Ken Roberts
Sports Writer
This year will be a special one for the Husky wrestlers. They will be the first to use the new team facility, which has provided more class to a program that already has class and more space to an ever-expanding program.
“We’ve got room now,” said coach Steve Thorpe, in his eighth year as the Husky head coach. “We’re not wrestling on top of each other and we can split into groups.”
With the numbers they have out, that is important. Many of these wrestlers put in a lot of work over the off-season and during the summer, which gives the Huskies high hopes of once again becoming district champions by a large majority. Mat experience at the different state tournaments, in the Cultural Exchange program, and free-style and Greco-Roman events goes a long way to preparing the wrestlers for big match situations.
“Our secret to success is we work hard,” said Thorpe, who is assisted by Tim Boatwright in his 24th year and Steve Hummer in his fourth year. “Don’t ever apologize for working hard when everybody else has gone home. We as coaches are willing to commit to that.”
Also helping out this year is former two time Sweet Home state placer Daniel Brewer and Jake Huffman, a three time 2A state champion from Scio and varsity wrestler at Oregon State. That kind of help moves the Huskies closer to their district championship goals and a high placement in state.
Sweet Home was 5th in state last year, a year many would call a down season. But they were 14-10 in dual meet competition with the toughest schedule that Thorpe has ever experienced.
He credits former coach Norm Davis with his philosophy of hard tough practices with difficult schedules. And with Thorpe’s contacts in the state and the hard work of the Sweet Home athletic directors, he has leaned heavily on that foundation of tough opponents regardless the level.
He doesn’t care about dual meet records; he is concerned about preparation for state.
“I like to get our kids beat,” emphasized Thorpe. “If you’re not wrestling against the best in state, when you get to state, it’s a fallacy. It’s a padded record.”
The Huskies may have some of their toughest matches just trying to make it to the mat out of their challenge matches. For instance, at the top three weights, Sweet Home has 16 competitors.
Sweet Home has seven returning state qualifiers, two of whom placed at state. Sophomore Shane Vandehei was a district champion and 7th at state while senior Rob Martin was also a district champion and 8th at state. Other district runner-ups include seniors Tomas Rosa and Hance Woody, juniors Jesse Aitken and John Farris, and sophomore Trevor Tagle. Chad Workman, who took last year off, returns this year as a district champion who took 6th at state.
Other district placers include: seniors Matt Harkey (3rd) and Bryan Corliss (5th), junior Mike Allyn (6th), and sophomores Joe Ellis, Tom Helfrich, and Brian Lindsey, all of whom took 5th place.
Coach Thorpe takes pride in the fact that in Sweet Home, a wrestler has the opportunity to become a state champion. It points out that it takes the dedicated effort of coaches and wrestlers alike from Mat Club programs, to the junior high, and on up through high school. Every wrestler on the team has the same opportunity.
“He has the opportunity to be treated the same way I’ll treat a state champ,” said Thorpe. “He gets the same respect if he does the best he can do.”
Each wrestler also gains the respect of every other wrestler. There are no assigned leaders; that’s worked out in the wrestling room.
“Leaders establish themselves in the wrestling room in how they work,” said Thorpe. “We have many guys leading by example. Others like seniors Bryan Corliss and Chad Workman are actually taking a voice and stepping forward.”
The leaders on this team are expected to lead beyond the wrestling room— in the weight room, in the locker room, on bus trips, and in the classroom. It’s taken seriously enough each year that it contributes to the success of the team as they reach for their lofty goals.
“The high expectation in the community is one that we welcome,” said Thorpe. “It’s the same thing we put onto the kids. The coaches hold themselves to high expectations too.”
The extra effort and extra time has become a given within the program. So has the district championship.
“The success of this year’s team will be determined by how well we as coaches do to get the best out of each kid,” stated Thorpe.
Look for some hardware at district and state. Thorpe and the wrestlers are expecting it.