Last year Sweet Home’s wrestlers staggered home from the Reser’s Tournament of Champions in Hillsborough without one varsity placewinner and after placing 23rd out of 24 teams against some of the toughest competition in the state.
This year things were significantly different for the Huskies, who placed sixth with four varsity medalists, not to mention five placewinners in the junior varsity competition.
Coach Steve Thorpe was feeling a lot better this year.
“I was very happy with how the boys competed,” he said. “This is one of the toughest tournaments in the state of Oregon. It’s considered one of the three toughest in the nation.”
Roseburg won the tournament with 223.5 points, followed by Hermiston (176.5), Newberg (162.5), West Salem (142.0), North Medford (112) and Sweet Home (109.0.
The only other non-5A or 6A school was Culver, which finished tied for 20th with 31 points.
“It was a great tournament,” Thorpe said. “It got our guys an opportunity to wrestle with people we don’t typically see.”
He noted that Sweet Home often wrestles 5A and 6A schools at other tournaments, but not this many at once.
Thorpe said the difference between this year and last was maturity and training.
“We prepared for it differently,” he said. “Last year we stepped in on a down cycle. This year we were on the upswing.”
Not only were many of the Huskies older this year, but two freshmen stepped up €“ Colton Schilling, who took third at 103 pounds and Tyler Cowger, who was second at 125 in the varsity competition. Other varsity placewinners were senior Brock Crocker, second at 152, and senior Brad Pitts, sixth at 171 after wrestling eight matches in two days.
“We only had three people (on varsity) who didn’t win a match, out of 14 wrestlers,” Thorpe said. He said both Taylor Tagle and Kris Newport withdrew early with injuries, “but even with guys who didn’t place, we scored points.
“We just had kids compete. That’s all that matters.”
Junior varsity placewinners were Scottie Stockman, second at 103; Ty Harvey, fifth at 119; Colby DeCleve, fourth at 125; Hunter Bidwell, sixth at 130; and David Rinehart, sixth at 140.
Thorpe said the Huskies “number one focus” is to get ready for the district tournament, on Feb. 20, and state on Feb. 25-27.
“Right now we just want to get people healthy,” he said. “We’ve got a little bit of sickness, got some injuries. We want to get healthy for the state tournament.”
Sweet Home wrestles at home this week, in a three-way dual against Culver and Newport beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday. The Huskies then wrestle Saturday at the Cottage Grove Tournament.
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In dual meet action Thursday, Jan. 28, the Huskies easily defeated Central and Taft in a three-way dual in Lincoln City. Both teams forfeited matches, but the Huskies won all but three of the matches in which they had competition.
Sweet Home 57, Central 3
103 €“ Both teams forfeited; 112 €“ Brian Malloy (SH) won by forfeit; 119 €“ Tyler Holly (SH) pinned Tyler Armstrong (C) :16; 125 €“ Tyler Cowger (SH) won by forfeit; 130 €“ Both teams forfeited; 135 €“ Kris Newport (SH) won by forfeit; 140 €“ Marshall Arndt (SH) pinned Tafolla (C) 1:05; 145 €“ Kyle Hummer (SH) def. Victor Perez (C) 9-7 (OT); 152 €“ Brock Crocker (SH) pinned Meza (C) 3:02; 160 €“ Swinehart (C) def. Jacob Jewell (SH) 9-7; 171 €“ Brad Pitts (SH) won by forfeit; 189 €“ Michael Harry (SH) won by forfeit; 215 €“ Zach Gill (SH) def. Mink (C) 8-7; 285 €“ Christian Whitfield (SH) pinned Miller (C) 1:00.
Sweet Home 60, Taft 9
103 €“ Both teams forfeited; 112 €“ Brian Malloy (SH) won by forfeit; 119 €“ Tyler Holly (SH) pinned Russell (T) :31; 125 €“ Tyler Cowger (SH) pinned Joseph Cox (T) 2:30; 130 €“ David Converse (T) won by forefeit; 135 €“ Kris Newport (SH) pinned Tofalla (T) 2:39; 140 €“ Marshall Arndt (SH) won by forfeit; 145 €“ Kyle Hummer (SH) def. Ryan (T) 4-2; 152 €“ Brock Crocker (SH) pinned Cody Cox (T) 3:08; 160 €“ Jacob Jewell (SH) pinned Terrill (T) 1:00; 171 €“ Brad Pitts (SH) pinned Elliott (T) 1:00; 189 €“ Michael Harry (SH) pinned Whitaker (T) :23; 215 €“ Padilla (T) def. Zach Gill (SH) 6-3; 285 €“ Christian Whitfield (SH) pinned Selridge (T) 2:18.