Newport will host District 7 wrestling meet on Saturday

BY CHRIS COWBROUGH
S-E Sports Editor

Kettle Falls High wrestling coach Joe Kerns hopes to take a healthy team to Newport High School on Saturday for the District 7 1A wrestling meet.  
The team is coming off a solid performance last Thursday at Chewelah in the final Northeast A League match-up of the season.
“The kids performed well at Chewelah and are looking forward to district’s on Saturday,” Kerns said.  
Kerns said the team is appreciative of the Kettle Falls Booster Club for their help in acquiring new team jackets.  They also thanked Stimson Lumber for helping with the protective barrier for the mats.
On the mats, Kettle Falls has lost a couple of wrestlers because of injuries, but they’re as healthy has they have been since early in the season.
“The kids are looking good and wrestling well…we are looking forward to qualifying as many wrestlers as possible for regionals and state,”  Kerns added.  
The regional meet with District 6 (Caribou-Trail League) and the Northeast A will be held Feb. 12-13 at Tonasket High School.
The annual Mat Classic state meet for all divisions will be held at the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 19-20.
CHEWELAH NOTES
In the match-up last Thursday at Chewelah with Newport, Lakeside and Freeman, Kettle’s Lindsey Olvera won points against the Scotties and Grizzlies.  
Steven Cole earned points against Freeman and Newport and also scored a win against his Chewelah opponent.  Chad Wise scored points against all three of his opponents.
Curits Durbin “had some difficult matches,”  coach Kerns said, but Curtis “continues to show improvement.”
Kettle Falls forfeited at 130, 135, 140 and 145 pounds.
At 152, one of the state’s best at that weight, Tanner Bolt, faced opponents “who chose not to wrestle,” Kerns said.
“So Tanner went up to the next weight and was able to get a quality match, which he won,”  Kerns explained.  
Chris Peterson came out victorious and Scottie Linton picked up wins over Lakeside and Chewelah at 152 pounds.
Charles Platt split his matches and Trevor Zyskowski picked up points against his opponents.
Freshman Tyler Vining also picked up valuable points for the Bulldogs.
Devlen Somner wrestled at 215 pounds and at heavyweight.  He got a split of his evening matches.  
Unfortunately for Kettle Falls, newcomer Tyler Brammer and Cody West have been lost for the season due to injury.