Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Officials decide if wrestlers get a two-week break
At 182, Gabe Smith of Lind-Ritzville/Sprague uses a head-and-arm to score near fall points on Lucas Whitney of Northwest Christian (Colbert).
Bronco Xander McPartlen , right, circles as he looks for a shot on Innovation Nehemiah Witt at 132 pounds.
RITZVILLE – A Wrestling Coaches Association proposal to give athletes a better window to recover before the state Mat Classic tournament is generating questions across Northeast Washington.
On Monday, Jan. 24, officials with the organization and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association were trying to determine if its possible to give wrestlers a two-week break between districts and state.
"As I understand it, the Wrestling Coaches Association has made a proposal to alter the timing of the qualifying tournaments to hopefully minimize the effect of COVID on wrestlers going to state," Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Athletic Director Greg Whitmore said Monday. "We are gathering more information in the next couple days before taking official action."
Liberty (Spangle) Athletic Director Kyle Dodge said the idea is to give all wrestlers a two-week window before state due to the increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks.
The change may mean moving the boys regional tournament to Feb. 5; it was originally scheduled for Warden on Feb. 12, Dodge said.
It may also mean the Northeast 2B league will combine its north and south divisions into a single tournament that could happen this weekend. That tournament would also include Class 1B schools with wrestling programs.
The tournament could include not only the Broncos, but also Colfax, Garfield-Palouse, Pomeroy, Tekoa-Rosalia, Liberty (Spangle), Davenport, Reardan, Northwest Christian (Colbert) and others.
Coaches were expected to seed wrestlers during a meeting Tuesday, Jan.2 5.
As for girls in the region, Dodge said the status of District 9 grapplers remains in question. Tekoa-Rosalia has two girls and Garfield-Palouse one in that division
Despite possible changes, WIAA officials said coaches will be required to wear masks.
Wrestlers will be allowed two coaches and one manager in their corner; all other wrestlers, parents and others will be required to be in the grandstands.
Roger Harnack is co-owner and publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.
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