Badger wrestlers keep tradition alive
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| Bonners Ferry's ace young wrestlers who traveled to Kalispell early this month; front row (l-r); Kai Aitken, Marcus Regehr and Gaige Johnson. Back row; Eli Richards, Evan Barajas and Kyle Smith. |
"Discipline, dedication, delayed gratification, work ethic, ability to overcome obstacles, humility, persistence, courage, confidence, respect: these are the attributes that become enhanced in wrestlers, and those traits are valuable in day-to-day life long after participation in the sport has ceased,” Joe Reasback, Youth Wrestling Coach in Superior, Wisconsin.
These attributes are being taught to many kids in our community through the Bonners Ferry Wrestling Program.
The Bonners Ferry Wrestling Program is in full swing for the spring season, with wrestling Freestlye and Greco-Roman in several tournaments over the last couple of weeks. There are approximately 25 kids practicing two times a week from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Wrestling has a rich heritage here in Bonners Ferry thanks to many current and past volunteers including head coach Conrad Garner, Eddie Invernon, Rex, Dustin, and Julie Koehler, Corey Richards, Brandon Regehr, Zeek Barajas, Linda Hall, and many, many other volunteers who make this sport possible for the youth of our community.
Several kids traveled to Kalispell, Montana, for the Making a Difference Tournament on March 1. Twenty-one teams from Montana and Idaho were represented.
Our six wrestlers came home from this tournament with four first place medals, one second place medal, and one third place medal, which gave us enough points to bring home the first place trophy for the Small Team Division!
Since this tournament, the Bonners Ferry Wrestling Club has wrestled in Libby, Montana, Spokane, Washington, and Potlatch, Idaho. Some of these kids are training and practicing for the Idaho Kids State Freestlye and Greco Roman Tournament, which is scheduled for May 2-3 in Idaho Falls. A few of the kids will also be attending Western Regionals and Nationals in June.
To see our youth in action the Bonners Ferry Wrestling Club is hosting a Freestlye/Greco-Roman Tournament on April 4-5 in the Bonners Ferry High School gymnasium.
For more information about the Bonners Ferry Wrestling Club call Julie Koehler at (208) 290-1494 or Julie Smith at (208) 255-995 or like the Bonners Ferry Wrestling Club page on Facebook.