Thurston wrestlers Michael Salas-Sanchez, Sam Greenstreet, and Sawyer Greenstreet competed in the national wrestling championships in Fargo, N.D. last week. Salas-Sanchez earned fifth in freestyle, becoming Oregon’s only All-American in Fargo this year. Both the Greenstreets had strong showings.
Sam made it to the consolation sub-quarterfinals, which was one match away from becoming an All-American.
Boys JV coach steps up to head coach role
Also in Thurston, JV boys soccer coach Phil Sweeney steps up as head coach for the 2025 season. Previous coach Jake Bonnett steps down after three years with Thurston. He leaves with a 16-13-14 overall record. The Colts suffered a particularly tough season last year, with a record of 5-9 along with a No. 27 ranking in Class 5A.
Sweeney
Grove taekwondo athlete recognized
Eleven-year-old Cottage Grove taekwondo athlete John Whitten is competing for Athlete of the Year in a vote through Sports Illustrated. Whitten has completed 15 tournaments across the U.S. and Canada and has earned two state champion titles. He trains five days a week, helps in the taekwondo classes, and is an honor roll student.
Whitten
Whitten said he loves taekwondo because “he gets to be around his friends and make new friends all over the U.S. and Canada.”
Challengers begin state playoffs
The Eugene Challengers (43-9) concluded their regular season Monday night by sweeping the Grants Pass Nuggets 6-5 in Game One and 7-1 in Game Two.
In Game One, Jalen Riddle and Eli Crist recorded doubles and Caiden Gould went 2-for-3. Winning pitcher Collin Hernandez recorded 6 strikeouts. In Game Two, Crist and Grady Saunders went 2-for-3. Saunders had a triple and scored two runs.
Challengers third baseman Eli Crist catches a throw.
The Challengers have earned a third-place seed in the play-in game for the Oregon AAA American Legion Baseball State Tournament.
They’ll battle in a single-elimination game against the Dallas Post 20 Dirtbags at Corvallis High School on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The winner will face the Portland Barbers in the state championship on Saturday. The Barbers won the bid to host the tournament this year. It will be held at Joe Etzel Field on the University of Portland campus from Saturday to Thursday.
Future Drifters?
Members of the Cottage Grove Babe Ruth baseball teams participated Saturday in the Grand Miners Parade in Historic Downtown. BOB WILLIAMS/ THE CHRONICLE PHOTO.
