St. Maries, Priest River Start Fast

(From For the Record, March 3, 1998): Caption wrong: Sandpoint High School wrestler Mick Coon and Skyview High School’s Kevin Haro were misidentified in a photo caption in the Feb. 27 edition of the Idaho Spokesman-Review

The Intermountain League made a comeback Thursday in the first round of the state high school wrestling tournaments.

At least the league’s top two teams - district and league champ St. Maries and runner-up Priest River - fared well in Idaho State University’s Holt Arena.

Priest River advanced six of seven wrestlers into the quarterfinals, and St. Maries pushed six of nine through the first round.

“The next round is where it gets tough because you’re almost guaranteed of seeing a top-seeded kid,” St. Maries coach Ryan Wood said. “If you make it through that, you place in the top six.”

More than a handful of Priest River and St. Maries wrestlers hope to place higher than sixth.

Priest River’s top seeds opened strong.

Defending state champ Jake Stark had no problem dispatching Taylor VandenEykel of Salmon, pinning him in 1:17.

Other top IML seeds who won were Priest River’s Lucas Blaine, who pinned Kelly Gilbert of Snake River in 3:17; Bonners Ferry’s Winter Braden, who scored an 18-7 major decision over South Fremont’s Shawn Luke; Bonners Ferry’s Travis Liermann, who put a technical fall on Emmett’s Chris Rowley; and Priest River heavyweight Josh Queen, who pinned Adam Cluff of Payette in 3:19.

“I’m very pleased,” Priest River coach Ed Arvin said. “They stayed square and did what they needed to do to win. The kids we brought to state are quality kids.”

Priest River was tied for fifth with 21 points and St. Maries was a half-point behind. Buhl led after the first round with 28.5.

Panhandle A-1 teams struggle

Just 14 of 40 Inland Empire League wrestlers won opening-day matches.

Sandpoint advanced the most with five, followed by Post Falls (four) and Lewiston (three). Two of four Lake City athletes won and Coeur d’Alene was 0 for 2.

Sandpoint’s Bulldogs were tied for ninth place with 14 points. Post Falls was a half-point back.

Don’t do this at home

Kuna coach Wade Palmer was ejected from Holt Arena for the day after receiving two unsportsmanlike penalties.

Palmer was upset that a referee didn’t protect one of his wrestlers, who was tipped onto his neck and injured. The wrestler had neck pain, but eventually walked off the mat. A Kuna assistant also was called for unsportsmanlike behavior.

Three team points were deducted from Kuna. Palmer was escorted out of the arena by a security officer. He won’t be allowed to return until after this morning’s quarterfinals, tourney officials said.

The Owen pipeline

It was a good year for the Owen cousins.

Coeur d’Alene native Tommy Owen, a freshman at University High in Spokane, made it 4 for 4 for the Owen clan last weekend when he captured the Washington 4A title at 101 pounds in Tacoma.

Two weeks ago, several of his cousins cleaned up at Montana’s state meet.

Pat Owen, a junior at Polson, captured a second straight championship, winning at 140 pounds. Pat’s dad, Bob, is the head coach. Another cousin, Matt Owen, also a junior, won his first title at 145 pounds, also at Polson. Matt’s dad, Bill, is Bob’s assistant.

And sophomore Cory Owen, a 98-pounder at Missoula Sentinel, also won a state title. His dad, Mike, is Sentinel’s head coach.

The Owen boys all were coached by either fathers or uncles. Tommy Owen’s coach is his uncle, Don Owen, the youngest of the Owen brothers.

“Grandma was real pleased; she had a good year,” quipped former North Idaho College coach John Owen, the oldest brother and Tommy’s father.

Tommy Owen accomplished something no other cousin has: He became the first to capture a title as a freshman.

World Wide Wrestling Web

Folks can follow the Idaho state tournaments by calling up the Idaho High School Activities Association’s web page.

Type www.idhsaa.org and you can walk through their home page. Updates are supposed to be provided after each session is completed.

Today’s schedule

Quarterfinal matches will be held this morning with semifinals in the evening. Championship finals will begin Saturday at 2 p.m. PST.

Takedowns

Sandpoint’s Jared Lawrence remained undefeated with a quick first-period pin of Skyview’s Ricky Watts in 1:16. The victory raised Lawrence’s career record to 130-0.

Two-time defending state champ Al Mack of Post Falls was businesslike in an 8-1 victory over Kurt Cox of defending champ Idaho Falls.

Top-seeded Matt Smith of Post Falls had no problem at heavyweight, pinning Kyle Rosse of Boise in 2:38.

Idaho Falls, which figures to run away with a second straight title, moved 13 of 18 wrestlers into the quarterfinals.

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