Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
Some of the best high school wrestlers in Oregon were in Mill City on Jan. 4 for the annual Linn County Championships.
The unique tournament brings together all eight schools in Linn County, ranging from Class 2A through Class 5A. Santiam hosted the event, which included both boys and girls brackets.
“Generally, the tourney went off without a hitch and it was a good day,” said meet director Kerry Crowston, the Santiam coach.
Class 4A Sweet Home won the boys team title, besting larger 5A schools West Albany, South Albany and Lebanon. The Huskies scored 291 points, edging out Class 3A Harrisburg (284.5). West Albany was third with 198, followed by South Albany (146), Lebanon 137), Scio (85) , Central Linn (33) and host Santiam (32). The girls competition also was won by Sweet Home with 136 points. West Albany (89) was second, followed by South Albany (71), Harrisburg (60), Scio (28.5), Central Linn (24) and Lebanon (22). Santiam does not have any girls wrestlers.
Upper and lower bracket top wrestlers were honored for both genders. Sweet Home’s Kyle Siemenski (126 pounds) won the boys lower bracket honor, with Brody Buzzard (190 pounds) of Harrisburg picked in the upper bracket. Bailey Chafinsweet (125 pounds) captured the lower bracket award for the girls, with Hannah Henderson (170 pounds) of Harrisburg winning for the top bracket.
Wyatt Dayton was the top finisher for the host Wolverines. Dayton took 5th at 144 pounds. Teammate Dallon Mount was 6th at 285.
“This tourney is generally a meat grinder for the 2A schools as it was this year,” Crowston told The Canyon Weekly. “This tourney is full of state champs, placers and qualifiers. Sweet Home and Harrisburg dominated, as you can see. They will do very well at the state tourney.”
Regarding his own squad, Crowston said “crucial mistakes cost us several matches that we should have won. Plenty of coachable moments to continue to improve and compete in the district tourney in February.”
Basketball: The Scio boys fell from the PacWest Conference’s unbeaten ranks on Jan. 9, losing a 69-60 home decision to Santiam Christian. The Loggers are 2-1 in league play and 8-5 overall. Scio is tied for second in the PacWest with Creswell and Sisters. No. 9 Dayton (2-0) is the lone unbeaten.
The PacWest receives 3 automatic Class 3A playoff berths and there is one statewide bid available.
Santiam’s boys, meanwhile, fell to 0-3 in the Tri-River with a 63-54 loss to No. 3 Western Christian. The Wolverines are 6-5 overall and ranked No. 15 in Class 2A because of a tough schedule.
Santiam’s girls also fell to 0-3 in the Tri-River with a 58-29 loss to Western Christian. The Wolverines are 5-7 overall and ranked 20th. Scio’s girls also have started 0-3 in league play and are 4-10 overall.
