PREP WRESTLING: Rivadeneira second as Lakeland wrestlers hit the Beach

The grind never stops for area wrestlers. 

A little over a month ago, they were fighting for state high school wrestling championships. 

Last weekend, even during their break, wrestlers from the Lakeland School District were hard at work getting better. 

For Lakeland freshman Emmit Rivadeneira, it was just the cap on a hard fought season. 

Rivadeneira was runner-up in the freshman 195-pound division after entering the tournament unseeded. 

“He really got it going early on,” said Lakeland coach Will Edelblute, who took the team to the event for the first time since 2018, when he competed in the event. “And he kept it going through the finals. He’s been working super hard in the wrestling room and constantly working to get better.” 

A group of seven Lakeland athletes competed in the National High School Coaches Association Nationals Tournament at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. Competitors are split by grade, from freshman to senior. 

Other Lakeland competitors were sophomore Cruz Knopp (who advanced to the consolation round of 32 at 106), junior Zach Teal, who advanced to the consolation round of 8 (blood round) at 106. Junior Carson Leonard, a two-time Idaho state champion, also advanced to the consolation round of 8 at 120. Junior Kade Knopp went 2-2 at 132, falling in the consolation round of 32. Junior Gage McWatters went 1-2 at 170, falling in the consolation round of 32. Senior Peyton Sardinha was ousted in the consolation round of 64. 

Teal was runner-up at 106 at state for Lakeland. Cruz Knopp (third at 106), McWatters (third at 175) and Rivadeneira (third at 215) also placed at state this year for Lakeland, which finished fifth in the 5A tournament. 

“I think it was the best wrestling I’ve seen our kids do all year,” Edelblute said. “That’s what you’re looking for at the end of the season. You’re trying to find as big of tournaments you can find to challenge your kids and make them better for next year. Carson, he wrestled in a bracket that had three or four state champions in it. Zach, he had to wrestle two state champions from North Carolina. It’s just something you really don’t get going to Tri-State or Rollie Lane because everyone here is really good. This experience means a lot heading back to Idaho.” 

Lakeland Middle School athletes Boston Waldo and Bentley Waldo competed in the 85-pound division, with Boston advancing to the consolation round of 8 and Bentley to the consolation round of 16. 

“For a lot of these guys, they’re going to be wrestling all summer,” Edelblute said. “It’s good to get this experience, and huge for their confidence knowing that they can compete against those bigger guys.”

Cole Armstrong, a freshman from Coeur d’Alene High, went 1-2 at 132 pounds. Coeur d’Alene junior Brock Armstrong, a two-time state 6A champion, went 0-2 at 170. 

    Courtesy photo Members of the Lakeland High wrestling team prepare for a workout before the National High School Coaches Association National tournament in Virginia Beach, Va., last weekend. From left are Emmit Rivadeneira, Gage McWatters, Peyton Sardinha, Carson Leonard, Kade Knopp, Zach Teal and Cruz Knopp.