Former U-Hi Champion Brett Racicot Now Wears Blue And White Of CV Bears

Brett Racicot was a University Titan. Now he’s a Central Valley Bear.

Tonight, CV’s first-year head wrestling coach will witness his first Battle of the Bone between the Bears and Titans. It seems Racicot was the only one who didn’t see last year’s match, which may have drawn the biggest audience in Spokane dual match history.

Racicot became U-Hi’s first state champion in 1984 at a time when the rivalry with Central Valley was big, but not as big as it is today.

“Everytime you stepped out against CV it was one of those pride things,” he said. “Then, I think, the rivalry was Mead and U-Hi.”

He wrestled at a time his school began to challenge Mead and Rogers for Greater Spokane League superiority.

Then CV became the first of the two schools to win a league title in 1986 and the rivalry took on added meaning.

The Bone idea was conceived by University High coach Don Owen in conversation with fellow Titan coach Bob Barbero.

“I was telling him about my idea to give away something,” said Owen. “We had big crowds before, but the match had become so big we wanted to put something on the line for the common fan.”

Barbero suggested that the image of wrestling to him was a big bone.

“I said that’s not a bad idea,” said Owen. A trophy made with an animal femur has became a symbol of the wrestling rivalry and catalyst for an even broader audience.

The Battle of the Bone concept, while boosting attendance, differs from basketball spirit contests. The trophy goes to the match winner.

“It is more about pure, raw competition,” Owen said. “It is wrestling-oriented.”

Still, students and fans will be attired and animated.

“It’s got a life of it’s own right now,” said Owen.

U-Hi has adopted an Indiana Jones theme, “Raiders of the Lost Bone.”

The Titans lost the trophy for the first time last year and are seeking it back.

Central Valley fans will wear bright red T-shirts with a white logo that says “Bear Wrestling Order” on the front and “Bear Pack” on the back.

Tonight will be the fourth of the genre, but Racicot’s first experience in the atmosphere. He’s not sure how to handle it.

“I don’t think I’ve coached in front of 2,000 people before,” said Racicot, who’s anticipating the showdown. “But I’ve wrestled at them.”

He remembered huge crowds for matches when he competed at North Idaho College and Fresno State University.

There was an advantage, he said, when you went into a hostile, standing-room only gym.

His first encounter with the CV/U-Hi rivalry in its current incarnation will be at home, although he doesn’t see that as being significant.

“Its not home or away,” he said. “The gym will be jammed on both sides.”

Both coaches figure the match should be close, although U-Hi will be favored, because of the way the matchups are and because last year was the first CV triumph this decade.

“Truly, there will be only a few close matches,” said Racicot. “Each team is going to have runs. Emotions are going to swing back and forth.”

That will make for grand theater by audiences on both sides.

Will Racicot have mixed emotions as a former Titan and current Bear?

Nah. His days in red and gold are in the past.

“It’s over,” he said. “I’m a Bear. Columbia blue and white.”