Eagles’ Strengths Rooted In Three Sets Of Siblings

Call them brothers-in-arms. And legs. Three sets of Lakeside High brothers are in the lineup of the Eagles wrestling powerhouse.

The brothers are Aaron, Adrian and Austin Laughery, Jason and Justin Belyea and Jason and Adam Christen.

Senior Aaron Laughery is already a two-time state placer, one of five Lakeside multiple state qualifiers. Another is senior Jason Belyea.

The Christen brothers - senior Jason and junior Adam - both qualified for state last year. Jason placed fourth.

Laughery’s siblings, sophomore Adrian and freshman Austin, and freshman Justin Belyea are hoping to follow in the considerable footsteps of their elder brothers.

“The best thing,” said Lakeside coach Scott Jones, “is that when the older brothers start to look back, they think of things they wished they had done and share it with the younger brothers.”

What the older brothers can share already is how they helped the small Nine Mile Falls high school win last year’s State A wrestling title.

This year to date, the Eagles have already won the Deer Park Invitational and Inland Empire Classic against much larger schools with prestigious wrestling programs.

“I don’t think we’ll get invited back again,” said Aaron Laughery in jest. “We probably will. We’re good chaps.”

Last weekend, after leading on the first day, the Eagles placed second at the high-powered Tri-State Tournament in Coeur d’Alene.

That tourney is something of a misnomer since the best wrestlers from four states compete.

Aaron won 148-pound championships in the first two invitationals. He was sixth, losing on injury default, after reaching last weekend’s Tri-State 145-pound semifinals.

Jason Belyea won at the I.E. Classic and was second both at Deer Park and in the Tri-State.

Jason Christen was second at Deer Park and third at the I.E. Classic.

There is a common thread in the story of the brothers, of most Lakeside wrestlers for that matter. All but Jason Belyea initially learned in the district’s little kids program.

The Laugherys’ dad, Pat, was one of the coaches. He was Pomeroy High School’s first state champion in 1968.

After a year wrestling at Washington State University, “I started thinking about the future and what wrestling had to do with it,” he said. “I got totally out of it mentally and physically.”

When Aaron was 7, he immersed himself back into wrestling, even to the point that he has competed in open freestyle events.

“It all started with the little kids program,” Aaron agreed. “I don’t even remember when I began. I think me and Adrian started at the same time.”

Each of his sons is different, Pat said, but they root for and support each other.

Adrian, a 158-pounder, is hoping to qualify for state this year. Austin said his success will depend upon if he can make 101 pounds.

“I don’t feel I’ll go to state this year,” he said. “It seems like everybody I go against is bigger.”

When Jason Belyea was an eighth grader, he watched his younger brother wrestle in the kid’s program.

“I thought I’d try it,” he said, “and liked it.”

He qualified for state as a freshman and sophomore, but missed out last year.

“It was pretty crappy,” he said. “I decided to come back stronger this year.”

Justin, like Austin, figures this year will be a learning experience.

Jason and Adam Christen are nearly identical in size and appearance. They work out together and have high aspirations for the season.

Once in high school, Lakeside wrestlers take part in workouts that rival many colleges, and participate in summer intensive camps, every bit as grueling as Marine boot camp.

“It makes you know how far the body can be pushed,” said Adam Christen.

His brother, a multi-sport athlete, is the only one who hasn’t been to camp.

“Jason by far is the most talented athlete pound-for-pound in the room,” said Jones. “He was all-league in football, all-league in baseball. Too bad he isn’t 6-foot-4 or he’d be playing football somewhere.”

Wrestling brothers are not uncommon in area high school programs. Individual success tends to run in families.

But if Lakeside duplicates last year’s state team championship with these seven athletes in the lineup, it will be a special moment, indeed.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo