Sweet Home’s wrestlers have been busy the past couple of weeks, competing most recently at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas last week and at the state freestyle and Greco championship tournaments in Medford April 22-24.
High school senior Paige Chafin was the only Husky to place at the Open tournament, competing in the High School Girls National Recruiting Showcase, where she took sixth at 122 pounds.
Travis Thorpe, now a sophomore at Southern Oregon, and four current Huskies all competed in the U.S. Open, in multiple tournaments April 25 – May 1.
Thorpe wrestled in the Senior Open Division at 74 kilograms.
Freshman Jacob Landtroop wrestled at 57 kilos in the U15 World Team Trials in both freestyle and Greco.
Kyle Sieminski competed in freestyle at 51 kilos, Jake Sieminski in freestyle at 60 kilos, and Ryker Hartsook in freestyle at 70 kilos.
A week earlier, Chafin and her younger sister Bailey Chafin both earned triple crown honors at the state Freestyle and Greco wrestling championships held April 22-24 at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Medford.
Paige Chafin, who has signed to wrestle next fall at Eastern Oregon University, won state titles in both disciplines in the Junior Girls 117-pound division to go with the folkstyle title she won earlier this year. Bailey Chafin, an eighth-grader, was first in the 14U 127-pound division after also winning a folkstyle title earlier.
Winning state titles on the boys side for Sweet Home Mat Club were: Jesse Landtroop, first in both at 14U 83 pounds; Luke Rosa, first in Greco and third in freestyle at 14U 136 pounds; and Walker Farris, who was first in freestyle at 8U 43 pounds and third in Greco.
Sweet Home had a slew of runner-up finishers: Amos Jorgenson, second in freestyle and third in Greco at 8U 49 pounds; Lincoln Sutten, second in freestyle and fourth in Grego at 8U 85 pounds; Ryder Farris, second in both freestyle and Greco at 12U 58 pounds; Macen Rosa, second in Greco and third in freestyle at 12U 98 pounds; Matthew Jorgensen, second in both at 12U 63 pounds; Kyle Zajic, second in both at 14U 130 pounds; Kyle Sieminski, second in both at 16U 113 pounds; Kendra Jamison, second in both at Junior Girls 106-pounds; and Zoey Erevia, second in Greco and third in freestyle at Junior Girls 132 pounds.
Other third-place finishers were: Wiley Farris in freestyle at 10U 63 pounds, Cody Sieminski in both at 12U 70 pounds, Jeremiah Steagall in both at 14U 149 pounds, Tytus Hardee in Greco at 16U 106 pounds, and David Steagall in Greco at 195 pounds.
Finishing fourth were Tytus Hardee in freestyle, David Steagall in freestyle, Ryker Hartsook in Greco at 16U 152 pounds, and Jake Sieminski in Greco at Junior 138 pounds.
Fifth-place finishers were Jacob Landtroop in Greco at 16U 120, Hartsook in freestyle, and Jake Sieminski in freestyle.
Placing sixth were Colton Lester in freestyle at 16U 152 pounds, Deacon Bachand in both at 16U 160 pounds, and Kaden Zajic in both at Junior 170 pounds.
“I’m really proud of these kids,” said Sweet Home Coach Steve Thorpe, who accompanied the youngsters to the competitions. “It’s absolutely incredible to see that number of kids who are still dedicated to making themselves better. That’s what we make this about.”
Several Sweet Home wrestlers qualified for the national tournament in Fargo, N.D., in July, he said. It remains to be seen which ones follow through.
Up next for Sweet Home will be the Santiam Wrestling Camp for boys July 5-8 and a girls camp immediately afterward, July 9-12.
Thorpe said he appreciates the support of parents and the willingness of older wrestlers to help the young up-and-comers.
“To watch little kids, and the big kids go and help support the little kids, it speaks volumes about the kind of wrestling program we have.”