John Sutten won the state Greco-Roman 130-pound wrestling title and the Sweet Home High School wrestlers brought home a school-record 12 places in the state freestyle/Greco-Roman wrestling tournament held at Roseburg High School March 24-25.
Trevor Tagle was the other high placer for the Huskies, with runner-up finishes in both the Greco-Roman and freestyle competitions at 145 pounds. Sutten also placed fourth in freestyle.
“All of these guys competed very hard,” said Coach Steve Thorpe. “I was very proud of each of them. This is a very tough tournament. Athletes from all divisions compete in this tournament. There is no 2A, 3A or 4A.”
The Greco portion of the tournament was wrestled Saturday, followed by the first round of the freestyle. Fifteen Huskies entered. In addition to Sutten and Tagle, they were: Chris Farris at 105 pounds (fourth in Greco); Jack Perry, Cody Sells (sixth in Greco, fifth in freestyle) and Aris Somatis at 119; Jake Smith, KC Hanscam and Joe McCaslin (sixth in freestyle) at 125; Daniel Smith at 135; Tom Helfrich (third in Greco) at 145; Nick Pitts at 152; Brandon Lawson at 160; Colton Cooley (sixth in Greco, fifth in freestyle) at 171 and Rob Helfrich (fifth in Greco) at 189.
The freestyle tournament included 240 wrestlers, while the Greco-Roman tournament had 200 wrestlers.
Sutten, a senior, said he expected some tough competition, but credited his workout partners for getting him ready.
“I knew Stanley, of Cottage Grove, and Vanzini, of Crater, would be tough,” he said. “But I’ve been working out with Tom (Helfrich) and Trevor (Tagle). And (Husky alumnus) John Farris came in and worked out. I think that really paid off.”
Sutten wrestled the most matches — 15 over the two days, while Tagle was right behind with 14.
Sutten said he was very sore Monday, the day after the tournament.
“I just laid in bed like this,” he said, sticking his arms out stiffly.
Tagle had to play baseball for the Huskies Monday.
Thorpe said people have commented to him that Sutten “has really come on.”
He noted that Sutten wrestled 34 extra matchs after the collegiate season last year and 43 during this year’s collegeiate season, culminating in a runner-up finish in the state championships.
“It is these extra matches and extra training that is making these guys better for next year,” he said.
Sutten is the first Husky since Thorpe took over the coaching job, 10 years ago, to win an individual championship in the alternative styles. Donna Davis, wife of the late coach Norm Davis, said she recalls Urial Santana also winning — both the freestyle and Greco titles, as well as the state collegiate title, in 1979.
Both Sutten and Tagle plan to continue wrestling in college, while Tom Helfrich, another senior, is undecided what he will do. Sutten plans to compete for Clackamas College. while Tagle is still deciding where he plans to attend, Thorpe said.