Band of brothers

When choosing a motto for the upcoming wrestling season at defending State 1A champion Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls), coach Troy Hughes decided on “Band of Brothers” originally because the team in general is one big family.

Turns out the theme had literal implications as well.

There are seven sets of brothers in the Eagles’ wrestling room, basically a starting lineup’s worth of competitors. Eight or nine of the 14 will be in their starting lineup.

“We talk about team and wanting everyone to feel like a family. It is a family sport,” said Hughes, Lakeside’s second-year head coach. “Then I was actually kind of sitting down and looking at the lineup and thinking, ‘Look at all the brothers we have.’ ”

Featured are two-time state titlist Jacob Lauderdale and his sophomore brother and second-place finisher Josh; and senior Bryan and sophomore Mike Baumgarden, both also state finalists. Senior Ben Fuson, also second last year at 285, is joined in the starting lineup by freshman brother Chase, competing at 145.

Regional veteran Jacob Judd and state alternate Tim Irish, projected starters, have freshman brothers Josh and Patric on the team. Seniors Alex Lazott – recovering from injury – his brother Joel, and Kyan and Mike Martin are the other sets of siblings.

Last year the Eagles had a dominating state tournament. Of their 11 qualifiers, nine reached the tournament finals and five won championships. Only one team in tourney history scored higher than their 233 points.

The wrestlers believe they can make a run for another title. The way the brothers push each other can only help.

“I’ve never had this many before,” Hughes said.

He understands the “brother-a-brother” dynamic. He was a freshman at Mead when older brother Travis was a senior. Travis now coaches Mt. Spokane, which Troy’s Eagles face Friday in a dual. Although the two never competed on varsity together at Mead – in their day freshmen didn’t wrestle on varsity – Troy credits Travis with making him a state champion and ultimately University of Oregon collegiate standout.

“He did his fair share of kicking my butt,” Troy said. “He was my best training partner, coached me, taught me a lot and was the biggest reason for my success.”

A few times it turned to fisticuffs, which signaled the time for the competitiveness to cease.

Today at Lakeside, sibling competitiveness is a big part of why the Eagles are one of the premier programs in the state. Four successive weights, between 112 and 130, will be filled by Baumgardens and Lauderdales. All have the same goal – winning a state title.

Jacob Lauderdale is a two-time state champion who this year wrestles at 125. Younger brother Josh is a weight higher at 130.

“As you probably know, the rivalry (doesn’t) stop when we leave the house,” team captain Jacob said. “We’ve grown up together wrestling. Since I started, even though he was not allowed to get on the mat, he still wrestled with me. Competition can get ugly. In a way it’s definitely an advantage, because he always pushes to be better than me and as the older brother I try to hold him down and hold him down.”

Jacob has lost just 11 matches in some 122 during his career that began in Reardan. He said he remembers every loss but not the wins. Winning a third state title and next week’s Tri-State Tournament in Coeur d’Alene are goals. He hopes to wrestle in college.

As a rookie last year, Josh took the schooling from his brother well, reaching the 125 finals in his initial state try.

Bryan Baumgarden found himself in formidable if familiar company in the state finals last year, finishing second to Jacob at 119. His freshman brother wrestled at 103 a year ago and also took second.

“We both worked pretty hard, so it wasn’t a surprise,” Bryan said of the brothers’ second-place efforts. “Both of us were shooting for a state title, so it actually was a letdown.”

Bryan, a second captain on the team, said the two started wrestling young and have been practice partners almost their whole lives.

They began competing at state, regional and national freestyle and Greco-Roman levels – and with each other.

“Sometimes it’s frustrating because he’s my younger brother and is pretty good,” he said. “If I’m not on top of my game he’s going to beat me. We kind of know it’s for the best. We practiced a lot last year and got each other to where we were.”

Third team captain Ben Fuson outweighs his brother, Chase, by more than 100 pounds.

For obvious reasons, they aren’t practice partners.

“We wrestle around,” Ben said. “He’s tough. What’s really cool is I can cheer him on and he comes to me if he needs help on something in practice.”

They’ve also wrestled since they were small. Ben grew to 230 pounds last year and finished second in the highest weight classification. This year he weighs 260 with more bulk and strength to chase a state title. His brother has already made an impact at 145.

“There are tons of brothers on the team,” Ben said. “But what’s kind of funny is we’ve always been like brothers. The team is a big family.”

Lakeside once more will be class of the Northeast A league. This Band of Brothers, figuratively and literally, may well repeat as team state titlists.