Inland Empire League wrestling preview

Three of the four teams – Lewiston, Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls – have established themselves for not only sending title-caliber kids to state each year but teams that can challenge for gold as well despite not having the opportunity to qualify more numbers because the league doesn’t have the state allocations that other regions enjoy. This year will be no different. Each of those teams can contend for a state trophy (top four teams earn trophies), and Lake City, long the team that finished so far behind the others that binoculars were needed to find it, is closing the gap. … “The league title will come down to depth and will be very close once again,” Lewiston coach Dan Maurer said. “With three state berths and a wild card I expect our region to advance the top four in each weight to state.” … CdA coach Jeff Moffat may not have the depth to challenge Lewiston and Post Falls. “We should be strong in the upper weights with experience and depth, but the lower weights will be inexperienced,” Moffat said. “If we can get kids into the correct weight classes we should be a very good team. The key word being if.” … Post Falls will have just three seniors but plenty of quality. “We have tough returnees but a young team,” PF coach Pete Reardon said. … LC is making progress. “We will be starting two seniors, 12 juniors and one freshman and 11 of them were starters last season,” LC coach Corey Owen, a nephew of the Greater Spokane League Owens. “If we can get some early confidence and momentum we are going to have a very good season.”

Wrestlers to watch

Post Falls brings back three state champions – two-timer Drake Foster, Alius De Le Rosa and Seth McLeod. Other placers are Lucas Bolster, Ryan Failor, Justin Farnsworth and Steven Zettel. … CdA returns state champ Anthony Price and placers Matt James, Hudson Staub and Phoenix Duncan. … Lewiston brings back two-time state champ Ryan Klemp and state champ Bryce Parson and three-time state runner-up John Kenyon along with placers Drake Randall and Marshall Bowen.