Newport meet canceled

Feb. 1, 2022 — The Siuslaw wrestling team continues a season where they have not only had to wrestle their opponents, but also illness as COVID-19 and general winter sickness have affected the team all season long.

On Jan. 26, SHS headed east on Highway 126 for dual meets with Elmira/Crow and Cascade at Elmira High School. 

In the first dual for the boys, against Cascade, both teams had many holes in their line-ups from sickness, so forfeits were numerous, including wins at 126, 132 and 138 pounds for the Vikings. 

Junior Joel Sissel scored a victory at 160 pounds, a “convincing” win according to Siuslaw coach Neil Wartnick. 

In the best match-up of the dual, Viking junior Mason Buss lost a close battle to defending 4A state champ Lance VanHoose, 8-4.

“It was a close, well-wrestled match,” said Wartnick.

Cascade ended up coming out on top, 45-22.

In the second boys dual of the night, versus Elmira/Crow, Siuslaw again scored forfeit victories, this time at 160, 170 and 182 pounds. 

SHS did score two non-forfeit wins. Yoskar DeLaMora, a junior, scored a pin at 126 pounds and junior Hunter Petterson won in dominating fashion, 18-5 over Wayde Walton of Elmira/Crow. Siuslaw won the dual 27-24.

The Siuslaw girls team also had some great matches.

Freshman Macali Lade continued her exciting debut season, beating Lydia Drago and Summer McKeen of Elmira/Crow in her first two matches. In the championship match, she scored a 4-3 decision over Krystaline Kamstra of Cascade to take the Bracket 2 championship. 

Junior Makayla Freeman split two matches with Liberty Barklow of Elmira/Crow to take second in Bracket 3.

Finally, senior Hayden Muller beat Averie Stueve of Cascade twice then beat Katarina Jentzsch of Elmira/Crow to take the Bracket 4 championship.

“Both Macali and Hayden were outstanding,” said Wartnick.

A few days later, illness ruined another weekend for the Viking wrestling team as their four-team meet originally scheduled in Newport on Jan. 29 was canceled. 

Siuslaw was on the mat Feb. 1, for a meet at Sweet Home. Their next action after that is Feb. 3, when the Vikings face Stayton in a dual meet at home at 6 p.m. This match on Feb. 3 will be Senior Night for the Viking wrestling team.