High school wrestling is an individual sport grounded in the fundamentals but the team itself is also important, second-year Wood River High School coach Tyson Young said.
"I'm all about basics, fundamentals and trying to enforce an Iowa-style in-your-face aggressiveness," said Young, 34, who wrestled in college in Wyoming and Nebraska.
"We don't have a lot of team goals at the start of the season. Gaining confidence with each match is one. The coaches would like the kids to get out there, battle, stay off their backs and give us a chance to win more duals this year."
Although Wood River is hosting the annual state-qualifying Great Basin Conference meet for seven schools Feb. 13 in Hailey, Young's squad of 17 wrestlers doesn't have many home meets slated.
One of them arrives Friday, Dec. 7 when the Wolverines entertain Century and Challis on the Hailey mat. Century and Challis face off at 6 p.m. followed by Wood River vs. Century at 7 p.m. and Wood River vs. Challis about 8 p.m.
The Challis Vikings are always tough on the mat. Challis has won three State 2A wrestling titles in six years and was the 2A runner-up to North Fremont of Ashton in 2007.
Century of Pocatello and Wood River were very evenly matched last winter, Century finishing a tick ahead of Wood River in the Great Basin Conference finals and then placing just below Wood River in the State 4A finals in Pocatello.
The only other home dual meet for Wood River is Tuesday, Jan. 22 with Twin Falls. But it's a busy season for coach Young and his varsity assistants Kim Orchard and Shawn Huntington. Wood River has 14 duals and five tournaments.
"We have solid kids out practicing and they're committed," said Young.
Four of the most committed are seniors Collin Hand (189 pounds) and Ricky Maxwell (140) along with sophomores Nick Chase (125) and Tanner Orchard (145 pounds).
Hand (29-11 with a team-high 121 points last winter) finished second in the conference at 189 pounds and sixth at state. Maxwell (5-8) had four pins.
In their first varsity seasons, Chase (7-20 at 119 pounds) was the team's Most Improved wrestler and Orchard (16-18 at 135/140) recorded the most pins, 10. Chase placed sixth in the conference meet and just missed making state. Orchard made state with a fourth-place conference finish at 135 and was 1-2 at state in Holt Arena.
Judging by the roster, Wood River wrestlers are going to have some tough battles in the 145-, 152- and 160-pound classes. Seven of the varsity wrestlers are slotted for those classes.
Besides Orchard, they are junior Alex Jones (4-15) at 152 pounds; sophomores Juve Ruiz (2-14) and Tyler Jaramillo (1-7) at 145/152; plus freshmen Willie Dugger (152), Andrew Orr (160) and Kasey Barker (160).
Other Hailey seniors are last year's "Ironman" Jon Diem (6-13) at 135 pounds and John Silvia at 152/160. Juniors are J.J. Thomson at 215 and newcomer Cody Chandler at 171 pounds.
Sophomore Sam Schwab will wrestle 275 pounds. The two other ninth-graders are Alex Thomas at 215 and Tyler Bartlett at 103, the only lightweight on the squad.
Defending Great Basin champion is 2006 state champion Minico of Rupert (8th of 22 teams at state in 2007) while Blackfoot claimed last year's State 4A team championship 178-165 over Sandpoint.
Running the middle school program again is Josh Alstrom helped by Derek Ruhter. Last year's 160-pound conference champion, fifth-place state finisher and Most Inspirational Jordan Vert (21-4) is helping out as a volunteer assistant.
Wood River's Middle School team will clash with other conference rivals in the annual middle school tournament Saturday, Dec. 8 starting at 9 a.m. on the high school mat.
XMas trees on sale as a fundraiser
Once again the Wood River wrestling team is conducting a Christmas tree fundraiser.
Prices for the freshly cut Oregon Noble firs range from $23 for a four-foot tree to $58 for an eight-footer.
They will be sold daily through Dec. 22 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Cowboy Coffee parking lot in Bellevue.
For more details contact Gary Orr at 481-2990 or Jeff and Corky Vert at 788-9725.
