Wrestlers compete at Adrian Tourney

Rongi Yost, Correspondent | Last updated Dec 20, 2011 12:0pm0

The Outlaws' wrestling squad improves with each match, and this past week several wrestlers won matches at the Adrian Tournament at Mt. View High School on Friday and Saturday, December 16-17. Twenty-four top 4A, 5A and 6A teams from around the state were in attendance.

Josh O'Brien (145 lbs.) made it all the way to the quarterfinals. O'Brien pinned Nate Mollins of Winatonca in just 52 seconds in round one in his first match of the tournament.

"Josh got the pin with a belly to back to arm bar to a half-nelson," said Coach Gene O'Brien. "He did a fantastic job."

Josh went on to pin Trevor Graft from Riverside to advance to the quarterfinals. Josh pinned Graft with a lateral belly to belly hip throw.

In the quarterfinals, O'Brien went up against Tyler White from Sandy. Josh was pinned, and fell into the consolation bracket. On Saturday, O'Brien wrestled Jacob Dalke from Cascade and lost due to a bad call by the referee. It was a good hard-fought match, with the score tied 6-6 when O'Brien got called for locking hands, which cost him the match 7-6.

"Josh got called for locking hands, which is a legal hold," said Coach O'Brien. "Three other coaches besides myself saw the call and all of them talked to the referee after the match. But, nothing could be done. A call's a call; unfortunately, it lost Josh the match."

Several wrestlers won a single match. Ryan Long (152 lbs.) pinned Sarick Shields in round two. Wyatt Gladden won his first match ever with a 7-0 decision over Juan Podilla. Austin Morlan (195 lbs.) pinned Mike Thompson in round two with a reverse half-nelson.

A day earlier, on December 15, the matmen traveled to La Pine for a duel match with La Pine and Elmira.

Sisters defeated Elmira 42-30. Josh O'Brien beat Dakota Utter in a 9-6 decision, and Ryan Long pinned Rene Samano with an under half-nelson in an overtime barn-burner.

The Outlaws lost 76-6 against La Pine. Long beat Joseph Ellison in a 9-3 decision.

"Ryan really picked up his pace on this match and his moves really came together," stated O'Brien.

Josh O'Brien was ahead with a 5-0 advantage in his match against Deion Mock, but made a fatal mistake and got pinned in the process.

"We really didn't come to the mat ready to wrestle," said Coach O'Brien. "It was like all the wrestlers had jet lag."

The Outlaws' next match will be at Bend High on Saturday, January 7.

Coaching proves to be a dangerous job

Coaching has always been a tough job, but head wrestling coach Gene O'Brien experienced a whole new level of how rough the job can really be.

At practice on Wednesday, December 7, O'Brien was on the mat working with one of his bigger, stronger wrestlers when he caught an elbow to the eye. The wrestlers were worried and gathered around O'Brien and hurried to get the trainer.

O'Brien said, "I was in la-la land and was seeing five of everything. The trainer checked me out and said that if it got worse I should go to the doctor. My eye didn't swell or anything so I went back and we finished practice."

The next morning Gene planned to go into work a little later because of the extreme pain in his eye.

O'Brien told The Nugget what happened next.

"I got into the shower to get ready for work and was shampooing my hair," stated O'Brien. "I thought I'd gotten soap in my nose so I went to blow my nose and realized the sinus cavity was broke. So, instead of coming out my nose everything went behind and below my eye socket. At that point, I knew I needed to get to the doctor."

O'Brien headed to emergency and ended up undergoing reconstructive surgery to his left eye.

Gene said, "The doctor told me he hadn't seen a break like that in years. Two hours into the surgery the doctor realized the bottom plate was completely shattered and he had to basically start over and replace the shattered bone with heavy-duty titanium and three screws.

Gene has handled the entire ordeal with a positive and upbeat attitude.

O'Brien said, "All is good and I look normal. My eye never did swell and I never got a black eye. My team was very supportive and called and checked on me, and I got released from the hospital Friday afternoon."

O'Brien was back on the mats at practice with his guys on Monday afternoon.

With a grin, O'Brien said, "I did get a face mask to protect my left eye for while so I can still work with my bigger wrestlers. I enjoy this sport and love helping these kids. It's like a band of brothers in wrestling. All for one and one for all. I would do anything for these kids and I know they'd do the same for me. I commend my wrestlers. They're No. 1 in my book."