Knights-Eagles Wrestling Rivalry Begins Anew

Despite their unfamiliarity with tradition, the new coaches and young wrestlers at East Valley and West Valley last year brought to their meeting an exuberance befitting both the long-standing rivalry and the match’s championship implications.

The Knight and Eagle wrestlers battled back and forth until the night’s final match broke a tie and produced EV’s fifth league title in six years.

A dozen of the combatants involved in that drama will be back when the Frontier League season begins anew.

The Knights of new coach Craig Hanson bring back veteran wrestlers in a number of weights and will be a likely favorite again.

“I guess we’re as good a shot to win as anybody, especially since our kids did it last year,” said Hanson. “I hate to put the pressure on them, but it’s kind of in our laps.”

WV second-year coach Bill Bauman now has a better feel for his team and the atmosphere of the Frontier and he brings back varsity wrestlers in all but four weights.

“Our first practice this year was probably the best I’ve ever had,” he said. “I wouldn’t count us out.”

Besides the defending champion Knights and runner-up Eagles, Cheney appears ready to plunge back into the title picture after a six-year absence.

Coaches think that Clarkston could be the league’s surprise and note that Colville was league champ just two years ago.

“That’s why I hate to say we have a lock on it by any means,” said Hanson. “Three, maybe four teams are looking to push for it.”

New coach but same old thing at EV

New coach Hanson, who followed Bauman to the Valley from Coeur d’Alene, will attempt to maintain the championship tradition of his two Knight predecessors.

In his lineup are five regional tournament wrestlers, including 135-pound senior Matt Eastman and 115-pound sophomore Justin Walker who qualified for state last year.

Joining them is regional vet Gary Adamson, who along with Kevin Woolf gives the Knights a solid one-two sophomore punch at 108 pounds.

Gary’s junior brother Joe Adamson now at 122 and sophomore Rusty Ruchert up to 158, also qualified for regionals.

Senior Albert Ruperd, fourth in district last year, is one of three 148 pounders, including junior Chuck Van Note and senior Brian Ruchert.

Varsity veterans despite their youth, juniors Quinton Chapman and Justin Key are at 129 pounds, along with sophomore Brad Crockett.

Kaleb Trinkle, a sophomore, is back at 190 pounds and sophomore Mike Eller moves into the 215-pound class.

Senior Ben Wise, the wrestler whose pin produced the league title, is the Knight 275-pounder.

Other wrestlers in the lineup are freshmen Jimmy Plumb at 101, Rob Buller at 141 ahead of senior Justin Kappen, and Chris Dassow at 178.

Sophomores Ben Fansler and Erik Glenn are new at 168 and 190 pounds respectively.

“We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores in the linup,” said Hanson. “But the nice thing is, since everyone else is in the same boat, it’s not like we have to take huge lumps.”

WV to take up where it left off

In Bauman’s first year, his Eagles were at their best during post-season tournaments.

They qualified nine wrestlers to regionals and sent three to state, including returning third-place finisher Quinn Sharpe.

Bauman thinks the Eagles can duplicate that.

“If we’re healthy we can take six to eight wrestlers to regionals,” he said.

Among them are Sharpe, who has moved up to 115 pounds from 101, Andy Imada, a district runnerup who is this year’s 148-pounder and Josh Ludwig, a 129-pounder who was one match away from reaching state despite wrestling up a weight.

Much of the rest of the WV’s lineup is experienced as well.

Brandon Frisch, a sophomore who finished fourth in district, is behind Sharpe at 115. Cory Richardson, a district placer and rodeo bull rider who didn’t wrestle last year, returns to the team at 122.

“He’s what I call a bell-ringer,” said Bauman. “When the bell rings he’s ready to go. His timing is off a bit and he needs technique but he’s physical.”

Letter winning juniors Dave Cooper is at 135, Jeremy Isherwood is at 158, Jason Pannell is at 168, senior Jason Miller is at 178 and Josh Castor is at 215.

“The new class will benefit him,” said Bauman.

Varsity hopefuls include freshman Ty Roberts and sophomore Caleb Englert at 101, sophomore Jeff Thew and junior Paul Bain at 108, sophomore Sean Simon at 122, junior Dan Lorenson and freshman Justin Demke at 141, freshman Rick Collins at 148.

When he heals from a broken hand, Colorado transfer Josh Kelp, a junior, will be at 190.

“It’s nice to get transfers, especially when they show potential,” said Bauman. “He’s real coachable, and has a great double leg takedown.”

Unexperienced 275 pounders are sophomore Brandon Cromwell and junior Brian Lizotte.

“The room is real focused,” said Bauman. “The freshmen went to camp and knew how we do things. The guys at the high school already had the technique. They know me and I know them.”

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