FHS wrestlers lead Tri-State; 6 in semis

The Daily Inter Lake

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho - First in the team scores and six wrestlers headed to the semifinals.

That's how the Flathead Brave wrestling team did Friday at the prestigious Tri-State tournament at North Idaho College.

Shawn Lau (112), Brian Ham (130), T.C. Decker (135), Bryce Stacy (145), Tyler Wells (152) and Luke Fischer (171) are in today's semifinals.

The Braves had 104 points after Friday's quarterfinal round. Second place Lakeside had 83 1/2 and Lake Stevens, Wash. had 73 points.

Last year's Tri-State champion - Sedro-Woolly - was in 16th place.

The Braves have already placed twice as many wrestlers this year than last year. In 2006, their first trip to Tri-State, Flathead placed three wrestlers and finished fifth as a team. The highest individual placing last year was fourth.

"Last year, the team was not ready. But now, they've been here before. They've been in this atmosphere.

"They weren't cocky, but they were confident," Thompson said.

The best part for Flathead, though, has been the level of the wrestling.

"We got the competition we needed. This is a tournament where every match is tough. You get to see your work-on areas. It's going to make them stronger in the end, the coach said.

Because Amateur Wrestling News ranks the Tri-State among the Top 40 toughest tournaments in the nation, there are plenty of college coaches who turn out.

Some of Flathead's senior wrestlers are hoping for a chance to impress some of those coaches and hopefully take their wrestling to the collegiate level.