Youth sports July 6, 2011

WRESTLING

Edelblute, Lovett shine: Sam Edelblute and Ridge Lovett brought home the gold at the National Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships in Farmington, Utah, June 27-29.

Edelblute a fifth-grader at Twin Lakes Elementary, won two national championships in the intermediate 55-pound division. Edelblute won the national Greco-Roman championship with a win over Emily Shilson of Minnesota 6-2, 1-0 in the finals. Shilson was the national runner-up last year at the same weight.

In the freestyle finals Edelblute battled back against William Zernich of Nevada. After losing the first period 3-7 and sustaining a injury, Edelblute recovered and pinned Zernich at the end of the second period. Zernich was a national runner-up last year in both styles.

Edelblute wrestles for the Lakeland Wrestling Club and finished the season with a record of 132 wins and 19 losses. The season included two state titles and two national championships. Sam is also a straight-A student.

Ridge Lovett of Team Real Life won the national Greco-Roman championship with a win over Cody Phippen on Kansas 6-0, 7-2 in the finals of the novice 65-pound division. The win gave Lovett his fifth national title.

Lovett's 67-match winning streak in freestyle ended when he lost to Patrick Mckee of Minnesota in the first round of the tournament 1-8, 4-4. Lovett then battled back to place third. The 65-pound novice division featured eight state champions and three national champions and was considered one of the toughest weights in the tournament. Lovett, a fifth grader at Seltice Elementary in Post Falls, is also a straight-A student. Lovett finished the season with a record of 118 wins and 8 losses, two Idaho state championships and two national championships.

Clay Gilliam and William Edelblute both claimed All-American status at the tournament as well. Gilliam and Edelblute both wrestle in the novice 60-pound division. Gilliam placed seventh in Greco-Roman. William Edelblute placed sixth in Greco-Roman and eighth in freestyle.

Western Regionals: Several area wrestlers competed in the USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships at Holt Arena in Pocatello June 19-25. More than 1,200 wrestlers from the 11 western states competed in the tournament. Wrestlers from ages 6-15 competed in freestyle, Greco-Roman and folkstyle.

Ridge Lovett from Team Real Life placed first in all three disciplines in the novice 65-pound division. Lovett racked up 20 straight wins to claim the Western Nationals Triple Crown and was named Outstanding Wrestler for his weight.

Sam Edelblute of the Lakeland Wrestling Club won in folkstyle and Greco-Roman and was runner-up in freestyle in the intermediate 55-pound division. Edelblute racked up 16 wins by pin and went 22-2 in the three tournaments. Edelblute's only losses came to William Zernich from Nevada. Edelblute and Zernich wrestled four times in the three tournaments and went 2-2. Edelblute was named outstanding wrestler for his weight.

Drake Foster from Team Real Life won the Greco-Roman championship and placed third in freestyle and folkstyle in the schoolboy 105-pound class. Foster finished the event with a 21-3 record. Foster defeated Aaron Mora from California in the Greco Roman finals 0-1, 2-0, 1-0. Foster recently competed for Team Idaho at the National Schoolboy Dual Team Championships in Indianapolis, where he went 14-1. Foster will be a freshman at Post Falls High next season.

Seth Mcleod from Team Real Life placed second in freestyle and third in Greco-Roman. Mcleod will join Foster as a freshman for Post Falls High next season as well. Mcleod was pulled from the folkstyle tournament due to a injury.

Colton Kazmierzak from Team Real Life brought home fourth-place medals in folkstyle and Greco-Roman.

Nick Chase from Team Real Life placed second in the bantam 65-pound division in his first Werstern Regional.

Kade Lincoln placed second in freestyle and second in Greco-Roman. Linclon wrestled Washington state champion and national champion Brandon Kaylor in the finals of both events. Lincoln finished the tourney with a 9-5 record.

Lakeland's Larry Jonhnson placed third in Greco-Roman.

SWIMMING

A total of 28 swimmers from the Coeur d'Alene Area Swim Team participated in a one-day developmental meet on June 30 in Spokane, as well as more than 150 swimmers from the local Spokane clubs. Five first-time CAST swimmers participated: Jaycee Belnap, Stas Ethridge, Sergei Ethridge, Nicole Cicero, and Katie Venera.

