Wrestlers compete in tournament

The Outlaws matmen traveled to Mt. View High School on Saturday, December 6, and participated in the Central Oregon Officials Tournament. The Central Oregon wrestling referees put on the tourney, and teams were not charged to participate.

Thirteen teams were in attendance including Culver, Mt. View, Redmond, Crook County, Bend, Summit, Burns, Madras, La Pine, Ridgeview, Crane, Gilchrist and Sisters.

Coach John Downs said, "The tournament is a nice warm-up for teams, for coaches and wrestlers to evaluate where they stand for skill level to compete. No one really keeps team scores, so it doesn't really matter much. This way it is up to the individual wrestler to wrestle and evaluate and set personal goals for themselves. It's always a good wake-up call for the wrestlers because they step off the mat after they have a few matches under their belt and suddenly realize how much harder they have to work in practice to improve and compete at the next level."

Downs was very impressed at the determination and commitment of his young squad. The Outlaws had some great matches, and also a few disappointments, but used the day as a learning opportunity of how to handle wins, losses, and the emotions that come with both.

Freshman Brady Wessel earned a third-place finish at 220 pounds.

Sisters had several fourth-place finishers: juniors Dyut Fetrow (132 pounds) and Gabe Isle (285 pounds), sophomore Andrew Stevens (126 pounds), senior Cheyenne Sproat (160 pounds), and freshmen Dustin Smith (170 pounds), Cole Pade (120 pounds), Chayse Head (145 pounds) and Dingeman (182 pounds).

Freshmen Casey Warburton (170 pounds) and Jake Stevens (138 pounds) took fifth.

Junior Clayton Darst (152 pounds) earned a sixth-place finish. Junior Mitch Gibney (195 pounds), freshmen Andrew Bates (126 pounds), and Chayce Sproat (138 pounds) all finished seventh.

Sisters currently has 22 wrestlers on their squad; the largest number of wrestlers the Outlaws have ever had.

Downs said, "We're very excited to have this large of a number because now we don't have to wrestle as much with them and can invest more time coaching.

"It is nice to have a full wrestling practice room with wrestlers wanting to work hard and learn. We have many new faces, and it is great that the veteran wrestlers are stepping up to help instruct. I feel if you help teach you also learn and make yourself better. I can tell just by the last couple weeks of practice that these wrestlers want to be pushed and are there to grow in their skill level."

The matmen will travel to Culver on Friday and Saturday, December 12-13, for the annual Culver Invitational Tournament.