NAMPA — Kuna’s Michael Cook accomplished a major feat Saturday. But watching him on the mat in the Idaho Center, no one would know it.
Cook scored a 10-1 major decision against Mountain View’s Riley Connolly in the 132-pound title match at the Rollie Lane Invitational, making him just the second wrestler to win four Rollie Lane titles in a high school career, earning him the lightweight outstanding wrestler award, and lifting Kuna to second place in the team standings.
Cook made the four-peat a goal since winning one of top tournaments in the West as a freshman. But whatever excitement he felt Saturday, he hid deep inside as the referee raised his arm for the fourth consecutive year.
He shook the defending 5A state champion’s hand, shook the hands of the Mountain View coaches and hugged his own coach before stepping off the mat and finally cracking a small smile.
“That’s him,” Kuna coach Pat Owens said, shaking his head. “Not just here, but at every level. At the national level, when we’re at state, that’s his style and his personality. He believes in reacting the same way, win or lose. It’s just a testament to his sportsmanship.”
And it’s that workman-like approach that put Cook in rarefied air. Lewiston’s Casey George is the only other wrestler to win four Rollie Lane titles in the tournament’s 14-year history, claiming titles from 2008-11 before joining Boise State.
Cook signed a letter of intent with Boise State in November and will join George with the Broncos. And that’s where Cook’s focus remains.
“It’s an honor,” Cook said. “But it’s just another stepping stone though, and I’m looking forward to bigger and better things.”
Bigger and better things include a possible four-peat at the state tournament Feb. 28-March 1 on the same floor at the Idaho Center. And Cook is already setting his sights on competing in the national championships at the NCAA Division I level.
Owens attributes Cook’s success to his offseason wrestling program, where he competes in freestyle, folkstyle and Greco-Roman at the club level with USA Wrestling year round.
“He wrestles all year,” Owens said. “He has very minimal time off, and he’s been doing that for a long time. This is the culmination of that. And it won’t stop. He’s going to Boise State, and hopefully he’ll continue his success in college.
“It’s definitely not the end for him.”
