Wrestling Mania Owen Family Has Long, Deep Tradition On The Mat

At some point today, there may be as many as six brothers (and maybe a sister or two) on the stage at North Idaho College’s Christianson Gym, hunkered down in a rugby-like scrum.

No need calling security. It’ll just be the Owen brothers, all wrestling coaches, exchanging opinions and hands-on experience.

In five days, the six Owen brothers and three sisters, their spouses, and 24 nephews and nieces will gather at grandma’s farm house in Lolo, Mont., for Christmas.

What has become a precursor to the traditional holiday reunion, though, is the Tri-State Tournament.

They were all there Friday, soaking in the family’s favorite sport.

“It (Tri-State) has always been kind of a festival for the family,” said Don Owen, the University High coach and youngest of the Owens.

Don summed up why all his brothers turned out for the sport.

“We were poor kids from a tough-type area. It gave us a purpose and a reason to go to school,” he said. “We got empowerment from it.”

Bill concurs.

“I was a little wilder (than my brothers). Honest to God, there’s no way I would have got through college and gone on to be a teacher without wrestling,” he said. “I wasn’t a great student in high school. My teachers would shake their heads if they knew I was teaching today.”

Mother and grandmother, Eileen, 81, still attends matches in Missoula and at the Montana state high school tournament. She and her late husband, Jack, were regular observers at Tri-State.

She’s grudgingly staying home this weekend, tidying up for the onslaught on Christmas Day.

“But I’ll be there in spirit,” she said.

Don and the second-youngest sibling, Tim, both competed for Sentinel High of Missoula in the first Tri-State in 1972-73. Both placed, and Don Owen eventually won consecutive titles in ‘74 and ‘75.

Since the mid-1970s, at least one Owen brother has coached at Tri-State.

Now, the second generation Owens - the coaches’ boys - are carrying the torch for the family.

Curtis Owen, Polson coach Bill’s oldest son, became the first Owen since his Uncle Don to capture a Tri-State title last year. He’s joined in the tournament by a brother and two cousins.

John, the longtime North Idaho College coach and oldest brother, started what would become a lifetime wrestling odyssey for the family when he turned out for the sport at then Missoula County High as a sophomore.

Two similar activities in elementary school prepared Owen for the sport - “fist fights at recess and seeing who we could throw in the irrigation ditch behind the school,” he said.

The brothers aren’t the only ones who’ve had a love affair with the sport. Their sisters have been diehard fans, too.

In fact, Kathy spent 12 years coaching the Little Guys youth program for second- through eighth-graders in Polson, Mont. The program fed the Polson High team coached by her brothers, Bob and Bill.

“I’ve coached all sports at different levels and I preferred coaching wrestling over the others,” Kathy said. “The thing I enjoy about it is it’s one-on-one competition. Anyone who goes out for wrestling is a winner because it’s such a hard sport.”

Kathy now lives in Missoula and is following her daughters’ athletic careers. But she plans to coach wrestling again.

“She had to love it (coaching) because Bob and I were relentless on her,” Bill said, laughing. “Don’t let her know I said it, but we really miss her. As far as technique goes all my sisters know wrestling really well.”

Bob agreed.

“They did an article on her in the Missoulian (newspaper). We told her, ‘We do all the work and you get all the glory. What a deal.’ She was quite a recruiter for us,” Bob said.

He also recalled a story about Nancy, when the high school in Sunburst, Mont., where she lives started a wrestling program in the mid-70s.

The new coach didn’t know much about the sport and Nancy offered to show him some technique.

“They ended up wrestling and she beat the guy,” Bob said.

All three sisters married basketball coaches. But they reportedly received pardons from their brothers and were allowed to remain in the family.

“We don’t let that out very often,” John quipped.

John and his wife, Janet, will have a vested interest when their oldest son, Tommy Jack, will be a freshman next year.

“I get nervous watching the nephews, but it’s going to be a lot worse next year,” Janet said.

Try coaching against them.

“I feel like I’m doing something almost immoral,” Don said. “But you owe allegiance to the kids you coach.”

Bob and Bill faced it last weekend at a tournament in Ronan, Mont. One of their wrestlers took on Mike’s son, Corey.

“We both stood off to the side and let an assistant coach,” Bob said.

Watching his nephews and nieces grow up reminds Mike of his childhood.

“The unique thing about all the cousins is they’re more like brothers and sisters because the family spends so much time together,” Mike said.

One gets the feeling that wrestling and the Owen family is a union that will continue into another generation.

Check back in another 25 years when Tri-State turns 50. It’s a good bet there will be handfuls of Owens at the tourney, playfully wrestling.

Just like they will today.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ALL IN THE FAMILY Eileen Owen, 81, and her late husband, Jack, reared six boys and three girls. From oldest to youngest: Mary Quesnell, 50. Lives in Kennewick, Wash. A counselor at Kennewick High, she was a longtime coach of girls sports. John Owen, 49. Lives in Coeur d’Alene, longtime coach of North Idaho College wrestling team that has produced 10 national titles. Mike Owen, 48. Lives in Missoula, head wrestling coach at Sentinel High. Bill Owen, 46. Lives in Polson, Mont., assistant wrestling coach to brother, Bob, and head golf coach at Polson. Bob Owen, 45. Lives in Polson, head wrestling coach of two-time State A championship team. Nancy Olsen, 44. Lives in Sunburst, Mont., where husband is boys and girls basketball coach at Sunburst High. Kathy Souhrada, 43. Lives in Missoula and formerly coached youth wrestling program in Polson. Tim Owen, 40. Lives in Spokane, head wrestling coach at Ferris High. Don Owen, 38. Lives in Spokane Valley, head wrestling coach at University High and previously at Coeur d’Alene.