Tuesday, Jan. 17 the Lewiston Bengals wrestling team traveled across the Idaho-Washington border to take on one of its closest-to-home and most competitive duels so far this season.
The weekend prior had been hard, as some Bengals recalled. No Lewiston wrestlers placed at the annual Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula, Montana, starting Jan. 12. As one of the largest tournaments the Bengals attend, it was a huge accomplishment to even place close to the qualifying matches.
Lewiston senior Justin Chase and junior Kyle Cook were one round away from placing at the 32-team tournament.
Walking onto the Clarkston mat with Rocky Mountain behind them made Lewiston wrestlers remember the feeling of being in Missoula.
“To say I was anxious, would be an understatement,” junior Lance Lorang recalled. “Oftentimes I’m usually nervous in coming times before the match.”
“This duel will be close,” said Chase, just hours before he headed across the bridge to Clarkston.
And that’s just what they happened Jan. 17 — some very close matches against the Bantams.
“I had a lot on my shoulders before I even walked onto the mat,” Cook said.
Cook’s win against Bantam Ben Smith pushed the Bengals over Clarkston. Lewiston started the match falling to the Bantams, 40-36. But due to Cook’s pin, Lewiston beat the Bantams 42-40.