In its final dual meet before heading to the Val-Co District Championships this Saturday, Feb. 20, the Sweet Home wrestling team beat Lebanon 41-33.
The Huskies forfeited three matches as they rested wrestlers who were injured or who had reached their limit of matches for the regular season.
“Lebanon is well-coached,” Sweet Home Coach Steve Thorpe said. ”
They have a very good coaching staff. Because they’re so close to us, we’ve developed a friendly rivalry. It is always good to beat them.”
Freshman Tyler Cowger had a good outing against Garrett Urritia, whom he went to overtime with in their last match, defeating Urritia 9-2 this time around.
Usual junior varsity wrestlers Scottie Stockman, Jacob Jewell and Chance Jucutan all moved up and Stockman and Jucutan both pinned their opponents near the end of the match.
“Chance coming in, and stepping as a JV kid into the lineup to get a fall for us, that was great,” Thorpe said of the sophomore 160-pounder, who, he said, has “done all the extra stuff” €“ summer camps, workouts, etc.
Saturday, Sweet Home has 24 wrestlers entered in the tournament, which will begin at 11 a.m. at Central High School in Independence.
Sweet Home will be aiming for its fifth straight Val-Co title, and then will focus on defending its state 4A title at Portland Memorial Coliseum Feb. 25-27.
“Our goal is to qualify as many as possible to the state tournament,” Thorpe said. “The more numbers we get to state, the more scoring opportunity we have.”
Finals in the district tournament start at 6 p.m. Cost is $6 for adults, $4 for children.
Sweet Home 41, Lebanon 33
103 €“ Colton Schilling (SH) pinned Bryan Lacy (L) :37; 112 €“ Scottie Stockman pinned Parker (L) 5:12; 119 €“ Tyler Holly (SH) won by forfeit; 125 €“ Mitch Grove def. Cameron Coats (L) by technical fall, 19-3; 130 €“ Tyler Cowger (SH) def. Garrett Urritia (L) 9-2; 135 €“ Dalton Urritia (L) won by forfeit; 140 €“ Craig Trask (L) def. Marshall Arndt (SH) 3-0; 145 €“ Aranda (L) pinned Jacob Jewell (SH) 1:05; 152 €“ Brock Crocker (SH) def. Tance Privarsky (L) 10-8; 160 €“ Chance Jucutan (SH) pinned Alex Hall (L) 4:41; 171 €“ Brad Pitts (SH) pinned Scavone (L) 2:36; 189 €“ Anthony Albright (L) won by forfeit; 215 €“ Josh Casterline (L) won by forfeit; 285 €“ Andrew Vandetta (L) pinned Christian Whitfield (SH) 1:45.