Baker grapplers win

Baker ended a 7-year Greater Oregon League winless streak Thursday by defeating 42-30 in a dual wrestling match on the Baker mats.

"It's been seven years since we've beaten anybody in the GOL," said Baker coach Brandon Young.

"We wanted this one. Mac-Hi is about the same as we are. Both teams have about 13 wrestlers out."

Frfeits have been a problem for Baker all season, but Thursday they helped the Bulldogs.

Of the 14 weight classes the teams combined for eight forfeits. Baker won five matches by forfeit, Mac-Hi two and the teams double forfeited at 106 pounds.

The teams combined to actually wrestle six matches, four won by Mac-Hi.

The two Baker wins were by fall by Heith Browne at 152 and Brandon Zunino at 170.

"Heith wrestled up a weight and did well," Young said.

"And, the kid Zunino pinned was a state qualifier last year."

Young also was pleased with the efforts of Sam Pearson (182) and Chaz Lowry (145).

Pearson lost 10-5 in his match, but the Baker coach said that only cost the Bulldogs three points in the  team score rather than a potential six points.

"Sam wrestled Mac-Hi's stud and wrestled pretty well," Young said.

Lowry wrestled a two- or three-time state qualifier at 145.

The Bulldogs travel to Halfway for the Pine-Eagle Invitational Saturday. Baker then travels to Prineville Feb. 17-18 for the district playoffs.

"We've got everybody eligible this week, and we have to keep it that way next week," Young said.

Baker 42, Mac-Hi 30

   106 — Double forfeit. 113 — Larsen (B) by forfeit. 120 — Valentine (B) by forfeit. 126 — Fortune (M) by forfeit. 132 — Ta. Hodgen (M) by forfeit. 138 — Yenson (M) pinned Poe, second. 145 — Sheets (M) dec. Lowry, 5-0. 152 — Browne (B) pinned Freemantle, second. 160 — Moller (M) pinned Hertel, second. 170 — Zunino (B) pinned Tay. Hodgen, second. 182 — Saldana (M) dec. Pearson, 10-5. 195 — Zacharias (B) by forfeit. 220 — Shaw (B) by forfeit. 285 —Walton (B) by forfeit.

Exhibition matches

145 — Pryhocki (M) dec. Browne, 7-6. 170 — Birdwell (M) pinned Baker, first; Birdwell (M) dec. Eubanks, 1-0.