Intermountain League Wrestling
In predicted order of district finish:
St. Maries Lumberjacks
1996-97 IML record: 4-1
Coach: Ryan Wood
Years coaching: 5th
Top returners: Returning state qualifiers Shaun Willey, junior, 103; Travis Duffey, jr., 112; Aaron Ford, sophomore, 125; Kevin Moore, soph., 130; Joe Nelson, jr., 135; Mike Boller, soph., 152; Dante Stone, senior, 189; Rodey Hill, jr., 189. Other returners Dustin Brusseau, jr., 160; Josh Buell, sr., 171.
Newcomers: Vern Malensky, freshman, 119; Rocky Gray, jr., 145.
Coach’s comment: “I think down low we’re pretty solid. And we’re pretty balanced except for a couple of holes. We have a very solid league and we’ll have to work hard this season to compete.”
Outlook: After placing second in the league last season, two points behind Lakeland, the Lumberjacks are a favorite this year. St. Maries will hit the mats with 35. Gray is a transfer from Georgia who has some freestyle experience.
Lakeland Hawks
1996-97 IML record: 5-0 (league champ)
Coach: Mark Johnson
Years coaching: 8th
Top returners: Returning state qualifiers - Dillon Stiegemeier, soph., 119; Eric Marvin, sr., 125; Levi Cushman, jr., 189. Other returners - Travis Sawyer, sr., 171; Phil Alverson, sr., hwt.
Newcomers: Brady Spurway, soph., 112; Casey Phelps, frosh., 160.
Coach’s comment: “We are basically a real young team. We graduated quite a few and had some kids transfer. They are going to have to work hard and I’ll have to do a lot of coaching this year. We’ll just see at the end of the season if we’re able to compete.”
Outlook: With two freshmen and six sophomores in the varsity lineup, the Hawks will most likely fall from their firstplace league standing they earned last season. But after a year or two of gaining experience, they are likely to climb back to the top.
Priest River Spartans
1996-97 IML record: 1-4
Coach: Ed Arvin
Years coaching: 15th, 6th at PR
Top returners: Returning state qualifiers - Casey Holbrook, jr., 130; Ken Laird, jr., 135; Lucas Blaine, jr., 140; Jake Stark, sr., 145; Josh Queen, sr., hwt. Other returners - Zach Wood, sr., 152; Chris Johnston, sr., hwt.
Newcomers: Randy Poirier, frosh., 112; Craig Hansen, frosh., 119.
Coach’s comment: “You put five state vets, one state champion and all these other kids in the practice room together and you get some pretty intense practices. The kids have been working really hard and the level of wrestling is getting better every year.”
Outlook: The Spartans will be thin on the edges this year as they’re missing 103and 189-pounders. But they will be solid in the center with 20 out of their 27 athletes between 119 and 160. Stark, who was the first state champion in school history last year, is expected to have a repeat performance.
Bonners Ferry Badgers
1996-97 IML record: 1-4
Coach: Conrad Garner
Years coaching: 12th
Top returners: Returning state qualifiers - Winter Braden, sr., 130; Derek Barnhart, sr., 140; Jacob Pluid, sr., 152; Travis Liermann, jr., 160.
Newcomers: John Madden, frosh., 119; Jacob Christianson, frosh., 135.
Coach’s comment: “We’re all grouped right in the center. I’d like to spread some of the guys out, but they all weigh the same. We have six freshmen this season, but they fit right into that group too.”
Outlook: Even with four returning state qualifiers, the Badgers may have a difficult season with three slots left open: 112, 171, heavyweight. But, with most of the team grouped in the center, Bonners Ferry will be four to five deep from 119 to 160.
Moscow Bears
1996-97 IML record: 1-4
Coach: Bill Lemm
Years coaching: 14th, 5th at Moscow
Top returners: Returning state qualifiers - Jess Falke, sr., 152; Ryan Flugel, soph., 189.
Newcomers: Justin Houska, jr., 125; Ben Nagy, jr., hwt.
Coach’s comment: “The kids are doing really well. They’ve got a good attitude and they’re working really hard. They seem to have improved quite a bit and put on quite a bit of muscle since they started working out in the off-season.”
Outlook: After placing at the bottom of the league last year, the Bears should be improved this season. With a team consisting mostly of sophomores and juniors, they shouldn’t have to struggle as much with inexperience. But in such a competitive league, they may find it difficult working their way up the ladder.
Kellogg Wildcats
1996-97 IML record: 3-2
Coach: Todd Jackson
Years coaching: 3rd Top returners: Returning state qualifiers - Cody Newby, jr., 135. Other returners - Nathan Dawson, soph., 125; Andrew Roberts, sr., 140; Tim Bush, jr., 160.
Newcomers: James Bush, frosh., 103.
Coach’s comment: “I’ve got a lot of freshmen, so it’s going to be a building year for us. After this season, I expect to be a power in the league.”
Outlook: Kellogg will enter the season with some scrappy wrestlers, but will be weak as a team because of inexperience. Newby has a shot at a district championship as Bonners Ferry’s Winter Braden drops to 130 pounds. Newby lost to Braden last season by one point at district. With such a young team, Kellogg is equipped with future potential.
A-3 Independent capsules on C4.
, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Wrestlers to watch Shaun Willey, junior, 103 pounds, St. Maries Travis Duffey, junior, 112, St. Maries Winter Braden, senior, 130, Bonners Ferry Cody Newby, junior, 135, Kellogg Lucas Blaine, junior, 140, Priest River Jake Stark, senior, 145, Priest River Rodey Hill, junior, 189, St. Maries Josh Queen, senior, heavyweight, Priest River