Sweet Home went into the Oregon Classic, the king of the mid-season wrestling tournaments in the state of Oregon, ranked No. 5 Friday morning and hoping for a top-four finish.
The Huskies left Saturday night with the second-place trophy after upsetting Ontario (45-19) and Cascade (45-32), and rolling over Tillamook 54-21 before falling to No. 1-ranked Henley 45-24 in the final.
“We got a little momentum,” said Coach Steve Thorpe, his voice hoarse from three days of coaching the high-schoolers, and then the Mat Club wrestlers in the youth tournament, which extended into Sunday.
Thorpe said he was surprised by the extent of the Huskies’ wins over Ontario and Tillamook, in particular, and he noted that Sweet Home had lost twice to Cascade in tournaments this year and once in a dual meet.
He termed the Cascade victory “a very good win” and noted that, although the Huskies weren’t expected to beat Henley, “it was a different dual than the first time we wrestled them” in the season opener.
He credited the Huskies’ performance to an “unselfish” team and the fact that the line-up now includes three veterans who were out earlier.
“What a difference it makes to have (Colton) Schilling, (Trever) Olson and (Nate) Melcher,” he said. “And in our line-up everybody is down to weight.
“That’s testimony to how we work in our program. I’ve had better wrestlers, more depth on teams, but each team has its own dynamic and this team is unselfish. That is why we experienced success at the Oregon Classic.”
Tyler Cowger, who posted six falls, including a pin of Ontario’s Cade Hartley, the No. 2-ranked 4A division wrestler in the state at 138 pounds, has provided significant leadership, Thorpe said.
“Cowger has continued on and Ty Harvey has really stepped up, which has been very welcome.”
Schilling lost to national champion Ronnie Bresser of Henley at 120 pounds in a 4-1 decision, but Thorpe noted that his two-time state champion junior is still getting in shape after sitting out for a month to allow some football injuries to heal.
He also credited Tyler Schilling, Justin Nicholson and Wade Paulus for outstanding performances.
“Wade Paulus moved up a weight class and came away with two falls. Those two falls were momentum-getters, particularly his win at 220 against Cascade. That sparked momentum for us. It was just a great tournament.
On Wednesday, Jan. 11, the Huskies defeated Elmira 54-25 in a league dual match at home, then followed that up with a 51-27 win over 5A Churchill, a match that featured the Lancers’ Zac Brunson, a 2011 freestyle national champion and the No. 1-ranked high school 170-pounder in the nation.
Zac Brunson of Churchill scores a takedown on Sweet Home’s Alex Armstrong during their match Wednesday.
Alex Armstrong hung in Brunson for a period before getting pinned.
Thorpe noted that, with Cowger and Colton Schilling, three All-Americans were on the mat that evening.
“What a neat night,” he said. “It’s amazing that we get to highlight some of the standout wrestlers in state of Oregon. How often do you get that level of athlete in same gym?”
He said he was particularly proud of the junior varsity wrestlers, all of whom won at least one match against Elmira or Churchill, and some of whom won all their bouts.
“I was proud of them,” Thorpe said.
Despite the week’s successes, he said, he warned his team that “we haven’t accomplished anything yet.
“This year’s goal wasn’t the Oregon Classic. This year’s goal is two weekends in February. That’s where our focus is at. That’s No. 1 right now.”
The wrestlers next will travel to Central Thursday for matches against the Panthers and Cascade, beginning at 5 p.m.
Oregon Classic Results
Sweet Home 53, Estacada 19
106 – Tyler Schilling (SH) TF Seb Sanchez (E) 16-0, 113 – Justin Nicholson (SH) pinned Harlt (E) 0:48, 120 – Colton Schilling (SH) pinned Donny Westlund (E) 1:04, 126 – Scottie Stockman (SH) pinned Zach Jones (E) 0:34, 132 – Rathbuin (E) pinned JT Weld (SH) 3:03, 138 – Tyler Cowger (SH) pinned Spencer Bradford (E) 0:42, 145 – Jacob Davidson (E) dec. Trever Olson (SH) 7-5, 152 – Travis Cole (E) dec. Nick Hall (SH) 5-3, 160 – Luke Youngberg (E) dec. Nate Melcher (SH) 8-7, 170 – Pletcher (E) maj. dec. Ben Terry (SH) 13-5, 182 – Chance Jucutan (SH) pinned TJ Barber (E) 0:44, 195 – David Skeen (SH) pinned Morrisey (E) 0:32, 220 – Wade Paulus (SH) pinned Shannon (E) 0:55, 285 – Zach Gill (SH) won by forfeit.
Sweet Home 72, Douglas 15
106 – Both teams forfeited, 113 – Anthony Hardee (SH) pinned Seargent (D) 0:15, 120 – Scottie Stockman (SH) pinned Willis (D) 0:15, 126 – Colton Schilling (SH) pinned Middleton (D) 0:24, 132 – Ty Harvey (SH) pinned Tahring (D) 0:28, 138 – Bobby Malloy (SH) pinned Dean (D) 0:50, 145 – Tyler Cowger (SH) pinned Michell (D) 1:59, 152 – Raul Hernandez (SH) pinned Boyles (D) 5:14, 160 – Duncan (D) dec. Nate Melcher (SH) 12-6, 170 – James Simmons (D) pinned Alex Armstrong (SH) 4:57, 182 – Chance Jucutan (SH) pinned Chance Wimberry (D) 0:29, 195 – Wade Paulus (SH) won by forfeit, 220 – David Skeen (SH) won by forfeit, 285 – Zach Gill (SH) won by forfeit.
