5 reasons to watch Ki-Be
Bears wrestling in 2001-2002
1)The Bears have three returning
state participants: Sergio Avila (99-7th, 00-5th, 01-13th), Josh
Corriell (01-13th), Josh Corke (00-7th). Sergio will try to
become only the fourth wrestler in Ki-Be history to advance to
the state tourney 4 times (Ale,DeLaPena, Travis Knutson and Jay
Draper were the others). Corriell and Corke should do very well
in the CWAC and both seem ready to move up to the next level at
the state tournament.
2)This years team will have
experience on their side. Including Avila, the Bears have 9
returning seniors: Devin Leavitt, Mark McCullough, Ramon
DelAngel, Cody Roos, Jeremy Walton, Chris Dehmer, Kyle Nickerson,
Paul Schlotman. DelAngel and Roos missed going to state last year
by one position. The Bears also have 6 returning juniors. Of the
15 returning upperclassmen, 11 of them have advanced as far as
the regional tournament.
3)The unknown. There no doubt will
be a freshman wrestler who pops onto the scene and surprises
everyone. Will there be another Garret Knutson, Travis Knutson or
Ale DeLaPena in this bunch. These three wrestlers won 7 state
titles in 6 years. The highest previous state finish for the
Bears had been a second place finish by Lonnie Renz in 1982.
These three turned the tide for the Bears wrestling program. Will
there be a new wrestler this year who will step up and keep the
tradition going.
4)The Bears should be a force in the
CWAC this year. Wapato moves up to 3A and Othello loses 6 state
wrestlers. Grandview will do without the services of Antonio
Avalos (2nd-state), Kyle Hutchinson (5th-state) and Andy Logozzo
(5th-state). Tonasket will have to replace the irreplaceable
Martin Mitchell (4X state champ) and state champ Tony Call. With
all this the Bears should be on more even ground with the rest of
the teams. Ephrata, Connell and Cashmere will probably be the
strength of the CWAC.
5)Wrestling is simply the best sport
in the world!