Wrestlers grapple at invitational

The wrestling team competed at the Perry Burlison Invitational on Saturday, December 3 among 23 teams.

Marshfield took top honors with 183 points. Sweet Home was runner-up with 152.5, and North Marion took third with 145 points. The Dalles, West Albany, Thurston, Silverton, Evergreen, Lebanon, Junction City, North Salem, Stayton, Siuslaw, Crescent Valley, Stuccoes, South Salem, Cascade, Cottage Grove, Phil moth, Sisters, Gervais, Yamhill-Carlton and McKay also competed in the tourney.

Sisters had 21 matmen wrestle at the top-notch tournament, and all saw some tough competition.

Several Outlaws won matches. Cole Pade (junior) defeated Edgar Gonzalez from North Marion with a pin in 4:16, and Damien Will (junior) beat Conner Russel from Sweet Home with a pin in 4:49. Junior Jake Stevens defeated Tyler Johnston from South Salem with a pin in 4:45, and freshman Ethan Martin pinned Taylor Mespelt from South Salem in 2:29. Martin took sixth in the tournament at 182 pounds.

Coach John Downs said, "I felt the team needed to go to this tournament this year to see the caliber of wrestlers we will meet at our regional tournament. Out of the 23 teams at the tournament, eight of them are in our regional tournament. It is difficult for us to know what to expect once we get to the end of the season when all we wrestle are teams in Central Oregon. All of our regional teams are in the Valley area. Other than Crook County, all the other teams in Central Oregon are smaller or larger than us and are not in our classification."

Downs told The Nugget his wrestlers got a real eye-opener as to how tough the regional tournament will be, and he expects them to show more effort and desire to improve and compete hard.

The Outlaws will attend the Culver Invitational Dec. 9-10.