No backing down

The Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) Eagles came away from last month’s Tri-State wrestling tournament at North Idaho College disappointed.

The Class 1A power placed 20th among the top big high schools in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

“We weren’t happy with the way we wrestled,” Lakeside sophomore 112-pounder Jacob Lauderdale said. “We went back to our practice room over Christmas and we fixed it.”

The improvement showed during Saturday’s final action of the 16-team Pacific Northwest Classic tournament at University High School.

Lakeside (190 1/2 points) finished second only to Class 4A power Moses Lake (196), with Lauderdale pinning Central Valley’s Tanner Teeples in the first round of their championship match.

The Eagles finished second to host U-Hi last year.

The host Titans placed third with 183 1/2, followed by East Valley (156 1/2) and CV (140 1/2).

The Northeast A League power, easily the smallest school in the tournament, sent five wrestlers into the finals, with Kyle Johnson’s win at 130 pounds matching Lauderdale’s effort at 112.

“We’re not intimidated by these Class 4A schools,” Lauderdale said. “In fact, when we go into our practice room, we think we’re a Class 4A school just like they are. We may not have the competition in practice that a bigger school has, but we still work hard and get after each other.”

Lakeside won the State 2A championship last year, but the state’s realignment dropped the team to 1A beginning this year.

“We don’t get the kind of competition, night in and night out, that these bigger schools get,” Lakeside coach Scott Jones said. “We’re always looking to wrestle as many quality tournaments as we can.”

The Eagles are headed to Orem, Utah, next week for the 60-team Rocky Mountain Rumble.

The 171-pound final was the match of the night.

EV’s Clete Hanson needed a takedown in the final minute to take the lead from Lakeside’s Reid Chivers, adding a last-second near fall to create an 8-4 margin.

“That was easily the match of the tournament – a couple All-Americans going after each other,” Jones said. “That was a special match for me. (EV coach) Craig Hanson, Clete’s dad, used to be my assistant coach. We have sons who are about the same age. For me to coach against his son is nice – I have to kind of take a step back.”

Moses Lake needed four individual champions to finish ahead of Lakeside.

Ely Garza won at 103 on a pin 33 seconds into his match with Lakeside’s Ryan Norstadt.

Gabe Guzman won at 119, scoring a 12-3 major decision over Southridge’s Tyler Cowin.

Jordan Hill scored a 6-1 victory over CV’s Jeff Croskrey at 135.

Brett Fredrickson pinned CV’s Tyler Cochran in the third round to win at 215.

U-Hi’s Elliot Nay denied Moses Lake the title at 140. The senior pinned junior Cody Hoiness 45 seconds into the third round. Hoiness placed fifth at last year’s State 4A tournament.

“I’d wrestled a couple times before and beaten him,” Nay said.

“I was definitely looking to get another win, but getting the pin was a bonus.”

U-Hi’s Brian Owen won the 125 title, scoring a 5-1 decision over Southridge’s Phillip Cowin, and was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler.

Gonzaga Prep’s Jon Healy won at 145, scoring a 3-1 decision over EV’s Caleb Alvarado in the final.

Mt. Spokane’s Noah Hatton won at 152 by scoring a 16-9 decision over Lakeside’s Wes McAdams.