Realignment Puts East Valley In Tighter Spot For Good Aa Finish
East Valley wrestlers Brad Perry and Jay Campbell last year finished third in the Frontier League district tournament to qualify for regionals for the eventual State AA champion Knights.
This year, third place won’t be good enough.
Wrestlers face new challenges because of the statewide enrollment reclassification.
“The ruling at this point is, two Frontier, three Mid-Valley and three Seamount league wrestlers will participate in Region IV,” said coach Craig Hanson.
In past years the league took three wrestlers to a regional that included just Frontier and Mid-Valley schools.
Although Seamount entrants pose little threat, those three warm bodies per weight class will keep state-worthy wrestlers from the traditionally powerful eastern regional from an opportunity.
“That third spot is so important. This makes it tougher,” said Hanson.
Compounding that is the fact that Moses Lake, last year’s State AAA runnerup, is now a Mid-Valley school and will contest EV. The Chiefs return four state placers among six state veterans and 10 starters.
Veterans lead way for Knights
Two finalists and a fourth-place finisher are among this year’s Knight returnees.
Justin Walker, who will be at 129, and Brad Crockett, either 148 or 141, were second in the AA tournament.
Kevin Woolf, who is battling Gary Adamson at 122, finished fourth.
Joining them are state veteran sophomore John Sommer at 101, and regional wrestlers Rusty Ruchert and Mike Manuel, who were district finalists at 158. Ruchert moves up to 168 this year.
Regional qualifiers Perry is at 108, and Campbell at 141 or 135.
Those with district experience are, Adamson, Jim Plumb, 115, sophomore Nate Kappan at 135, junior J.J. Honoroff, up to 190 from 168 pounds last year, Chris Dassow, 178, and Mike Eller, 275.
Freshman Todd Perry is at 115, senior Isaiah Hankel, 135, junior transfer Matt Jolley, 190 and his freshman brother Mike Jolley, 141 are other possibles.
Matt Jolley was unbeaten in Northeast A League duals with Lakeside High last year.
WV season dedicated to coach
Eagle wrestling coach Bill Bauman is on leave from teaching and coaching after undergoing treatment for leukemia last spring.
His wrestlers, under interim coach Mike Williams, have dedicated the season to him.
“It’s the first year where we don’t have a returning state veteran,” said Williams. “We’re looking at new faces to step in.”
The Eagles do bring back 10 district tournament veterans, including junior two-year starter Ty Roberts at 129 or 135 pounds, junior Jeff Rigsby at 122 and sophomore Sinxie Xiong at 101. All were three-match winners in the tournament.
Three seniors on the team are Brandon Frisch, 122, Jeff Thew, at 135 or 141, and Denis Blackwood, 178.
Frisch sat out last year with arthritic ankles after starting as a freshman and sophomore.
Tjay Frampton at 141, Trevor Britton and Rick Collins, 158, Justin Demke, 148, are other seasoned juniors.
Sophomore Emery Lewis returns at 275. Freshmen hoping to break in are Jamie Rigsby, 101 or 108, Anthony Hernandez, 135, and Adam Aldendorf, 190.
First-time wrestlers include senior Chris Nesbitt, 215, and junior Wes Hood, 168-78.
“It’s a tough league and an even tougher regional,” said Williams. “If we can get one wrestler to state it would be great.”
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