Idaho Statesman

Six local wrestlers claim titles at Rollie Lane

Kuna’s Michael Cook completes career sweep with fourth victory.

BY RACHEL ROBERTS

rroberts@idahostatesman.comJanuary 5, 2014 

NAMPA — It’s hard to get much of a reaction out of Kuna High senior Michael Cook.

His shy smile hinted at his success, but he was otherwise quiet and reserved as he walked to the podium to accept his award.

Cook’s teammates did a good job of whooping and hollering on his behalf.

Cook became only the second wrestler in the history of the Rollie Lane Invitational to win four titles in a row with a 10-1 major decision over Mountain View’s Riley Connolly in the 132-pound title match Saturday at the Idaho Center.

He was voted the most outstanding lightweight wrestler by the participating coaches representing 50 schools and six states.

“It’s an honor to be in the club with Casey George,” said Cook, who will wrestle for Boise State beginning this fall. “And I hope to move on to bigger and better things.”

George, of Lewiston, won four Rollie titles from 2008-11 at 103, 119, 135 and 145 pounds.

That was all Cook mentioned about his rare feat, instead focusing on his team’s success. The Kavemen qualified five wrestlers for championship finals and finished second in the team race to Crook County, Ore., 106-94.

Kuna senior — and student body president — Casey Cobb joined Cook atop the podium with his win at 120 pounds, and Kurtis Loftis (138), Jordan Nolan (182) and JC English (285) each contributed second-place finishes.

“Everybody was pretty excited to be in the finals and get a little limelight,” Cook said. “The second-place finish definitely adds fuel to our fire. We’re going to work harder and come back with a vengeance to take home that Tiger-Grizz title and state.”

CENTENNIAL BAGS THREE INDIVIDUAL WINS

The defending 5A state champions took home the third-place trophy behind victories from three seniors.

Hayden Tuma collected his second career Rollie title with a 12-4 major decision against Columbia senior Tristian Jarboe at 145 pounds.

Jon Jay Chavez improved to 20-0 this season, pinning Reno, Nev., freshman Andrew Berreyesa in 4 minutes, 32 seconds in the 160 final.

In a tightly contested 5-4 decision, Logan Blackwood earned his first Rollie championship against Borah junior Eric Thrift at 220.

BORAH FRESHMAN HAS BIG DEBUT

Peter Huntsman fell behind 2-0 in the 98-pound championship match before rallying for a 5-2 decision against Caldwell’s Dante Carreno.

“I knew that I just needed to work my offense,” Huntsman said. “I couldn’t give up.”

Huntsman said he took the advice of his coaches and used a “bottom-leg-cradle” to fight his way back into the match and win in his Rollie debut.

“It was one of my goals to win Rollie Lane,” Huntsman said. “I’ve been working really hard.”

Borah finished fourth in the team standings with 67 points.

TWO NO. 1 SEEDS UPENDED BEFORE FINALS

Caldwell freshman Ismael Cerros staged one of the biggest upsets of the day, defeating top-seeded sophomore Trevor Rigney of Lewiston in the 98-pound quarterfinals.

Cerros then lost a 1-0 decision to teammate Dante Carreno in the semifinals.

The only other No. 1 seed to fall ahead of the championship round was Cole Verner of Green River, Wyo. Verner — who won at 106 pounds at Rollie last season — lost a 12-6 decision to Ontario’s Francisco Barrera in the semifinals.

SMALL SCHOOLS FIND SOME SUCCESS

Despite representing some of the smallest schools competing at the tournament, McCall-Donnelly’s Seth Lowen, Fruitland’s Sammy Eckhart, Marsing’s Noah Grossman and Fruitland’s Garrett Larson each brought home hardware.

Lowen finished sixth at 120 pounds, Eckhart fifth at 126, Grossman sixth at 220 and Larson fourth at 285.

QUICK HITS

Tyler Berger of Crook County, Ore., won his third Rollie Lane title in a row, handing Lewiston’s Ryan Klemp a 17-4 major decision in the 152-pound final. Berger, a senior, was voted the most outstanding heavyweight wrestler in the tournament by participating coaches. … Coaches also voted on an outstanding official. That honor went to Tommy Kennedy of Oregon. Officials from Idaho, Nevada and Oregon worked during the two-day tournament. … District Three schools won six of the 15 individual titles up for grabs. The remaining titles went to La Grande, Oregon’s Cole Rohan (106), Ontario, Oregon’s Francisco Barrera (113), Post Falls’ Drake Foster (126), Lewiston’s Bryce Parson (138), Post Falls’ Seth McLeod (170), Burns, Oregon’s Seth Nonnenmacher (182), Hermiston, Oregon’s Samuel Colbray (195) and Gooding’s Cole McGinnis (285). ... The Idaho Center will host state tournaments Feb. 27-March 1.

Rachel Roberts: 377-6422, Twitter: @IDS_VarsityX