Inland Empire League
In predicted order of regional finishes:
Division I
Lewiston Bengals
Coach: Jeff Karlin
Years coaching: 5th, 3rd at Lewiston
Top wrestlers: Jon Bake, senior, 112 pounds; Ben Forsman, sophomore, 119; Ben Laufenberg, sr., 130; Zach Whitlock, soph., 152; Joe Forsman, sr., 215.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 6; 12
Coach’s comments: “We’re young overall. We don’t have near the team we had last year. Of the eight seniors we graduated, seven were state qualifiers.”
Outlook: The Bengals may be youthful, but they’re still head and shoulders better than the two building projects in their division (Coeur d’Alene and Lake City). Joe Forsman and Bake are best of the bunch.
Coeur d’Alene Vikings
Coach: Tom Bailey
Years coaching: 11th, 3rd at CdA
Top wrestlers: Robert Wallace, junior, 112; Nick Cox, jr., 125; Darrin Halliday, jr., 160; Nolan Stamm, sr., 171; Wayne Marlet, sr., 189; Kraig Sigler, sr., heavyweight.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 1; 7
Coach’s comments: “We’re starting the season where we finished last year. The kids who have stayed in the program have progressed. It’s the third year for most of our juniors. We expect good things from them.”
Outlook: The Vikings’ improvement won’t be noticed as much in dual matches. But by season’s end, a handful of Vikings will be ready to win matches at state. CdA is a year away from fielding a competitive dual team.
Lake City Timberwolves
Coach: Tim Buzolich
Years coaching: 7th, 4th at LC
Top wrestlers: Eric Sizemore, jr., 119; Levi Taylor, sr., 125; Josh Smith, jr., 130; Nate Snyder, jr., 135; Sean Corbin, jr., 160; Orin Luther-Lund, jr., 171; Lars Tejada, sr., 215.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 3; 11
Coach’s comments: “We have pretty much the exact same team as last year. Most of our team is juniors (about 20) and freshmen (15). The freshmen who are out understand wrestling and have a couple of years’ experience.”
Outlook: The Timberwolves hope to have their first state placer since the school’s first year (1994-95). LC qualified seven to state last year and that’s a realistic goal this winter. Like CdA, LC is getting closer to fielding a competitive dual team. The worst years of the city schools’ building programs are behind them.
Division II
Sandpoint Bulldogs
Coach: Mike Randles
Years coaching: 4th
Top wrestlers: Steve Boren, sr., 125; Mick Coon, sr., 135; Kyle Watson, sr., 140; Jason Cates, soph., 145; Tony Hook, jr., 152; Reggie Ross, jr., 152/160; Jake Rosholt, sr., 189.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 9; 17
Coach’s comments: “It’s nice to be there (favored to win state), but it puts you on edge. If we progress like we have and stay focused I think we’re in that position.”
Outlook: The Bulldogs would likely be favored to win state if the classification wasn’t split. The toughest team competition should be with the Bulldogs in Division II. Sandpoint has four potential state champs in Rosholt, Hook, Ross and Cates.
Post Falls Trojans
Coach: Greg Cossette
Years coaching: 12th, 1st of second stint
Top wrestlers: Chad Jennings, soph., 112; Jake Booth, soph., 119; Randy Davis, jr., 130/135; Tony Berger, sr., 135; Brian Moretz, sr., 140; John Glinski, jr., 145; Steve Freeman, sr., 160; Adam Richards, sr., 160; Zach Atkinson, jr., 215.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 2; 14
Coach’s comments: “We have a number of kids with experience. Many of them should qualify for state.”
Outlook: Cossette returns as head coach on an interim basis. He was head coach from 1979-1990. He agreed to return as head coach and fill in for Dennis Amende in a deal that will allow Amende to return as head coach next year. Jennings, Berger, Moretz and Atkinson should lead a strong Trojans contingent to state.
Moscow Bears
Coach: Eric Perryman
Years coaching: 1st
Top wrestlers: Kevin Spangler, soph., 119; Zach Thompson, soph., 125; Andrew Sweeney, soph., 135; Jeff Weber, soph., 140/145; Cory Town, soph., 189/215.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 2; 5
Coach’s comments: “Our approach is a mixture of realism and optimism. We’re young, but we’re looking to surprise some people. It’s our goal to be the best conditioned team on the mat.”
Outlook: The Bears have proven state-placing commodities in Spangler and Thompson. After that, Moscow is extremely young.