Iml Wrestlers Set Their Sights On Gold

A2 wrestling

With no chance of capturing a team trophy, Intermountain League wrestling teams still found a way Friday to be competitive: See which team qualified the most for championship matches.

Lakeland advanced three to today’s finals, and Priest River is guaranteed its first-ever finalists and nearly matched Lakeland with a third.

Throw in 189-pound Tyrel Hendrix of Kellogg and six IML wrestlers will be seeking gold this afternoon at Idaho State University’s Holt Arena.

In the battle for the team title, defending State A-2 champion Sugar-Salem posted 157.5 after two days. Weiser is second with 112.5 and Snake River is a close third at 106.

Lakeland is sixth with 73 and must make up plenty of ground if it hopes to earn a trophy. Priest River is eighth (57).

Kellogg’s top-seeded Hendrix, who placed sixth last year, is the first member of his family and extended family to qualify for a state final.

Hendrix has battled injuries most of the season. It started with a hyperextended knee and moved to a torn ligament in his left ankle. That injury hasn’t healed completely, and he hurt his back in the semifinals.

But all that will be just a memory if he achieves his goal - a state title.

Lakeland’s trio of state title contenders - the Pascoe brothers, Travis (145) and Nathan (171), as well as Sean Barnhart (152) - were impressive Friday.

The youngest Pascoe, Travis, a freshman, hasn’t wrestled like a rookie at state. He dominated Tobe Harberd, a senior from Weiser, 13-5.

Nathan Pascoe, a senior known as Mr. Takedown, cruised to the finals with a 14-7 victory over Nathan Bradfield of Preston.

Barnhart, who a week ago lost in the semifinals at district, continued his march to redemption with a 7-4 win over Marshall Winder of Sugar-Salem.

“It’s great for the league,” Lakeland coach Mark Johnson said of the IML’s presence in the finals.

Johnson had praise for his talented trio, but he was especially impressed with the youngest Pascoe.

“His matched worried me a little bit because the Weiser kids are so well-coached,” Johnson said. “And they’re unorthodox. But Travis was ready for this tournament when he got off the bus. He went out and showed what he could do, and he’s making some believers down here that he’s a pretty tough kid.”

Travis Pascoe will have his hands full with Kuna senior Sam Eckhart, the top seed and defending state champ.

“We’ve got a plan for him and I hope it works,” Johnson said.

Priest River coach Ed Arvin was overjoyed. But he was also upset with a match that he claims sophomore Lucas Blaine should have won at 119.

Blaine fell to Mark Kirby of Soda Springs 7-5.

“I feel bad for Lucas because he won the match,” Arvin said.

Arvin said Blaine was trailing by a point and should have been awarded a two-point near fall in the closing seconds.

“We’ve got it on videotape; it’s at least a two-point near fall and that wins the match,” Arvin said. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos