the stepping stone to the state tournament, which has been Sweet Home’s main goal all season. “We don’t care about the score,” he said. “We care about getting as many guys through as we can.”
He said for the Huskies to qualify one or more wrestlers in every weight “is not unrealistic,”
“We’re just going to try to get as many guys into the finals, and third-place, as we can.”
The district event will begin at 10 a.m.
Sweet Home entries in the tournament and seeding are: 103 – Taylor Tagle (No. 1) and Mitch Grove; 112 – Danny Johnson (1) and Casey Johnson; 119 – Jack Perry (1) and Jake Smith (4) ; 125 – Brock Crocker (2) and Derek Sharp (4); 130 – Joe McCaslin (1) and Chris Farris; 135 – KC Hanscam (2) and Kevin Yeung; 140 – Daniel Smith (2); 145 – Nick Pitts (1) and Robert Callagan; 152 – Sawyer Anderson (1) and Andrew Knight; 160 – Brandon Lawson (1) and Brad Pitts; 171 – Cory Ottre (1) and Anthony Albright; 189 – Rob Helfrich (1) and Marc Callagan; 215 – Matt Parker (2) and Ethan Rowe; 275 – Logan Clark and Kyle Holmes.
Sweet Home 67, Central 5
103 – Taylor Tagle (SH) won by forfeit; 112 – Danny Johnson (SH) won by forfeit; 119 – Jack Perry (SH) won by forfeit; 125 – Jake Smith (SH) dec. Robin Hethorn (C) in OT 4-2; 130 – Joe McCaslin (SH) pinned Roberto Baney (C) 3:32; 135 – KC Hanscam (SH) dec. Derek Rardin (C) 4-2; 140 – Daniel Smith (SH) pinned Manuel Garcia (C) 3:32; 145 – Nick Pitts (SH) pinned Seth Biester (C) 5:41; 152 – Sawyer Anderson (SH) pinned JJ Oliveros (C) 1:36; 160 – Brandon Lawson (SH) dec. Rickey Cedillo (C) 9-3; 171 – Cory Ottre (SH) won by major decision over Michael Hazen (C) 16-6; 189 – Rob Helfrich (SH) pinned Chris Crazybull (C) 3:40; 215 – Matt Parker (SH) pinned Erik Anaya (C) 3:40 (exhibition b/c Anaya did not make weight); 275 – Marcus Cuellar (C) pinned Logan Clark (SH) :58. Central penalized one team point for coach’s outburst.