Lakeside Puts On Dominating Show
2A/A-B wrestling
Lakeside Eagle wrestlers are in a league of their own after qualifying 16 wrestlers to next week’s Mat Classic X in Tacoma for the State 2A championships.
“It feels like it sometimes,” admitted Eagle 178-pounder Sean Wheeler, one of a dozen champions.
Lakeside climbed through a window of opportunity brought about by this year’s statewide reclassification, sending at least one wrestler per weight to state.
“You’ve got to research that and see if it’s ever been done before,” said Lakeside coach Scott Jones.
The new Great Northern League was awarded three state berths without the burden of regional competition, making things easier.
But in an amazing display, Lakeside reduced the district tournament to a dual meet between it and the rest of the GNL.
Lakeside won all but one head-to-head match. The team finished with 395.5 points to runner-up Colville’s 189.5
It began early when Robert Paintner beat teammate Kris Matthews for the 101-pound title. Things escalated when brothers Justin and Jason Belyea reversed regular-season league losses to Colville foes in the next two matches.
Jason beat John Slater 10-5 with releases and takedowns.
“The last time I locked up with him and he over-muscled me,” said Jason. “And when you’re little brother wins before you, it kind of pumps you up.”
Justin, a freshman, beat Kyle Aiken 8-3.
“Before, he kept grabbing my wrist,” said Justin. “I learned wrist control and how to shoot on him.”
The carnage continued for Lakeside with wins by Anthony Layton at 129, Adam and Jason Christen at 135 and 141, Aaron Laughery at 168, tourney outstanding wrestler Matt Westenfelder at 168, Wheeler at 178, Jason Cummings at 190, Matt Wilson at 215 and Chad Charbonneau at 275.
Adam Christen and Laughery won by a point, Cummings and Wilson by injury default, the latter when Riverside’s Jesse Lee broke his forearm while being taken down.
Charbonneau, a sophomore, played basketball until this year. He upset top-seed Davey Naff of Colville 3-0.
“I didn’t feel I was going anywhere in basketball, and this seemed to be the best opportunity to get better in football,” he said. “It’s more than I could ever imagine.”
Riverside junior Joben Nuesse, a state qualifier in the Frontier League last season, was the only GNL wrestler to slow the juggernaut.
He beat Tim Weisser 3-2 with a late escape and takedown.
“He’s tough,” said Nuesse. “I didn’t know if I would win. I was just wrestling out there.”
Colville unbeaten Justin Divis won at 158, the only weight where Lakeside didn’t have a finalist.
The Eagles must guard against complacency prior to state, warned their coach. But Jones said he’ll savor the moment.
“Some days you wrestle close to perfection,” he said. “This is as close as it gets.”
Medical Lake had six third-place finishers to qualify eight wrestlers to state. Colville and Riverside qualified six apiece, Deer Park three, Newport and Chewelah two each.
Region III A-B
Bi-County B and Northeast A League wrestlers won three championships and had nine finalists during the Region III tournament in Chelan.
Freeman’s Brandon Marchand won at 190 pounds, Almira-Coulee/Hartline’s Luke Winona won at 215 and Colfax’s Kelly Jones won at 148.
All told, 12 area teams accounted for 32 of 84 state tournament berths.
Reardan, which finished fifth in team scoring with 126 points, advances seven. Freeman and ACH qualified four apiece.
, DataTimes