Sweet Home 49, Ontario 19
106 – Justin Nicholson (SH) dec.Jose Barrera (O) 10-5, 113 – Eric Nunez (O) maj. dec. Anthony Hardee (SH) 11-0, 120 – Scottie Stockman (SH) dec. Nakamura (O) 9-3, 126 – Colton Schilling (SH) maj. dec. Edgar Nunez (O) 13-3, 132 – Ty Harvey (SH) pinned Munn (O) 0:45, 138 – Tyler Cowger (SH) pinned Cade Hartley (O) 2:40, 145 – Trever Olson (SH) pinned Dzhidahiyeshvil (O) 2:51, 152 – Meada (O) pinned Raul Hernandez (SH) 4:49, 160 – Nate Melcher (SH) pinned Mangum (O) 2:29, 170 – Alex Armstrong (SH) dec. Morales (O) 12-8, 182 – Ben Terry (SH) won by forfeit, 195 – Wade Paulus (SH) pinned Aurelio Flores (O) 0:38, 220 – Prince (O) pinned David Skeen (SH) 3:00, 285 – Jason Alvarado (O) dec. Zach Gill (SH) 2-2 (SV).
Sweet Home 54, Tillamook 21
106 – Tyler Schilling (SH) pinned Clowers (T) 4:45, 113 – Justin Nicholson (SH) dec. Imel (T) 7-6, 120 – Scottie Stockman (SH) won by forfeit, 126 – Colton Schilling (SH) pinned Owens (T) 0:38, 132 – Jacob Fowler (T) dec. Ty Harvey (SH) 8-7, 138 – Tyler Cowger (SH) pinned Jacobs (T) 5-1, 145 – Trever Olson (SH) dec. Jed Coon (T) 5-1, 152 – Ron Allen (T) pinned Nick Hall (SH) 3:00, 160 – Nate Melcher (SH) pinned Loveney (T) 5:34, 170 – Tucker Cook (T) pinned Alex Armstrong (SH) 2:52, 182 – Chance Jucutan (SH) pinned Billy Prince (T) 1:30, 195 – Travis Martin (T) pinned David Skeen (SH) 1:56, 220 – Wade Paulus (SH) pinned Marcus Chaney (T) 0:55, 285 – Zach Gill (SH) pinned Metsinger (T) 5:03.
Sweet Home 45, Cascade 32
106 – Tyler Schilling (SH) pinned Jared Reisterer (C) 5:15, 113 – Justin Nicholson (SH) pinned Krocker (C) 4:27, 120 – Scottie Stockman (SH) pinned Deno (C) 2:31, 126 – Colton Schilling (SH) dec. Spencer Crawford (C) 7-2, 132 – Bledsoe (C) dec Ty Harvey (SH) 7-4, 138 – Tyler Cowger (SH) pinned Marcus Andrews (C) 2:53, 145 – Trever Olson (SH) lost by injury default to Ryan Dozler (C), 152 – Nick Hall (SH) lost by injury default to Cody Kath (C), 160 – Nate Melcher (SH) pinned Becker (C) 3:29, 170 – Tyler Howe (C) TF Alex Armstrong (SH) 15-0, 182 – Zach Soto (C) pinned Chance Jucutan (SH) 2:45, 195 – Cody Crawford (C) won by forfeit, 220 – Wade Paulus (SH) pinned Dustin Johnson (C) 0:41, 285 – Zach Gill (SH) won by forfeit.
Sweet Home 24, Henley 45
106 – Tyler Scott (H) TF Justin Nicholson (SH) 16-0, 113 – Anthony Hardee pinned Coleman (H) 4:40, 120 – Ronnie Bresser (H) dec. Colton Schilling (SH) 4-1, 126 – Zechariah Bresser (H) maj. dec. Scottie Stockman (SH) 15-2, 132 – Zorg Loustalet (H) maj. dec. Ty Harvey (SH) 13-1, 138 – Tyler Cowger (SH) pinned Calvin Tillery (H) 2:36, 145 – Carlos Hernandez (H) dec. Trever Olson (SH) 6-4, 152 – Name of wrestler unknown (H) won by forfeit, 160 – Harmon Heater (H) TF Nate Melcher (SH) 16-1, 170 – Damon Fletcher (H) pinned Alex Armstrong (SH) 3:58, 182 – Heck (H) dec. Chance Jucutan (SH) 14-10, 195 – Phillip Morgan (H) pinned David Skeen (SH) 1:23, 220 – Drake Dow (H) pinned Wade Paulus (SH) 1:36, 285 – Skidmore (H) pinned Zach Gill (SH) 5:03.
January 11 Dual Meet Results
Sweet Home 51, Churchill 27
106 – Jorrin Ishihara (C) dec. Tyler Schilling (SH) 6-2; 113 – Justin Nicholson (SH) pinned Jett Lawrance (C) :30; 120 – Hunter Gogeun (C) pinned Erik Garcia (SH) :24; 126 – Colton Schilling (SH) won by inj. def. over Housten Ezell (C); 132 – Scottie Stockman (SH) pinned Redge Phillips (C) 5:37; 138