 |
Core returners expected to bolster
Bucks
Chehalem team takes seventh at
national tourney
Bucks eye another state tournament
appearance
A
year later,
a year stronger |
Several of the NHS wrestlers have put in extensive work
preparing for the upcoming season |
By B. Scott Anderson, Newberg
Graphic sports editor
E-mail Scott at banderson@eaglenewspapers.com
|
With
a many Newberg High School wrestlers primed and prepared for the upcoming season, the
Tigers could be one of the best teams in the state this season. Add a two-time state
champion to the NHS line-up and the Tigers could be a power this season.
Newberg returns seven state-qualifiers from last season, including two who
placed. But the Tigers lost two state champions from last year due to graduation —
Neal Beaudry and Mark Bradley — along with Troy Brugger, who finished third, and
Corey Conant.
Head coach Neil Russo said with the wrestlers Newberg has returning he’s
not sure how the Tigers will do this season.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I really don’t know. This
is one of those years where we could be really, really good. We’ve got kids who are
ready to make that next step, but it’s just a matter of whether they can make
it.”
Russo said the remaining state qualifiers will lead the team this year, but
its the remainder of the lineup that may determine the success of the team.
“It’s going to be those other kids who haven’t quite been to
that level, those are the guys who we’ve got to get to produce,” he said.
The Tigers will also receive a little help they didn’t expect this year.
Sean Santana, a two-time state title winner for McNary High School, transferred to Newberg
this season. Santana, ranked No. 14 in the nation at 145 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine
and No. 8 on the Intermat wrestling poll, is no stranger to Newberg. In fact, Santana
spent the majority of his life in Newberg before moving to Keizer.
“He didn’t come to Newberg to get something or prove
something,” Russo said. “He’s a proven commodity. His mother and sister
live in town and he’s looking forward to spending the year with them. Was wrestling a
part of his decision? I’m sure that it was ,but it wasn’t the determining
factor.”
Santana has also wrestled against Newberg athletes. He won his first state
title as a sophomore when he beat Newberg’s Adam Haupt in the finals. When Santana
was a freshman, he faced former NHS wrestler Jared Norman, a three-time district champion
and runner-up at the state tournament, in the first round of the state tournament. Norman
picked up the victory, though.
“He’s the real deal,” Russo said. “He’s a hard
worker, he’s a good student and he’s a positive force in our room. He’s
been great for all of our kids, especially the kids around his weight. They get to drill
with him and they get to wrestle with him.”
One of those wrestlers is junior Trent Conant, who placed eighth at the state
tournament last year at 145.
“It’s been good for Trent because Trent is hungry,” Russo
said. “He wrestled all spring, all summer and I tried to get him to take September
and October off and he wouldn’t do it. And he wants Sean to get cleared for live
combat probably as much as Sean does. So in that regard I think Trent has been good for
him because Trent is passionate about wrestling and we have a lot of guys who are
passionate about wrestling. I think Sean enjoys being surrounded by guys like that.”
This is the second year that Newberg has seen a transfer student with solid
credentials come into the program. Last year Mark Bradley transferred from Oregon City
after winning a state title as a junior. Bradley dominated every opponent he faced at the
district and state tournaments. At state he recorded two technical falls and three pins on
his way to a second state title.
Russo said there is no comparison between Santana and Bradley’s
situations.
“Mark’s situation last year was one of him needing a new
environment academically, socially and athletically,” he said. “He needed to get
out of the situation he was in. He knew that, the people where he was knew that and we
knew that here. We gave gave him an opportunity.
“Sean’s situation is completely different. He’s coming off of
a major back injury ... and I know one thing that if you’re an accomplished wrestler,
you’re probably not going to avoid Newberg. We have the facilities, we have the
history, we have the tradition and that being said, if you’re trying to make some
decisions, all of that might weigh into it. It’s not like we’re going out and
looking for these kids.”
Conant and junior Sam Schmitz are two wrestlers Russo thinks are some of the best in the
state.
“I expect both Sam and Trent to accept nothing less than a state
championship,” Russo said. “That’s what they’re going for. They may
not get it, but that’s their prize.”
Conant and Santana could wind up in the same weight division (152), while
Schmitz could wrestle at either 130 or 135. Russo said Schmitz, who bulked up in the
offseason and added more muscle, took advantage of things he learned from Bradley last
season.
“I think Sam benefited more than anybody having Mark in here because
he’s almost that kind of athlete,” Russo said. “I don’t know that
we’ve seen an athlete like Mark in the state of Oregon. Sam is could be pretty close.
He’s quick, he’s explosive (and) he’s got some power, which will help
him.”
Sophomore Marty Eng (103) will be another wrestler who could achieve premier
status in the state. He advanced to state last year, but did not place.
In Russo’s six-year tenure as coach he hasn’t had a dominant
heavyweight or 215-pound wrestler. The heaviest wrestler to win a state title in that
six-year period was Colin Davis at 189 pounds in 2002. Before that, Andy Bowlby’s
state title in 1998 was the last NHS victory at heavyweight.
“From 189 on up, we’re going to be better than we were last year
and I can say that without offending anyone because it’s the same kids coming
back,” he said. “Jaime (Lopez) and Brandan Laheyne are both back as
heavyweights. Ryan Rustrum is back at 215, Blake Kroo and Jered Thomas are back at 189 ...
We’re looking to get all of those kids to the state tournament.”
Senior Trevor Arsenault (125 or 130) was close to placing at the state
tournament last year, Russo said, and will be back again this year.
“I think Trevor is one of those guys who is a state placer. If he pushes
himself and makes some changes, he’s a potential top-3 guy,” he said.
“Trevor can beat anybody on any given night. He just needs to (be) more consistent
and a (develop a) little bit of a plan and he’ll be fine.”
Junior Tim Brugger at 119 surprised many at the district tournament last
season by placing second at 112. He didn’t wrestle many varsity matches throughout
the season, but came into his own during the district meet.
Senior Jon Chandler (119) kind of got lost in the shuffle last year, Russo
said. He separated his shoulder four days before the district tournament. Chandler worked
through the injury and made it to the finals at 119 where he met Schmitz. The two
didn’t wrestle to avoid further injury to Chandler.
At 140, junior Dan Chandler, his brother, had a rough year last season. Russo
said he went a long time before he recorded a win but turned it around at the end of the
season.
Senior Andrew Hamilton (160) also returns for the Tigers. Hamilton and Conant
faced off in the third/fourth-place match at the district tournament last season. Conant
came out on top and went on to state.
Senior Tim Siler will wrestle at 112 for the Tigers.
“He’s a senior, he’s physical, he’s a big 112-pounder and
he’s going to win some matches for us,” Russo said. “If you’ve been to
one of his matches, he’s entertaining. He puts people in the stands.”
As far as the Pac-9 Conference goes, the Tigers should be right at the top
again, along with Canby. Russo said that Silverton could also be a team to contend with.
Newberg will open the season Dec. 4 with a Pac-9 Conference matchup with
Silverton and then host the Earl Gillis Tournament Dec. 5. The field for the tourney
includes Pendleton, Southridge, Eagle Point, Crook County, Sweet Home, West Linn and
Century. |
|
From Nov. 22,
2003, Newberg Graphic
Click Here to Subscribe |
|
|
