Wrestling program returns five to varsity squad

The Outlaws wrestling team will return five seniors to the varsity squad this year and all return as seasoned experienced players. All five, including Nick Head, Ben Freeland, Kody Johns, Dylan Mackenzie and Thomas Schantz, have competed with success at the state level and have plans to shoot for a Sky-Em Championship win and a top six finish at the state tourney this year.

"Each of these guys has won at least one match at the state tournament, so they know they can compete at that level," said Coach Jeff Smith.

Head (135 pounds) earned a second-place finish in the Sky-Em last year and qualified for the state tournament as a sophomore and a junior.

"Nick is very athletic and very quick and comes to us with lots of wrestling experience," said Smith.

Freeland will most likely wrestle at 145 pounds and earned a third-place finish in the Sky-Em conference last season.

"Ben is very unorthodox on his feet," said Smith. "He finds himself in seemingly bad positions, only to reverse the situation to put his opponent on his back."

Johns (152 pounds) earned a second-place finish as a freshman when the Outlaws were still in the Capital Conference. Johns was unable to compete the past two seasons due to injury but according to Coach Smith is back and at 100 percent this season. Smith says that Johns has good wrestling skills, is a great competitor and is especially good on his feet.

Mackenzie will wrestle at 152 and 160 pounds and finished third in the Sky-Em last year.

Describing Mackenzie, Smith said, "Dylan competes well for the entire match. He works hard to improve both offensive and defensive skills on his feet and he's tough to control when he's in the down position."

Schantz rounds out the five senior returnees. Thomas earned a Sky-Em second place finish last year and qualified for the state tournament as a sophomore and a junior.

"Thomas is a real solid competitor. He's strong and maintains good position all the time," said Smith.

Both John Connolly (senior) and Aaron Fegenbush (senior) gained valuable experience last year and according to Smith will probably fill a varsity slot this season. Connolly will most likely wrestle at 140 pounds and Fegenbush will wrestle at 160 and 171 pounds.

Three transfers, Tyler Ogilvia, Joseph Haugen and Mike Epps will also fill slots in the varsity line up. Ogilvia is a freshman transfer from Madras who will wrestle at either 112 or 119 pounds. Haugen, a sophomore from Glencoe, will wrestle at either 125 or 130 pounds and Epps, a junior from Crater High School will most likely wrestle at 189 pounds.

Smith told The Nugget that several guys with limited experience, John Lahey, Benton Urquhart, Tanner Petersen, Conner Morgan and Andrew Goodwin, will seek to crack the varsity lineup.

Sisters will kick off their pre-season at the Gilchrist Tournament at Gilchrist on Saturday, December 6.

The Outlaws dual meet schedule will deviate from what it has been in the past, as all dual meets will be on this side of the mountain. Each of the Eugene area schools will come to Sisters or La Pine and will have two dual meets on the same night. The Outlaws opening dual meet will be on January 16, when Junction City will wrestle La Pine and then face the Outlaws.

Jeff Smith returns for his third year as head coach. The former Oregon State All-American and Assistant Coach for both the Oregon State Beavers and the Oregon Ducks will volunteer his services again this year. Cailen Mcnair, who wrestled at South Medford, will be Smith's No. 1 assistant. John Downs, who wrestled at Neah-Kah-Nie, will also be a volunteer addition to the staff.