The Sweet Home wrestlers won the South Albany Invitational Saturday, Jan. 28 after defeating Stayton 53-18 two days earlier.
“I think that’s the first time that we’ve ever won that tournament,” said Coach Steve Thorpe. Both the varsity and JV teams won their tournaments, despite the absence of regular varsity wrestlers Trevor Tagle and Colton Cooley, who were taking SAT tests, and Joe Ellis, who was nursing a shoulder injury.
Thorpe named John Sutten (125) and Tom Helfrich (145), both of whom won their classes, as having a “great” outing.
He said Shane Vandehei, at 130, got caught on his back, but came back and “did what he does — turned people.” Vandehei and Shorty Weikel (152) were also division champs.
“The guys are wrestling hard, win or lose, and that’s what we need right now,” Thorpe said of his team’s effort.
In the match at Stayton on Jan. 26, Sutten beat Nate Wixom, who placed fifth in state last year.
“On paper, at least, it was an upset,” Thorpe said.
He also noted that Chris Farris “has been steady for us all year. He’s starting to mature mentally and physically as a wrestler,” Thorpe said of the freshman 103-pounder.
The Huskies travel to Sisters on Thursday, Feb. 2, and then will begin focusing on districts.
South Albany Invitational Varsity Team Scores
Sweet Home 125, West Albany and Southridge 116, South Albany 101, North Bend 72, Mt View (Wash.) 71, Silverton 69, Tillamook 37, Sheldon 31.
Sweet Home Results
103 – Chris Farris, 3rd; 112 – Aris Somatis, 4th; 119 – Jack Perry, 3rd; 125 John Sutten, – 1st; 130 – Shane Vandehei, 1st; 135 – Daniel Smith, 5th; 140 – Nick Pitts, 4th; 145 – Tom Helfrich, 1st; 152 – Shorty Weikel, 1st; 160 – Brandon Lawson, 4th; 171 – Rob Helfrich, 2nd; 215 – Shaw Valentine 6th.
Sweet Home 53, Stayton 18
103 – Chris Farris (SH) dec, Micheal (S) 85; 112 – Aris Somatis (SH) pinned Bird (S) :44; 119 – Jack Perry (SH) pinned Elkins (S) 5:05; 125 – John Sutten (SH) dec. Wixom (S) 12-6; 130 – Shane Vandehei (SH) pinned Elkins (S) :39; 135 – Daniel Smith (SH) def. Porter (S); 140 – Trevor Tagle (SH) won by technical fall over Olsen (S) 16-1; 145- Tom Helfrich (SH) def. Fiedler (S) 8-6; 152 – Shorty Weikel (SH) pinned Martushev (S) 2:48; 160 – Colton Cooley (SH) pinned Pflug (S) 2:48; 171 – Robert Helfrich (SH) dec. Lyons (S) 7-1; 189 – Koumentis (S) pinned Joey Ellis (SH) :57; 215 – Thatcher (S) pinned Shaw Valentine (SH) :32; 275 – Espinoza (S) pinned Matt Parker (SH) :29.