Sky Chappell
Feb. 9, wrestlers, coaches and families alike all gathered under the Stayton High School gymnasium roof anticipating the beginning of the OSAA 4A Special District 2 regional championship. During this championship, the Sweet Home High School saw 18 wrestlers qualify, scored 472.5 and earned multiple awards that were voted on by coaches.
This championship included Sweet Home, Cascade, Philomath, Stayton, Cottage Grove, Newport, North Marion and Junction City. All of these teams were attending and hoped to qualify their wrestlers for state.
“For us to have a chance at a state tournament, we had to wrestle a perfect tournament. I think we did,” Coach Steve Thorpe said. Along with 18 Huskies qualifying, Thorpe was forced to double up in five weights, which as he says, “That’s a pretty good accomplishment.”
“I always say success is not an accident. It’s on purpose, and we’ve been very deliberate with how we’ve trained,” Thorpe said.
Of those qualifying, sophomore Tytus Hardee (41-12) secured the Outstanding Wrestler Award unanimously voted on by coaches. Hardee previously faced hardship against Cascade’s Skyler Sutton (24-2). Sutton has beat Hardee every time they’ve previously wrestled, including by technical fall during the Oregon Classic. However, this time, Hardee was able to beat Sutton 8-5 by decision.
“When you beat somebody that’s been doing that to you, especially in the fashion he did, that was pretty incredible,” Thorpe said. “Anything voted on by other coaches is a pretty cool thing.”
Thorpe was awarded the OSAA 4A Special District 2 coach of the year award.
Freshman Kyle Zajic (38-15) also had a standout performance getting an overtime fall against the returning third place state champion Porter Compton (40-5). “We had just so many great performances,” Thorpe said.
Results are as
follows by weight:
106 – Jesse Landtroop (43-6) placed 1st and scored 27.5 team points.
106 – Keegan Jefferson (30-14) placed 3rd and scored 18.0 team points.
113 – Riley Vaughan (26-11) placed 4th and scored 15.0 team points.
113 – Tytus Hardee (41-12) placed 1st and scored 28.0 team points.
120 – Kyle Sieminski (50-3) placed 1st and scored 30.0 team points.
120 – Dillan Davis (25-11) placed 2nd and scored 22.0 team points.
126 – Jayce Miller (38-12) placed 1st and scored 28.0 team points.
126 – Harrison Kegler (23-20) placed 3rd and scored 20.0 team points.
132 – James Hearick (31-20) placed 3rd and scored 20.0 team points.
132 – Kason Walters (4-13) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
138 – Jake Mengore (3-7) placed 8th and scored 3.0 team points.
138 – Killan Boggs (9-25) placed 5th and scored 9.0 team points.
144 – Cole Ogbin (10-16) placed 8th and scored 4.0 team points.
144 – Kyle Zajic (38-15) placed 1st and scored 26.0 team points.
150 – Jacob Landtroop (35-15) placed 2nd and scored 23.5 team points.
150 – Jackson Knight (8-17) placed 8th and scored 7.0 team points.
157 – Wyatt Hooper (0-17) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
157 – Luke Rosa (36-13) placed 1st and scored 30.0 team points.
165 – Ryker Hartsook (38-14) placed 2nd and scored 24.0 team points.
175 – Patrick Brouillette (0-3) placed 8th and scored 0.0 team points.
175 – Ashton Swanson (44-8) placed 1st and scored 28.0 team points.
190 – David Steagall (33-12) placed 2nd and scored 22.0 team points.
190 – Jackson Barringer (14-20) placed 5th and scored 12.5 team points.
215 – Dylan Sharp (20-12) placed 2nd and scored 20.0 team points.
215 – Lynkin Royer (36-14) placed 1st and scored 28.0 team points.
285 – Colton Bennett (34-16) placed 2nd and scored 22.0 team points.
285 – Liam Martin (10-16) placed 6th and scored 7.0 team points.
The solid win for the SHHS wrestlers doesn’t stop here. This weekend, the girls will be competing in their OSAA 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 2 championship, starting Feb. 16 at 1 p.m, and again Feb. 17 at 11 a.m.
Thirteen girls will be entering into this regional competition. Of those entering, Bailey Chafin is a returning state champion and Kaylene Zajic is a returning regional runner up last year. Thorpe is hoping to get as many of his girls through as possible.