Knights Plug Holes In Wrestling Roster

Last year, with a team comprised primarily of sophomores, East Valley was Frontier League co-champion, its sixth wrestling title in seven years.

This year, EV’s lineup is a year older and at least two new wrestlers tougher.

Chris Duncan, who was the State AAA runnerup at 178 pounds for Richland last year, has transferred to EV.

So has Tristan Beeman, who was a district semi-finalist at 190 pounds while wrestling last year for Rogers.

“Only a few kids had state experience (last year), yet we have a bunch of kids who have turned the corner,” said second-year coach Craig Hanson. “I’m expecting a world of difference.”

How tight was the competition among last year’s top three league teams?

Out of 42 individual matches, just four determined the outcome of contests among the top three teams.

The Knights, defending co-champion Colville and third-place Clarkston all return the better part of those teams. So, too, does fourth-place West Valley.

“In a dual match situation, East Valley and Colville will be real tough,” said Eagle coach Bill Bauman.

“In small tournaments I’m looking at EV walking away. In large tournaments, Clarkston and EV should do real well.”

When the league begins in January, even if the Frontier League outcome doesn’t change, the level of competition will be higher.

Knights find answer to missing match

Two matches that got away from East Valley against Colville, because of inexperience, were at 168 and 178 pounds.

With the arrival of Duncan, whose father Rob is a 1976 EV graduate, that situation is likely resolved. He was district and regional champion and a state finalist for Richland as a junior before.

He and Beeman are in the same weight classes as juniors Chris Dassow and Kaleb Trinkle who started for the Knights last year and are a year stronger and better.

“They are that much tougher,” said Hanson. “I’m expecting a whole other level.”

Also back at EV are state veterans Kevin Woolf, now at 115 pounds, and Quinton Chapman, now at 135.

Regional veterans are Gary and Joe Adamson at 122 and 129 pounds, and Mike Manuel at 158.

The team’s best wrestler last year, who uncharacteristically faltered in districts, is 122-pounder Justin Walker.

“We’re talking about a kid who was a (probable) state placer but had one bad tournament,” said Hanson.

Veterans all, Jimmy Plumb is at 108 pounds, Rusty Ruchert is at 158 or 168 and Mike Eller is at 275.

Additionally, wrestlers like Trevor Crawford, Brad Crockett and Jay Campbell in the 122 to 148 pound range will find themselves somewhere in the lineup.

Transfer Rob Gillespie is another promising 178 pounder.

Freshmen will fill in at 101, leaving the Knight lineup with few holes.

No wonder Hanson says, “I’m expecting a world of difference. I feel we have a team that is going to do something at the state level this year.”

Eagles look for improvement

Ironically, although WV had just a break-even league dual meet season, the team had the league’s second-largest regional contingent.

Of its eight qualifiers, four return, including two-time state placer, senior Quinn Sharpe.

“We’re looking to get better,” said Bauman. “We have some holes in the lineup.”

Other tournament-seasoned veterans are 190 pound senior Josh Kelp, cleared to wrestle after undergoing off-season knee surgery.

“He’s still a little ginger on the knee,” said Bauman. “But he’s been given the OK.”

Sophomore Ty Roberts a district runnerup, is up to 115 or 122 pounds from 101. Senior Dave Cooper will wrestle at 141.

“Everyone (in the wrestling room) ran away from Dave,” said Bauman. “I think he’ll have a real good year.”

Seniors Jason Pannell, 178, Paul Bain at 108, Ryan Hughes at 148 and Steve Moore at 129 are among the team’s elder statesmen.

Other returnees include sophomore Mike Cole at 108 or 115, juniors Brandon Frisch at 115 and Sean Simon at 122.

“We’ve got a lot of good wrestlers stuck in the same class,” said Bauman.

Junior Mike Johnson goes to 135 pounds. Sophomores Trevor Britton and Justin Demke move up to 148 and Rick Collins to 158.

Junior Ryan Soss is an experienced 168 pounder but first year sophomore Jesse Oka will test him.

Freshman Sie Xiong is at 101, Brian Rogers is at 215, sophomore Brandon Cromwell and freshman Emory Lewis are at 275.

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