Nea Wrestling Teams Have Experience In Their Favor

It seems that Lakeside and Deer Park are always in contention for a Northeast A League wrestling championship.

Last year the Eagles finished second and Deer Park third in league, and Lakeside was second in region.

This year should be no exception.

Both teams have experience, although the Eagles remain young and the Stags may not have as many tournament winning-quality individuals as in the past.

“Just from coaching (at three previous schools) and now here, I’ve seen a lot of teams come through,” said Lakeside coach Scott Jones. “This is by far the best I’ve ever had an opportunity to coach.”

Defending champion Riverside is now in the Frontier League leaving Chewelah and possibly Medical Lake as the major obstacles to a Lakeside-Deer Park showdown at season’s end.

By then, Deer Park coach Dean Largent hopes that hard work in the practice room will pay off.

“This is the hardest-working team I’ve had in years,” he said.

“If that’s any indication, they should be good.”

Regional veterans lead Lakeside

Six regional veterans lead a team top-heavy in talented sophomores and freshmen.

Included are returning state participants senior 122 pounder Chris Padayao, junior 148-pounder Nate Bohl, and sophomores Jason Belyea at 108 and Anthony Layton at 129.

Others with regional experience and now both at 141-pounds are Aaron Laughery, a sophomore, and Wes Bouchia, a senior.

“Both were one match away from state,” said Jones. “I’d hate to have one of them not in the lineup.”

Joining them on this year’s varsity are sophomore Jared Lindholm and freshman J.D. Foreman at 101, freshmen Adrian Laughery and Trevor Blackwell at 108, freshman Adam Christen and sophomore Tim Weisser at 115.

Backing Padayao at 122 is freshman Todd Kenny and behind Layton are senior Peter McBride and freshman Matt Westenfelder, the coach’s nephew.

At 158 pounds are sophomore Sean Wheeler and returning varsity senior Ryan Chicoine. Senior Eric Dean and freshman J.P. Rothstein are at 168.

Veteran Cory Hamilton and frosh Jason Cummings man 178.

A starter for the second year, although only a sophomore, Craig Downey is at 190.

Upper two weights, 215 and 275 pounds, will be filled by junior Randy Brownell and senior Brandt Zwick.

“I’m excited,” said Jones. “Our goal is to win league, district, place among the top three at regionals and the top seven at state.”

Stags still sorting out bodies

Deer Park is trying to sort out its lineup in the wrestling room.

“We still haven’t addressed where all the kids are,” said Largent.

As many as four athletes per 14 weights are in contention for two spots in each come post-season.

Among them is senior state runner-up Clinton Umbach, up two weights to 141 pounds.

Another state veteran, senior Don Forbes returns at 122 pounds.

Regional alternate junior John Borbridge is, at 101, ahead of freshmen Ryan Pilgrim and Jack Burkey.

Freshman Nathan Turner is at 108. At 115 is varsity veteran, sophomore Jeremy Race along with sophomore Sean Masterson and Rebecca Magart.

Joining Forbes at 122 are senior T.J. Dearning, junior Don Moran and sophomore Chris Davis.

Senior Eric Servatius or sophomore Logun Rasmussen have the upper hand at 129, although Nathan Leibrant wrestled varsity at 101 pounds last year and has grown into the higher weight.

Two ex-Mead students Evan Johnson, who attended Deer Park through ninth grade, and sophomore Jeremiah White are at 135 along with sophomore Mikael Balfour.

Varsity veteran Mikal Bryant backs Umbach at 141.

A horde of athletes is vying between 148 and 158 pounds, including varsity juniors Jeb Race, Jed Thompsen and sophomore district competitor Jarred Berger, sophomore transfer from Sandpoint Nolan Jones and sophomore Josh Kelly.

At 168 are senior varsity veterans Bob Krous, Nathan Helm, who was injured midway through last year, and junior Heath Berger.

Two wrestlers, Todd Garner and Kyle Kemble are at 178 or 190 along with senior Tom Barcklay.

Coeur d’Alene transfer Sean Lockrie or Steve Daniel, both juniors, are at 215. And four athletes, Dana Nelson, sophomore Mike Clough and first year juniors Charlie Fornia and Tim Holston are at 275.

“We have lots of depth,” said Largent.

“Other than 108, all will have had varsity experience. It remains to be seen how tough we are.”

, DataTimes