For the first time since senior Tyrel Miller was a freshman, Sweet Home took home a trophy from the Oregon Classic in Redmond Saturday after going 5-1 against some of the toughest teams in the 4A Division.
“To place third was the very best we could have done in that tournament,” said a clearly delighted Head Coach Steve Thorpe. “That’s what we did. This one tastes pretty good.”
Crook County beat Marshfield to take the 4A title. Sweet Home was third with a 39-35 victory over North Marion in the consolation championship after losing one match, 56-18, to Crook County.
Sweet Home was fifth last year after failing to place at all in 2014, following a second-place finish in 2013, Miller’s first year.
The Huskies beat Sutherlin 66-15 Friday to kick things off in the dual-format tournament, then downed Cascade 42-39 and Baker/Powder Valley 52-24.
“Baker was ranked No. 7 in the state and they very improved,” Thorpe said. “That was a big win against them. And any time you beat Cascade, they’re always tough.”
Riding that momentum, Sweet Home defeated Scappoose to open the second day’s action, which gave the Huskies “a little redemption after losing to the Indians in the Classic last year, Thorpe noted.
Against No. 1 Crook County, they had trouble with the Cowboys’ depth and strength.
Freshmen Robert Watkins (106) and Robbie Yunke (113) both pinned their opponents and Ricky Yunke followed 132, but that was it for the Huskies in a 56-18 loss.
“They are very tough,” Thorpe said. “I do believe we out-competed them, but we were out-gunned in several ways. We still competed, though, even though we lost.”
He snoted that Miller “got caught” and pinned by Kurt Mode at 145 pounds. Mode, last year’s state runner-up at 126 for Banks after wrestling for the Cowboys as a sophomore, moved back to Crook County this year.
“Tyrel is wrestling well,” he said. “That’s why we go to these tournaments like this. We want to wrestle these guys. We want to see the guys who will be in the way at the state tournament.”
In the third-place match against North Marion, which had beaten them three weeks ago for the first time ever, the Huskies got back in the groove.
“We were at full strength and they were at full strength,” Thorpe said. Down by two going into the heavyweight bout, Gavin Baskin, who had gone 1-4 on the weekend, pinned Rogelio Mejia in 44 seconds for a 39-35 team victory.
“He got to be the hero,” Thorpe said. But Baskin wasn’t the only one.
Robbie Yunke pinned fellow freshman Kyle McConkey, who came into the tournament ranked ninth in the state, one slot ahead of Yunke.
Watkins finished the tournament undefeated, winning his first match by forfeit and sweeping the rest, all but one (a major decision) by falls. Ricky Yunke at 132 pounds pinned James Ahhee of Baker, ranked third in the state at 120, and wrestled what Thorpe described as “an incredible match” in a 4-0 loss to North Marion’s Casey Roberts, ranked third at 132.
“I’m very proud of my team because they were unselfish,” he said, noting that he had to move people around, particularly after Hunter Olheiser had to withdraw with an injury in his second match at 195 pounds. Thorpe put Olheiser in against Baker to collect a forfeit, but he said it’s uncertain whether the senior will be able to get on the mat again this season.
“If this was his last tournament, I wanted him to go out with his hand in the air,” Thorpe said.
He credited Devin Stafford, Bryson Denver, Hunter Rooney and Jake Porter in particular with willingness to do whatever it took to get the team through a match.
In the girls on Sunday, Gracie Olson was fourth at 106 and Marissa Kurtz took fifth for the Huskies at 113. Thorpe said the tournament was the largest ever, with 221 girls.
In the junior/cadet tournament, Sweet Home’s Boe Baxter was second at Cadet 138 and Justin Kirtz was fourth at 132.
Sweet Home will host Sisters in an endowment match at home Thursday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. Mat Club members who wear a Sweet Home Wrestling T-shirt and have a parent in tow get in free. Due to the fact that it’s an endowment event, everybody else has to pay.
