Tri-State draws elite field for 43rd edition

It’s billed as having more quality than a state tournament.

The 43rd annual Tri-State wrestling tournament won’t be any different. It’s chock full of state champions and eventual state champions. In fact, there will be competitors who don’t win at Tri-State who will capture a title in their own state.

The two-day tourney begins Friday morning at 10 at North Idaho College.

Defending state champ Kuna, located about 15 miles west of Boise, returns and will be pushed by traditional Tri-State power Lake Stevens, Moses Lake and Post Falls.

“We have a number of returners this year,” North Idaho College coach and tournament director Pat Whitcomb said.

Whitcomb said another team to watch – though it’s bringing just half a team – is Havre, Montana.

“They’re a state power,” Whitcomb said.

All the results can be found at trackwrestling.com, and the tournament will continue nonstop both days, Whitcomb said.

Whitcomb said quarterfinals Friday night should start about 7:15. Wrestling resumes Saturday morning at 9. The finals are scheduled for about 4:30.

Area returning champs include Tate Orndorff of University, Izaec Quintanilla of North Central, TJ Baun of Colville and Dalton Young of Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls).

All-state teams

The Idaho Statesman newspaper in Boise recently announced its All-Idaho football teams while newspapers in Tacoma and Seattle also announced all-state teams.

In Idaho, eight North Idaho players were named to first teams.

In 5A, do-everything utility back Jerry Louie-McGee of Lake City, Justin Farnsworth (offensive lineman) of Post Falls, Drew Berger (linebacker) of Coeur d’Alene and Kirk McKenzie (defensive back) of Lake City were named to the first team.

Second-team picks were Zion Dixon (OL) of LC, Myles Flanagan (LB) of CdA and Ryan Walde (DB) of CdA.

In 4A, Kyle Perry (running back) of Sandpoint and Cade Coffey (placekicker) of Lakeland made the first team. Second-team picks were Matt Timothy (WR) and Tyler Harris (LB) of Sandpoint.

In 3A, Daniel Buck (RB) and Bryan Mason (OL/DL) of Timberlake were named first team.

In 2A, St. Maries had four players picked second team: Josh Richmond (WR), Jordan McIntyre (OL), Logan Feasline (DL) and Chase Truscott (LB).

• Quarterback Brett Rypien of Shadle Park was named the player of the year by the Tacoma News Tribune on its all-classification team.

Gonzaga Prep junior defensive lineman Evan Weaver was named to the team.

• Rypien was named the Seattle Times’ player of the second for a second straight season.

Weaver also was named to the Times’ team.

Check this

The new hand check rules this winter for high school basketball teams have a few scrambling to adjust.

Referees in North Idaho and Eastern Washington cracked down on teams right from the season tipoff. Some teams have adjusted and others are having difficulty.

In previous years, hand checks were a point of emphasis. The national federation incorporated hand checks and arm bars as fouls in its rules.

Referees are supposed to call a foul if a player puts a hand on a player dribbling the ball; puts two hands on a player at any point; and if a player, defending in the post, applies an arm bar on a player who has the ball.

The Lewis and Clark boys have had fouls called against them at an alarming rate.

That stifles what coach Jim Redmon wants his team to do – run early and often.

“We want to get up and down and get into people,” Redmon. “When the fouls are occurring like that, it really causes us problems. It really slows the game down and it affects us.”

There is a solution – stop fouling.

Or as I heard a coach yell at his players one time: “Use your feet, not your hands. That’s why God gave them to you.”