SUPERIOR – The Superior wrestling team got some time off last week after circumstances caused the Thompson Falls and Plains tournaments to be cancelled.

The tournament in Thompson Falls, which would have been on Thursday, January 30, was cancelled because of bad weather. While the drive to Thompson Falls is not very long the drive would have been especially hazardous with slick or icy roads.

The Plains Tournament, on Saturday February 1, was cancelled for other reasons. According to Head Coach Charlie Crabb, the various teams involved were unable to make it. He said most of the teams were injured or had come down with illness and it was decided to call off the matches to take time to recover.

“They decided since we’re going to see each other next week anyway, we’ll just call it off and wait until divisionals,” said Crabb.

Last week would have been the end of the regular season before the start of the divisional tournament this week. The matches for divisionals begin on Saturday, February 8 in Ronan.

Crabb felt the team was at a fairly good place going into divisionals. Even with two members of the four-man team down with injuries for a large chunk of the season he was confident of his team’s skill.

Senior Anthony Parkin, 113-pound class, and sophomore Bridger Lapierre, 135-pound class, were noted as performing well in their weight classes. Crabb also felt freshman Blaine Parkin, 98-pound class, was in a good spot for divisionals.

Freshman Tate Trudeau, 105-pound class, was an unknown for the tournament. Because Trudeau was out for most of the season with a football injury, he had fewer matches than the other members of the team. As a result his skills have been less tested and refined.

“All four of them have a really good chance of going on to state,” said Crabb.

The coach felt some of the weight classes at divisionals would be tough and was sure there would be good competition. He did not know much about the team matches and could not make any predictions on the opposition.

With unpredictable winter storms hitting the region over the last week, some concern exist on how the roads to Ronan will be by the weekend. The team plans to be at divisionals one way or another. Crabb said if necessary, arrangements would be made to go early and stay in Ronan until the tournament.

“Come hell or high water, we’ve got to get there,” said Crabb. “If you don’t qualify in divisionals you don’t go on to State. It’s going to take something pretty monumental to prevent that from happening.”

Crabb said the team would have one final meeting on Friday, February 7, to touch base and figure out how everyone was doing. On Saturday, it would be up to the wrestlers to do their in the tournaments.

Next week on Friday, February 14, and Saturday, February 15, the teams who placed in divisionals will go to represent the region at the state competition in Billings.