Sweet Home started its wrestling season off Thursday, May 20, against one of the best teams in the United States, Newberg.
The score told the story: 66-0.
“We struggled to find someone who would wrestle us,” Coach Steve Thorpe said. “Newberg is in the same boat.”
Also in Sweet Home for a match was Glencoe, which fell 42-18 to the Huskies.
“Glencoe’s numbers were down and they didn’t want to waste a date for Newberg, so they came also,” Thorpe said.
“Newberg is the best team in the state of Oregon right now and they’re one of the top teams in the country. They’re always well-coached and they have nationally ranked kids in their lineup. Why would I not want to compete against somebody like that, get kids that competition? We will get more out of that dual than going up against somebody and getting a bunch of forfeits.”
The Huskies’ only winner was sophomore Ethan Spencer at 182, who scored a fall over Kyle Kelley in the second period after flattening Kelley out from the referee’s position and then pinning him.
Junior Colby Gazeley took Newberg heavyweight Connor O’Brien down before getting pinned late in the first round.
Sweet Home forfeited the 113- and 120-pound categories, and put up a good fight in most of the divisions.
Jesse Jamison lost 3-1 to Charlie Evans of Newberg at 160 and Tristan Spencer kept the score reasonably close in a 6-2 loss at 152 to Nolan Womack.
Against Glencoe, the Huskies won by forfeit in every weight up to 170, where Gavin Walberg pinned Wylde Risco in 17 seconds, the Huskies’ only actual match win of the night.
Thorpe said he saw good things.
“Kyle Sieminski competed very well (in a 9-0 loss to Isaac Hampton) in that dual. Tristan Spencer, Jesse Jamison, Ethan Spencer, they all competed very well. I’m very happy with them.
“Colby Gazeley went out against one of the top-ranked kids in the state of Oregon and scored a takedown.”
Sweet Home hosted girls from throughout the Willamette Valley in a Women’s Open that was held in conjunction with the boys competitions. Results were not available, but Sweet Home’s Sicily Neuschwander, Paige Chafin and Cami Hart all came away with wins.
“I was very impressed with how the girls competed,” Thorpe said. “Sicily looked better than I’ve ever seen her wrestle. Paige has put in the work over the fall and winter. I’m very proud of the girls.”
The Huskies host Siuslaw, Junction City and North Marion at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 26 then head to Stayton Thursday for a match with the hosts and Elmira before moving on to Redmond for the Friday Night Lights tournament, which is an outside – non-OSAA tournament. The Huskies will see Bend, Mountain View, Newberg, Redmond and conference foe Cascade there.
“The great thing (Thursday) is that we were back on the mat,” Thorpe said. “Every kid got a match. I’m very proud that our sport is promoting that.”