Intermountain League
In predicted order of district finish:
Lakeland Hawks
Coach: Rob Edelblute
Years coaching: 2nd
Top wrestlers: Justin Brazil, junior, 112 pounds; Clint Leonard, sophomore, 125/130; Derek Anderson, jr., 135/140; Ted Leonard, senior, 152; Dustin Frank, jr., 160; Tommy Basenberg, sr., 171; Casey Phelps, sr., 189; Eric Nave, soph., 215; Sky Pruitt, jr., heavyweight.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 6; 12
Coach’s comments: “They’re hungry. They had a great taste of success last year (second in state). They’re going to be ready to wrestle.”
Outlook: The key components return, raising the question “Can Lakeland contend for a state title?” Rival coaches think so. Edelblute says it’s too early to tell. This much is sure: The Hawks should soar in the IML.
Bonners Ferry Badgers
Coach: Conrad Garner
Years coaching: 15th
Top wrestlers: Aaron Stonehocker, soph., 112; Mike Gross, jr., 135/140; John Stonehocker, sr., 135/140; Jon Madden, sr., 145; Aaron Corbin, sr., 152; Jacob Christensen, sr., 160; John Brandon Plato, sr., 171; Willy McLean, sr., 215; Aaron Hall, soph., 215.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 7; 11
Coach’s comments: “We have as much experience back as Lakeland. Our league should produce six or seven state champs.”
Outlook: Plato will make a run at defending his state title - something that’s become sort of a tradition among the Badgers’ upper weights in recent years. The Badgers could challenge Lakeland for a district title.
Kellogg Wildcats
Coach: Troy Schueller
Years coaching: 2nd
Top wrestlers: Damon Rowe, jr., 119; Alan Plank, jr., 119/125; Travis Berti, jr., 125; Bryce Olberding, jr., 130; James Bush, sr., 135; Brian Nansel, sr., 140/145; Kyle Drobney, sr., 140/145.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 6; 12
Coach’s comments: “Lakeland’s the favorite, but there are some teams that can compete with Lakeland. I’m not going to come out and say that we can beat Lakeland. But I’m high on our group.”
Outlook: Kellogg lacks upper-weight numbers to contend for a district title. But the Wildcats will gain more than a good share of state berths led by Bush, Rowe, Olberding and Berti.
St. Maries Lumberjacks
Coach: Bill Lawson
Years coaching: 17th, 1st at SM
Top wrestlers: Sol Sackett, soph., 103; Charlie Skinner, sr., 125; Justin Bonds, jr., 135; Luke Linnemeyer, sr., 145; Keith Lorenz, sr., 171.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 3; 9
Coach’s comments: “We’re thin up top, but overall we have a solid team. We’re going to be young with as many as three freshmen and three sophomores in the lineup.”
Outlook: Lawson assisted Ryan Wood last year. He would have rather continued as an assistant, but nobody else indicated a desire to be head coach. Three top wrestlers didn’t turn out and that will hurt St. Maries’ depth. The youthful Lumberjacks will fall a couple pegs after challenging for district titles through much of the 1990s.
Priest River Spartans
Coach: Bill Lemm
Years coaching: 17th, 3rd at PR
Top wrestlers: Scott Blaine, sr., 119/125; Steve Lamb, sr., 135/140; James Elliott, jr., 160; Mike Jamison, sr., 171; Jason Frink, sr., 189; Ean Meyers, soph., 215.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 4; 8
Coach’s comments: “Most of our numbers are in the middle weights. But I feel good that our numbers have been getting better every year.”
Outlook: Just 13 turned out in Lemm’s first year. That number doubled this year. And Lemm has his hands in the junior high program so the future is bright. Lamb, Jamison and Meyers were all second at district last year and should challenge for district titles.
Timberlake Tigers
Coach: Kelly Amos
Years coaching: 8th, 3rd at Timberlake
Top wrestlers: Mark Barnhouse, jr., 119; Brandon Tinker, jr., 135; Travis Gardner, sr., 160.
State qualifiers, lettermen: 0; 7
Coach’s comments: “Our returners have experience and the kids we’re starting to get from the junior high program have experience. We’re probably a year away from having our first state placer.”
Outlook: Baby steps. The Tigers had their first state qualifier last year, and Timberlake’s first state placer will likely come from its junior class. The Tigers continue to gain experience as they build a program one match at a time.