Intermountain League Wrestling

Thu., Dec. 10, 1998

In predicted order of district finish:

St. Maries Lumberjacks

Coach: Ryan Wood

Years coaching: 6th

Top returners: State qualifiers Shaun Willey, senior, 103; Travis Duffey, sr., 112; Kevin Moore, jr., 135-140; Joe Nelson, sr., 145; Mike Boller, junior, 152; Rocky Gray, sr., 152; Dustin Brusseau, sr., 160; others: Matt Young, sr., 160-171; Rodey Hill, sr., hwt.

Newcomers: Jake Lockard, freshman, 103; Charlie Skinner, sophomore; Kenny Dockery, frosh., 125.

Coach’s comment: “Finally I have an older team, primarily juniors and seniors. We’re all on the same page. I don’t have to motivate them in practice. They know what’s expected.”

Outlook: The Lumberjacks should easily defend their district championship. St. Maries has depth at most weights. The Lumberjacks want to improve on a disappointing 15th-place state finish.

Kellogg Wildcats

Coach: Todd Jackson

Years coaching: 4th

Top returners: State qualifiers - James Bush, soph., 119; Nathan Dawson, jr., 130; Cody Newby, sr., 145; Tim Bush, sr., 171; others: Aaron Miller, jr., 112; Ryan Frank, sr., 152.

Newcomers: Damon Rowe, frosh., 103; Travis Berti, frosh., 103.

Coach’s comment: “We have a lot of experience. Last year, we were young. We feel we can give (St. Maries) a run.”

Outlook: If Kellogg can find some support for its returning state qualifiers, it could give St. Maries a chase.

Bonners Ferry Badgers

Coach: Conrad Garner

Years coaching: 13th

Top returners: State qualifiers - Jon Madden, soph., 135-140; Nick Tenney, sr., 152-160; Travis Liermann, sr., 160-171.

Newcomers: Mike Gross, frosh., 103; J.B. Plato, soph., 171.

Coach’s comment: “After St. Maries, it’s a big mixing bowl with the rest of us. The other teams don’t have the numbers to match St. Maries.”

Outlook: The Badgers don’t have the bodies in the lower weights to match with St. Maries. They’ll have to rely on their upper weights.

Priest River Spartans

Coach: Bill Lemm

Years coaching: 15th, 1st at PR Top returners: State qualifiers - Casey Holbrook, sr., 135-140; Jake Hatfield, jr., 140; Lucas Blaine, sr., 152; Chris Hughes, sr., 189; others: Kenny Laird, sr., 152.

Newcomers: Randy Poirer, jr., 119; Steve Lamb, soph., 125-130; Jason Keller, sr., hwt.

Coach’s comment: “We don’t have the depth to win district, but we could have the most individual champs. We’re in the hunt for second.”

Outlook: Lemm takes over for Ed Arvin, who took a job in Texas. Although the numbers are thin a handful of athletes will contend for state medals. Blaine will take a shot at a state title.

Lakeland Hawks

Coach: Mark Johnson

Years coaching: 9th

Top returners: State qualifiers - Brady Spurway, jr., 112; Dylan Steigemeier, jr., 130-140; Casey Phelps, soph., 171-189; Levi Cushman, sr., hwt; others: Ted Leonard, soph., 140; Jason Lofthas, jr., 152; Tommy Basenberg, soph., 160.

Newcomers: None identified at this point.

Coach’s comment: “We’re better than we were last year; it’s basically the same group. But we still have a long way to go.”

Outlook: This is Johnson’s final season. He turned in his resignation during the middle of last year. Lakeland finished last in league last year, and the Hawks should be greatly improved this season.

Timberlake Tigers

Coach: Kelly Amos Years coaching: 6th, 1st at TL, 4 at Clearwater Valley Top returners: (From split with Lakeland) Kurt Larson, jr., 145; Brandon Lickfold, soph., 189; Dan Zichko, soph., 189.

Newcomers: Jake Clark, sr., 135; Loren Buchert, jr., 171.

Coach’s comment: “Of all the sports that were split with Lakeland, this is the worst for us just in terms of numbers. Of the 14 kids we have, more than half have never wrestled before.”

Outlook: Amos, the head football coach and athletic director, realizes the program must start somewhere. The Tigers have no varsity experience. Each match will be a learning experience.

Travis Liermann, senior, 160-171 pounds, Bonners Ferry Shaun Willey, senior, 103, St. Maries Lucas Blaine, senior, 152, Priest River Travis Duffey, senior, 112, St. Maries Nathan Dawson, junior, 130, Kellogg Nick Tenney, senior, 152-160, BF Tim Bush, senior, 171, Kellogg Chris Hughes, senior, 189, Priest River Levi Cushman, senior, hvy., Lakeland Joe Nelson, senior, 145, St. Maries Casey Holbrook, senior, 135-140, Priest River

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Intermountain League Wrestling

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