Immediately following that match, the Huskies will depart for yet another tough competition, Resers Tournament of Champions at Liberty High School in Hillsboro. Action there starts at 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Oregon Classic Results
Sweet Home 66, Sutherlin 15
106 – Robert Watkins (SH) won by forfeit; 113 – Robbie Yunke (SH) pinned Michelle Walter (S) 0:19; 120 – Dillon Stutzman (SH) pinned Noah Thompson (S) 0:24; 126 – Kobe Olson (SH) pinned Bryce Olsen (S) 2:28; 132 – Ricky Yunke (SH) pinned William Black (S) 3:03; 138 – Joe Rasmussen (SH) pinned Devon Barott (S) 0:35; 145 – Tyrel Miller (SH) pinned Brandon Carrillo (S) 3:17; 152 – Jake Porter (SH) pinned Conner Grauf (S) 0:17; 160 – William Singleton (S) dec. Kaden Peterson (SH) 7-0; 170 – Bryson Denver (SH) pinned Zachary Lepre (S) 3:17; 182 – Christian Beauregard (S) won by forfeit; 195 – Andrew Smalley (S) pinned Hunter Olheiser (SH) 0:46; 220 – Dalton Doerfler (SH) pinned Justin Crum (S) 1:22; 285 – Gavin Baskin (SH) pinned Tanner Strong (S) 0:59.
Sweet Home 42, Cascade 39
106 – Robert Watkins (SH) pinned Brook Petterson (C) 0:17; 113 – Robbie Yunke (SH) pinned Devin Privratsky (C) 1:28; 120 – Darien Fagin (C) pinned Dillon Stutzman (SH) 3:15; 126 – Kobe Olson (SH) pinned Marshal Christman (C) 2:50; 132 – Ricky Yunke (SH) pinned Adam Stratemeyer (C) 2:55; 138 – Joe Rasmussen (SH) pinned Connor Kelly (C) 2:15; 145 – Tyrel Miller (SH) pinned Austin Brill (C) 1:00; 152 – Jake Porter (SH) pinned Kade Vandehey (C) 4:40; 160 – James Baxter (C) pinned Kaden Peterson (SH) 0:37; 170 – Hayes Vandehey (C) won by forfeit; 182 – Sam Garee (C) dec. Bryson Denver (SH) 10-8; 195 – James Vanagtmael (C) won inj. default over Hunter Olheiser (SH) 2:03; 220 – Louie Sanchez (C) pinned Dalton Doerfler (SH) 1:53; 285 – Seth Everetts (C) pinned Gavin Baskin (SH) 1:28.
Sweet Home 52, Baker/Powder Valley 24
106 – Robert Watkins (SH) maj. dec. Colton Anderson (B) 14-6; 113 – Jace Hays (B) dec. Robbie Yunke (SH) 13-7; 120 – Elijah Banister (B) dec. Dillon Stutzman (SH) 13-10; 126 – Kobe Olson (SH) pinned Nick Blair (B) 1:15; 132 – Ricky Yunke (SH) pinned James Ahhee (B) 1:45; 138 – Joe Rasmussen (SH) pinned Marco Vela (B) 1:08; 145 – Tyrel Miller (SH) pinned Clay Keller (B) 1:21; 152 – Korey Grende (B) pinned Jake Porter (SH) 1:57; 160 – Dylan Feldmeier (B) pinned Kaden Peterson (SH) 4:11; 170 – Devin Stafford (SH) pinned Sam Harper (B) 0:59; 182 – Bryson Denver (SH) pinned G`ovi Quezada (B) 1:13; 195 – Hunter Olheiser (SH) won by forfeit; 220 – Dalton Doerfler (SH) won by forfeit; 285 – Will Goodwin (B) pinned Gavin Baskin (SH) 2:32.
Sweet Home 45, Scappoose 33
106 – Robert Watkins (SH) pinned Brendyn Nollette (S) 0:28; 113 – Tyler Cooper (S) dec. Robbie Yunke (SH) 6-5; 120 – Dillon Stutzman (SH) pinned Braydon Merrow-hansen (S) 0:34; 126 – Kobe Olson (SH) pinned Evan Miller (S) 0:45; 132 – Braxton Sue (S) pinned Ricky Yunke (SH) 2:44; 138 – Joe Rasmussen (SH) pinned Colton Bush (S) 1:42; 145 – Tyrel Miller (SH) pinned Jack Eggers (S) 1:32; 152 – Jake Porter (SH) pinned James Jones (S) 1:40; 160 – Zach Hanson (S) pinned Kaden Peterson (SH) 0:28; 170 – Cody Erhardt (S) pinned Devin Stafford (SH) 2:52; 182 – Bryson Denver (SH) dec. Zeddy Jamerson (S) 4-2; 195 – Daniel Rooney (SH) pinned Skyler Bhagat (S) 0:29; 220 – Tyson Broadbent (S) won by forfeit; 285 – Garrett Wood (S) pinned Gavin Baskin (SH) 5:34.
