Pine-Eagle wrestlers busy

The Spartans wrestled at the Enterprise Kickoff tournament Friday, then hit the road to John Day Saturday for the Grant Union tournament.

Pine-Eagle placed second at Enterprise, then had a long day at John Day.

“We have 13 kids out this year, with several new faces,” sid Pine-Eagle coach Blake Dennis.

“For the first time out, the kids had a great opening tournament at Enterprise.”

John Day was a much bigger tournament.

“This tournament was huge,” Dennis said. “For the first time we could remember everybody that was invited showed up, and they brought a lot of wrestlers.

“It made for a long day. But for us to go back-to-back was kind of a good way to jump right in with both hind feet,” he said.

Kyle Dennis, who placed second at 171 at the 2A state meet last year, won that division at Enterprise. Dennis pinned both of his opponents.

Richie Gonzales, who also advanced to state a year ago, won the title at 189 pounds Friday, pinning three opponents.

The Spartans earned four second-place awards — Devon Thorn (125), Cody Powell (152), Kipp Miller (160) and Daniel Minarich (285).

Thorn and Powell also advanced to state last year. Thorn finished fourth at 112.

Jesse Lawrence (145) and Lucas Powell (215) took third at Enterprise. Chadden Luebberke (130) and Vern Garrett (215) finished fourth.

Dennis completed his weekend sweep, by pinning three opponents for a first-place finish at 171 at Grant Union.

Cody and Lucas Powell each finished fourth at John Day.

Dennis, Gonzales, Thorn, both Powells, Lawrence, Garrett, Minarich and Nathan Tanaka return from last year’s squad.

Newcomers are Miller, Luebberke, Charlie McCulloch and Spencer Waterland.

Pine-Eagle travels to a tournament at Nyssa Friday and Saturday.

Enterprise Kickoff Tournament

(Pine-Eagle results)

Team scores — Enterprise/Wallowa 199, Pine-Eagle 149, Clarkston 134, Adrian 65, Union 53, Joseph 43, Imbler 20.

125 — 2. Thorn, 1-1. 130 — 4. Luebberke, 1-2. 140 _ McCulloch, 1-1. 145 — 3. Lawrence, 2-2. 152 — 2. C. Powell, 1-1. 160 — 2. Miller, 2-1. 171 — 1. Dennis, 20. 189 — 1. Gonzales, 3-0; Waterland, 1-1. 215 — 3. L. Powell, 2-1. 4. Garrett, 1-2.  285 — 2. Minarich, 1-1.

Grant Union Invitational

(Pine-Eagle results)

130 — Luebberke, 1-2. 135 — McCulloch, 1-2. 140 — Lawrence, 2-2. 152 — 4. C. Powell, 2-2. 160 — Miller, 2-2. 171 — 1. Dennis, 3-0. 189 — Waterland, 0-2. 215 — 4. L. Powell, 2-2; Garrett, 0-2. 285 — Minarich, 2-2.