Top-five finishers included Peyton Bowen, 1st, 200 breast and 5th, 100 fly; Bryce Kananowicz, 1st in the 50 free and 200 fly, and 2nd in the 50 fly; Makena Smith 3rd in the 50 back; Matt Chastain 3rd in the 200 fly; Hayley Pierce 4th in the 50 fly; Pat Loftus 2nd in the 100 back; Marcus Gentry 5th in the 50 fly; Violet Bowen 5th in the 50 free; and Jon Archer 5th in the 200 back.

SELECT SOCCER

The United Soccer Club's 18-year-old boys team, comprised of several players from Idaho, played its first two friendly matches last week against a collection of high school and college players from the Coeur d'Alene area.

The United Soccer Club lost the first match 5-4 and won the second 8-3. Ryan Kennelly and Dylan Shapland each scored once in the first match, and guest player Billy Thurston scored twice.

In the second match, Nathan Graham had a hat trick in the first half, John Fronk added two goals, and Andy Garcia, Michael Smith and Cooper Peterson each added a goal.

This team and the 15-year-old boys team are traveling together, playing four friendly matches in several Italian locations (Rome, Tuscany, Como, Milan) and then playing in two of the largest youth soccer tournaments in the world. The Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, features 1,571 teams from 71 countries. The Dana Cup in Hjorring, Denmark, hosts 865 teams from 44 countries.

The United Soccer Club is a regular entry to these two tournaments, and has been selected to be the American representative in the opening ceremonies of the Dana Cup. Our teams will parade through the streets of Hjorring, then enter the stadium for the event televised throughout Denmark.

North Idaho United under-15 girls: The team went 2-1 at the U.S. Club Soccer regional qualifying tournament. They failed to advance to the semifinals, finishing in a tie for fourth out of 12 premier teams in attendance.

The next stop for the United girls will be the Crossfire Challenge tournament in Seattle later this month.

The United girls are ranked 31st in Region IV, which consists of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii and Alaska.

Sting U14 girls (Swoboda): The Sting went 1-1-1 at the U.S. Club Soccer National Cup X Regional.

The Sting lost 3-1 to the Northwest Nationals Red. Maddison Ward scored the lone goal, Meaghan Bare had an assist and Tiegan Horton had 11 saves.

The Sting tied the Eastside FC White 1-1. Meaghan Bare scored on an assist from Maddison Ward, and Tiegan Horton had six saves.

The Sting beat the FC Portland Navy 1-0 on a goal by Alissa Joliff. Tiegan Horton had 13 saves.

SOCCER

British Soccer Camp: The camp, for ages 3-16, is scheduled for July 18-22 at Hico Field in Rathdrum.

Divisions are: First Kicks, 11 a.m.-noon, ages 3-4, $82; Mini Soccer, 9-10:30 a.m., ages 4-6, $96; Half Day, 9 a.m.-noon, ages 6-16, $125; Half Day, 1-4 p.m., ages 8-16, $125; Full Day, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m., ages 8-16, $175; and Golden Goal Camp, 1-3 p.m., ages 6-14, $50.

Registration is accepted through the Rathdrum Parks and Recreation Department, or at www.challengersports.com

COEUR d'ALENE RECREATION

Youth tennis signups: The Coeur d' Alene Recreation Department will be holding registration for the second session of youth tennis classes. Registration runs through Friday at the recreation department, 710 Mullan Avenue.

Registration is limited. Classes will commence the week of July 11 and will run for 4 weeks. Classes will be held twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Classes will be held at the Lake City High School tennis courts on Ramsey Road.

Students must supply their own tennis racket and a can of balls. Cost for eight lessons is $30.

Swimming: Registration for youth swim lessons for ages 6 and above are under way at the recreation department, 710 Mullan.

Cost os $25 for city residents, $30 for non-city residents.

The first session will run July 11-22, the second session July 25-Aug. 5.

Level 1 through 5 is available.

Lessons will be held Monday through Friday for two weeks in the mornings.

Class times will be available at registration; class space is limited.

Fishing: A Kids Fishing Derby, sponsored by Fins & Feathers and the Coeur d'Alene Recreation Department, is scheduled for Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at Fernan Lake.

The derby is for ages 5-14. There is no cost to enter. Signups will be taken at Fins & Feathers, or at the lake on Saturday.

Submit items for youth and non-varsity high school sports by noon Tuesday for publication Wednesday. Email stories and photos (in jpeg format) to [email protected].

Information: 664-8176, Ext. 2019