A-3 Independents

Wallace Miners

Coach: Bob Schreiber

Years coaching: 16

Top returners: Nick Sleezer, senior, 152 pounds; Steve Jemmings, sophomore, 119; Gian Ghigleri, so., 125.

Newcomers: Josh Steed, so., 145; Nick Angle, freshman, heavyweight; Shaylon Lyons, fr., 125; Brandon Pine, fr., 105.

Coach’s comment: “It’s a struggle to keep the program going, but we take what we can get (at district in Orofino).”

Outlook: Staying alive. Jemmings has state tournament experience that should help the Miners. With only eight wrestlers on the team it will be impossible to participate in duals, but the Miners will still be able to compete in tournaments.

Kootenai Warriors

Coach: John Love

Years coaching: 1st

Top returners: Ryan Goodson, sr., 171, Brady Livermore, so., 145, Isaac Shannon, so., 130; J.D. Tiller, so., 189; Corey Rowe, so., 103.

Newcomers: Cody Standridge, fr., 103.

Coach’s comment: “Our returners are doing a fine job because of the fundamentals instilled in them by Kevin Kincheloe and Duane Thompson, who did a great job of laying the groundwork for the program.”

Outlook: Lone wolves. The Warriors are the only A-4 school in the area that offers wrestling and only six wrestlers came out this year. Love sees the positive side of a small team in that each wrestler gets a lot of individual help. In fact, with four assistants for the six athletes, it is as much a mentoring system as it is a team.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WRESTLERS TO WATCH Steve Jemmings, sophomore, 119 pounds, Wallace Nick Sleezer, senior, 152, Wallace Ryan Goodson, senior, 171, Kootenai