The Daily Inter Lake

Imagine a gym smaller than the gym at Flathead High School. Now add to the picture 64 wrestling teams - about 50 kids per bracket.

Now you have some idea what the Flathead Braves wrestling team is going through as it attends the Tri-State tournament this weekend at North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

"It's organized chaos. You almost have to be there once to know how to appreciate it," said Flathead head coach Jeff Thompson.

This is Flathead's second trip to Tri-State - the Braves competed there last year as well.

"Last year, we didn't really know what we were going into. We had no idea what to expect," Thompson said.

The Braves are looking forward to the challenge, despite knowing almost nothing about the individuals they'll face in competition.

"It's just a lot of fun. The kids go in and just wrestle their hearts out. It's going to be a huge challenge for us, but we look forward to it.

"It almost means more to them to place or win this than it does to win the state tournament," Thompson said.

Thompson expects top competition to come from Hermiston, Ore, Sedro Woolley, Wash., Lake Stevens, Wash., Sandpoint, Idaho, Idaho Falls, Idaho and Coeur d'Alene High.

This is the second of three difficult weekends for the Braves. They won the Mining City Duals last weekend in Butte and will head to Gillette, Wyo. next weekend.

According to Thompson, this is the most challenging December in the history of Flathead wrestling.

"It's a little crazy, but it's such great competition for these young men.

"We're excited. We're very healthy. Our kids are getting healthier and healthier. We're raring to go. I really feel like they're going to perform well this weekend.

"And there's really no pressure. We just want to se where we're at," the coach said.