Tough pups to top dogs

Nothing scares them now.

Three years ago, the Inter Lake interviewed three freshman wrestlers from Glacier High School.

The boys — Zach Barber, Shane St. Onge and Larry Francis — confessed then they were sometimes a little spooked when they stepped onto the mat against some of the state’s biggest names.

My, how times have changed.

All three are big-name upperclassmen these days, among the favorites to win their respective weight classes — Barber at 135, St. Onge at 160 and Francis at 171.

Barber and St. Onge are helping lead the Wolfpack, among the team favorites for next weekend’s Class AA state tournament, while Francis is starring at Flathead.

Between them, they have placed at state nine times (three seconds, a third, a fourth, a fifth and three sixth-place finishes).

Barber and St.Onge compared the 2012 Glacier team to that group in 2009.

“The team we’re on now has a lot more experience. We know how to handle the pressure situations. Back then, everyone was trying to get a feel for high school wrestling,” Barber said.

“That freshman class — we were so close,” St. Onge said.

“It was awesome coming up with a bunch of hard-working kids. We’ve been wrestling together for over 12 years. We were tight back then, too. But we were such a young program. We were learning what it took to compete,” he said.

“Since state last year (in which the Wolfpack finished second) I’ve been telling myself — and even promised some people we would do whatever it takes,” St. Onge said.

“We’ve been putting in the work. It’s not just me. It’s everyone’s effort, in and outside the room,” he added.

“We’ve been working so hard all year. We’re just brothers. It’s a family and we will do whatever for each other,” he said.

“We are like a family. I’ve gotten to know these guys. They’re like my brothers,” Barber agreed.

“We feel it’s our year. We’re really looking for a state title. Everyone is doing a good job,” he added.

The Barbers

Barber is the oldest of four boys.

Younger brothers Jackson (140) and Quin (98) are also on the Wolfpack squad. The fourth is on his way up.

From dinnertime conversation to livingroom wrestling, the Barbers are a wrestling family with a built-in support system and plenty of drilling partners.

Lights, pictures, anything on the ground ... “Nothing is safe. We’ve even had a wrestling mat in our living room,” Barber said.

Their uncle got them started in the sport.

“He’s been there, every tournament. There is a lot of support. My mom’s really into it. She puts herself in each match,” he smiled.

And dad?

“He’s starting to enjoy it. He’s picking up on the stuff.”

Wrestling is Barber’s favorite sport, although he has also enjoyed rugby and football.

“It’s my passion. I’ve worked at it my whole life. It hasn’t been easy,” he said.

“I want to be a state champion. (To be one) I’ve got to work hard every day, stay after practice and mentally be in every match.”

He says he’s been fortunate to have teammate Lucas Mantel in his same weight class.

“It’s helped me out a lot having someone that good on our own team,” he said of Mantel.

An early injury

St. Onge has an impressive resume for a high school kid.

He’s a 4.0 student with National Merit distinction, student body president, football player, wrestler, actor and a health nut.

And he nearly didn’t make it out for wrestling this winter.

A linebacker on the Wolfpack football team, he got a blood clot in his shoulder after the second game of the season.

He had just finished a set in lifting class when a classmate noticed St. Onge’s arm was swollen and purple.

A trip to urgent care nailed down the culprit.

“My football career was over.”

And he was told he wouldn’t be able to wrestle this year, either.

“I wasn’t in a good mood for awhile. But I was telling myself how lucky I was (to have gotten to play and wrestle as much as he had).”

He did stay with Wolfpack football as a stat keeper and team motivator, then had an ultrasound on the vein one week before wrestling started. After some discussion, he was cleared.

“(The doctor) told me the risks, but I was willing (to accept them).”

How does he find the time to do all he does?

“I don’t,” he sighed.

“But I stay busy. I like to stay active with the school.”

As for his eating habits — he says he’s never had fast food and hasn’t had pop in the last 10 years.

“I just try to stay healthy. I want to make myself better. Those things will hold me back.”

No. 1 at 171

Francis has been No. 1 in his weight class all season long. He’s a 3-time state placer and a 2012 Rocky Mountain Classic champion.

But a state championship has been elusive.

“That’s all I want,” Francis said.

“I’ve just got to keep working hard in practice and stay focused,” he said.

“I know what I want now. Coming up second twice doesn’t feel too good,” he said.

“I’m definitely a lot more focused on wrestling instead of all the other stuff.”

He says he has learned a lot over the past three years.

“I figured it would come easier,” he said.

“I’m definitely working a lot harder, taking it a lot more seriously,” he said.

He’s also been more open with his wrestling and tried more things, all while trying to be more patient.

“I used to try to force things when they weren’t there. The coaches have been helping me to wait for things,” he said.

The move to Flathead was a good one for him, Francis said.

“I love it here. I feel like it fits me. I feel more comfortable,” he said.

The team aspect of things has changed this year. He joined a veteran squad as a sophomore, but the 2012 group is young.

He’s one of only a few seniors now.

But that’s fine with Francis.

“They’re all definitely good kids and they all want to work hard and get better. It is like a big family,” he said.