Driven By Golden Ambitions Bonners Ferry’s Fluid Pluid Aims For A-2 Title At 171

Justin Pluid pinned Lakeland’s Kelly Robbins in 1 minute, 25 seconds for the 171-pound title at the A-2 District I-II wrestling tournament last weekend.

But something wasn’t right, the Bonners Ferry junior later thought.

All season, Pluid pounded in the practice room, motivated by the thought that Lakeland rival John Neff was doing the same.

Not quite three weeks ago, Neff died from hypothermia after becoming lost at the end of a day of snowboarding.

“John Neff was the only competition (Pluid) expected, that would be his only drawback (at state),” Badgers coach Conrad Garner said. “He was pretty hurt when John died, and it took a lot of the fire out of our team.”

Pluid takes a 29-1 record into the State A-2 Tournament at the University of Idaho’s Kibbie Dome in Moscow. First-round matches start today at 4.

Pluid has pinned 23 opponents, but Neff wasn’t one of them. The Hawks junior went the distance in a dual at Bonners Ferry, with Pluid scoring a 9-8 decision.

“It made me a better wrestler knowing when I was going to meet him,” Pluid said of Neff, whom he considered a rival but also a friend. “At district, it felt like I should be wrestling John.

“John should have been there. He worked hard. He was a state No. 1 contender,” Pluid added. “He was probably the best wrestler I wrestled.”

Pluid is the state’s second seed at 171. Vallivue senior Chad Campbell, 26-0, is the top seed.

Pluid lost his first match of the season at the Tri-State Tournament, but pinned his way back to earn consolation honors. The route included seven matches.

“He knows his body position real well in correlation to the mat, and when it’s there, the pin comes out,” Garner said. The past two years, Pluid was groomed to carry on the Badgers’ uncanny tradition of domination at 171. Since 1990, Bonners Ferry has had two state champs, two runners-up and a third placer at that weight.

Pluid got his wrestling start as a first-grader in Garner’s agedivision program. As a fourthgrader, Pluid won a Western national age-division title.

“I could see how good he was back then,” said Garner, adding that this is the first year Pluid is really working hard. “This year is a major plus with his workout ethic. Before, he would rely on his natural ability and he wouldn’t work out.

“I almost regret him winning the Western national when he was little because he rode on it for a long time.”

Pluid, 17, vows to start weight training after the state tournament. He plays soccer in the spring, and has been running before school.

“If a kid does a mistake, I take advantage of anything I can get,” Pluid said. “I try to be as aggressive as I can, but I don’t get out-of-control wild.”

Pluid tracks mistakes using videotapes of his matches. Assistant coach Steve Neumeyer, a former U.S. Army wrestler, drills with Pluid at practice.

“(Neumeyer) beats up on me. I think if I can hold my own with him… . I’m not going to get taken down,” Pluid said. “I’m going to try not to be scored on. Our head coach, Mr. Garner, tells me, ‘You are a good wrestler.”’

“(Pluid) knows what he has to do (at state),” Garner said. “He’s got to rise to the occasion. Time and time again he did it at TriState. He handles pressure very well.”

Pluid’s plan: “No mistakes. I’ve got to wrestle smart, and give it everything I’ve got.”