EV Wrestlers Tough From Top To Bottom
East Valley’s Jay Campbell was typical of Knight wrestling success this year.
How he accomplished it was atypical.
The Knight junior is one of seven EV wrestlers who won 20 matches or more this year. He did so while competing in three different weight classes - 135, 141 and 148 pounds - during the year.
A one-class jump is common. Moving up two, particularly in the middle weights, is not.
“Look at how versatile he is,” said coach Craig Hanson. “He was just the best person at those weights in the match.am out,” he said. “I was scared at first about going out and getting muscled around (at higher weights). After I got out there I totally relaxed.”
Thursday night the lanky Campbell was at his normal 135-pound weight, winning by pin during EV’s 63-0 romp over rival West Valley.
“I’m a lot more comfortable at this weight,” said Campbell. “I can do moves that work. Sometimes they don’t work against bigger people.
Thursday night’s shutout defined the year EV had. It was the second time this season the team shut out a Frontier opponent. Things like that just don’t happen.
“We set high expectations,” said second-year coach Craig Hanson. “You can talk about it, but you have to work (to meet) them. The kids put the hard work in.”
The Knights finished unbeaten in league, winning a seventh Frontier League championship in eight years. Included was a convincing 47-16 win over Colville two nights early, ending a three-year losing string to the Indians.
The Knights did well in invitational tournaments all year long.
“And look at the tournaments we were in,” said Hanson. “None was easy.”
Wrestling at 190 and 215 pounds, Tristan Beeman compiled a 26-3 record. At 178 pounds, Rob Gillespie went 20-6. Rusty Ruchert is 24-5 at 158 and Justin Key 23-4 at 148.
Justin Walker improved to 22-4 at 122 and Brad Perry to 22-6 at 108. He wrestle at 101 pounds next week in district.
Additionally, Chris Duncan, a state runnerup at Richland last year, is 18-1 at 168 pounds. Joe Adamson at 129 and Quinton Chapman at 135 have but three losses apiece.
State veteran Kevin Woolf has 18 wins and went undefeated in league. Brad Crockett was undefeated in four league matches.
They are just some of the Knight wrestlers who can move on through the two-step state qualifying phase of the season.
Districts, in Pullman next weekend, advances three per weight to step two. In several instances, the Knights could advance two wrestlers in one weight class to regionals in Selah.
Hanson thinks that realistically EV’s regional team could number 15. He figures on half of those qualifying to Tacoma, Feb. 21-22.
“I hope we didn’t peak too soon,” said Campbell. “I hope we can keep up the intensity in the practice room.”
Judging from the results so far, the EV wrestler has little to worry about.
Bauman fund-raising continues
Fund-raising efforts to help defray medical costs for West Valley wrestling coach Bill Bauman are continuing.
Bauman was diagnosed in December with chronic mylogenous leukemia and must undergo a costly bone marrow rescue procedure at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Institute in Seattle.
West Valley’s Booster Club began its “Give A Dime” campaign Tuesday at the Eagle wrestling match against Clarkston and donated all its concession income to him.
Centennial Middle School, where Bauman teaches, was selling hearts for a dollar at Thursday night’s EV-WV wrestling match as part of its ongoing Buy a Heart for Bill campaign.
At next Friday’s Golden Throne spirit basketball game, East Valley assistant principal Mike Van Matre said, gallon jars will be stationed by the concession stands and between games. Members of EV’s community service class will also canvass the stands on his behalf.
“We’ve always wanted community service to be part of the Golden Throne game,” said VanMatre.
In the past the schools have conducted coat and food drives.
West Valley is working on a blood drive for Bauman’s benefit. For information call Marcia Groesbeck at 922-5488. A trust fund is accepting donations in his name at Washington Trust Bank.
An administrative oversight has Bauman still awaiting word on whether he has a blood stem cell match for the bone marrow rescue.
“Fred Hutchinson called and said ‘Where’s the recipient’s blood?”’ said Bauman.
His six brothers and sisters have all been tested and samples sent to Seattle. However transfer of Bauman’s blood sample to Fred Hutchinson was delayed by the oversight. Bauman was on the bench for the Eagle-Knight wrestling match, showing no outward signs of the blood cell cancer he has contracted or chemotherapy treatment he is undergoing.
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