Vikings tear to huge lead, even TerHark series with Lake City

Coeur d’Alene High’s wrestling team was a heavy favorite going into Thursday night’s 12th annual TerHark Cup wrestling match with crosstown rival Lake City.

The Vikings didn’t disappoint, jumping out to a 32-0 lead through the first six weights and cruising to a 50-24 win that wasn’t as close as the score indicated.

It was the fifth straight victory in the event for CdA and coach Jeff Moffat.

“The score was a little bit wider than I thought it was going to be, but I have to give some credit to Lake City – those guys battled hard, and our guys battled hard,” said Moffat, whose team, despite forfeiting at 125 and 130 pounds, evened the overall series at 6-6. “I think our conditioning got to Lake City a little bit, but it was a good match.”

Moffat said the event, which honors CdA High wrestling program founder Ron TerHark, never fails to bring out the best in his Vikings.

“Our kids get up for every match, but this one usually has a little more emphasis on it,” Moffat said. “The thing you get nervous about is the kids getting a little bit too pumped up for it, and I thought our guys kept their composure real well for it.”

CdA, 8-2 in duals this year, got pins from Mike Kincaid at 119, Chris Wheeler at 135, Isaak Lawlor at 140, Jesse Nielsen at 152, Phil Howard at 171, Ian Turner at 215 and Grant Turner at 285.

Arik Ackerman delivered his LC’s only pin, at 112, and freshman 103-pounder Marcus Banducci provided another highlight for the Timberwolves (5-7) in the evening’s most entertaining match, a back-and-forth 13-12 decision over CdA’s Andrew Palmer.

Moments after delivering an upbeat message to his team, Lake City coach Don Callister said the dual went pretty much the way he thought it would – but not for a lack of effort on the part of the T-Wolves.

“I told my guys they did everything they could, and that’s exactly what I asked from them,” Callister said.

“I knew they were going to have a tough time tonight, and my one request is that they put it all on the mat, and that’s what they did.”

CdA wrestled without undefeated freshman standout 103-pounder Braden Mowry, who suffered a neck injury during practice Tuesday putting the remainder of his season in doubt.

“I don’t want to speculate on anything, but he’s got a bulged disk in his neck,” Moffat said of Mowry, 26-0 and a Tri-State champion. “As of right now, it’s still up in the air whether he’s going to have surgery or not have surgery.”

No injury is taken lightly, but some seem more poignant than others.

“It’s hard losing a kid like that, especially as talented as he is,” Moffat said.

“His spirits are high and we’ll know more tomorrow.”