Prestigious tournament bigger, better

Perhaps it comes with age, but as the prestigious Tri-State wrestling tournament grows older, it seemingly becomes bigger and better.

That certainly should be the case this weekend when the annual tourney rolls out the mats for a 33rd year at North Idaho College’s Christianson Gym. The tourney also welcomes a major sponsor, Suplay-Wrestler’s World, a wrestling gear supply retailer out of Elma, Wash.

“I’m predicting this will be the best Tri-State ever,” said John Owen, the former NIC coach and current Central Valley coach who assists Tri-State founder Bill Pecha.

Owen said 28 full teams will compete along with participants representing 60 schools.

Eight of 14 champions return. They are: Cory Fish of University (103 last year, at 119 this year); Anthony Vela of Moses Lake (112/119); Vance Beeson of Eagle (125/130); Josh Manes of Coeur d’Alene (130/135); Brandon Sitch of Kelso (135/140); Adam Hall of Bonners Ferry (140/152); Mikey Sewell of Inglemoor (152/160); and Mike Johnson of Tahoma (160/171).

While the chase for individual titles will be nothing short of entertaining, the battle for the team title could overshadow the individuals. Two-time defending Idaho 5A champ and 2003 Tri-State champ Eagle returns and has been tabbed the slight favorite by Owen.

But Eagle’s Mustangs will find themselves in a tug of war. As many as six other teams should challenge. Defending Washington 4A champ Lake Stevens, which finished runner-up to Eagle last year, along with U-Hi, Auburn, Battle Ground, East Valley and Kelso also will challenge Eagle, Owen predicts.

Lake Stevens was ranked No. 1 in the Washington State High School coaches’ preseason poll. Following Lake Stevens in order in the poll were Battle Ground, U-Hi, Auburn and Tahoma. In the 3A preseason rankings, Kelso was tabbed second followed by EV. Preseason No. 1 and defending 3A champ Sedro Woolley, isn’t coming to Coeur d’Alene this weekend.

Eagle brings back Beeson and three other placers.

“It’s way tougher than a state tournament,” said Eagle coach Steve DeMers, whose team captured the team title in its first trip to Tri-State. “We’re really beat up right now, but I’d like to think we’ll be in the mix. The tougher competition you wrestle the tougher you’ll be in the end.”

Lake Stevens coach Brent Barnes is no stranger to Tri-State. A former All-American wrestler at NIC, Barnes’ Lake Stevens teams have been highly successful at Tri-State (two titles in the last six years). This weekend shouldn’t be any different.

“I don’t know how good we are yet,” Barnes said. “They’re a pretty hard-working group. This will be a huge learning experience. We’re not where we’re going to be at state (in February). We don’t have some of the experience that we’ve had in the past.”

Barnes expects U-Hi to challenge for the title.

“He’s got a real good team,” Barnes said of his friend, U-Hi coach Don Owen, John Owen’s youngest brother. “He’s got quality. As tournaments get bigger, they mirror what a state tournament will be like, and the quality is really important.”