Crook County 56, Sweet Home 18
106 – Robert Watkins (SH) pinned Jesse Gore CC) 2:27; 113 – Robbie Yunke (SH) pinned Tucker Shores (CC) 1:06; 120 – Pacer Quire (CC) maj. dec. Dillon Stutzman (SH) 14-2; 126 – Terran Libolt (CC) maj. dec. Kobe Olson (SH) 13-4; 132 – Ricky Yunke (SH) pinned Turner Austin (CC) 2:00; 138 – Hayden Bates (CC) dec. Joe Rasmussen (SH) 11-6;
145 – Kurt Mode (CC) pinned Tyrel Miller (SH) 2:49; 152 – Cole Ovens (CC) pinned Jake Porter (SH) 0:50; 160 – Trey Shores (CC) won by forfeit; 170 – Zach Young (CC) dec. Bryson Denver (SH) 7-3; 182 – Cade Woodward (CC) pinned Devin Stafford (SH) 0:00; 195 – Carson Raymond (CC) pinned Daniel Rooney (SH) 0:49; 220 – Brogan Howard (CC) pinned Dalton Doerfler (SH) 1:18; 285 – Wyatt Sigmen (CC) pinned Gavin Baskin (SH) 0:59.
Sweet Home 39, North Marion 35
106 – Robert Watkins (SH) pinned Cristian Ramirez (NM) 3:57; 113 – Robbie Yunke (SH) pinned Kyle Mcconkey (NM) 3:23; 120 – Russel Stigall (NM) dec. Dillon Stutzman (SH) 9-3; 126 – Kobe Olson (SH) dec. Brandon Gibson (NM) 11-7;
132 – Casey Roberts (NM) dec. Ricky Yunke (SH) 4-0; 138 – Joe Rasmussen (SH) pinned Travis Randall (NM) 2:17; 145 – Tyrel Miller (SH) pinned Avidan Sanchez (NM) 1:37; 152 – Lane Stigall (NM) won by forfeit; 160 – Gregory Wing (NM) pinned Jake Porter (SH) 1:14; 170 – Damian Chavez (NM) won by forfeit; 182 – Juan Tarula (NM) pinned Bryson Denver (SH) 0:59; 195 – Rueben Verdugo (NM) pinned Daniel Rooney (SH) 1:57; 220 – Dalton Doerfler (SH) pinned Dustin Lafarge (NM) 1:52; 285 – Gavin Baskin (SH) pinned Rogelio Mejia (NM) 0:44.
North Marion’s team score had one point subtracted for coach misconduct.
District 3 Dual Meets
Sweet Home 66, Philomath 18
106 – Robert Watkins (SH) pinned Hunter McCaskill (P) (1:01); 113 – Robbie Yunke (SH) won by forfeit; 120 – Dillon Stutzman (SH) pinned Anthony Rath(P)(2:22); 126 – Kobe Olson (SH) pinned Keltin Benson (P) (0:41); 132 – Ricky Yunke (SH) pinned Cody Chambers (P) (1:43); 138 – Joe Rasmussen (SH) pinned Baily Epperson (P) (0:37); 145 – Tyrel Miller (SH) pinned Dylan Donnell (P) (1:07); 152 – Jake Porter (SH) pinned James Howell (P) (0:58); 160 – Jacob French (P) pinned Kaden Peterson (SH) (0:44); 170 – Jacob Morris (P) pinned Bryson Denver (SH) (1:14); 182 – Taylor Kohn (P) won by forfeit; 195 – Daniel Rooney (SH) pinned Hunter Rust (P) (0:54); 220 – Dalton Doerfler (SH) pinned Kane Rust (P) (0:44); 285 – Gavin Baskin (SH) won by forfeit.
Sweet Home 66, Junction City 16
106 – Robert Watkins (SH) won by forfeit; 113 – Robbie Yunke (SH) won by forfeit; 120 – Dillon Stutzman (SH) won by forfeit; 126 – Kobe Olson (SH) over Caleb Rhoades (JC) (1:10); 132 – Ricky Yunke (SH) won by forfeit; 138 – Joe Rasmussen (SH) pinned Travis Hodgson (JC) (1:29); 145 – Tyrel Miller (SH) pinned Joseph Goodwin (JC) (0:43); 152 – Brogan Miner (JC) maj. dec. Jake Porter (SH) 15-6; 160 – Kaden Peterson (SH) won by forfeit; 170 – Bryson Denver (SH) pinned Sean Herber (JC) (3:58); 182 – Tyler Morris (JC) won by forfeit; 195 – Daniel Rooney (SH) pinned Austin Emanuel (JC) (0:34); 220 – Erich Patton (JC) pinned Dalton Doerfler (SH) (3:15); 285 – Gavin Baskin (SH) pinned Joseph LeGendre (JC) (2:40).