THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Wednesday, December 24, 2014

The decisions have came pretty easily for Post Falls High senior Seth McLeod, both on and off the wrestling mat this season.

Where it goes from his Tri-State Invitational championship at 182 pounds remains to be determined at the high school level, but one way or another, he'll take his talents to the state capital next year after signing with Boise State.

McLEOD PINNED Levi Perry of Kuna High in Boise in the second period of Saturday's Tri-State championship, helping the Trojans win for the first time in the 43 year tournament history.

He signed a letter of intent with Boise State when the early signing period for wrestling began on Nov. 14.

"I had some big offers from some other schools," McLeod said. "Big offers, and they're a little bigger wrestling programs. But family is important to me. I wanted to be in a place where not only I can succeed and excel as a wrestler, but as a person. Who I am with God, I felt Boise State was really going to work and I'd still get to watch my brothers (teammates) wrestle at state."

McLeod also had interest and took visits to Nebraska and Ohio State.

Unfortunately with the early signing period, that meant McLeod had to miss playing football for the first time since fourth grade. He was a running back and linebacker with the Trojans.

"Really, I just didn't want to end up getting hurt again," said McLeod, a three-time state finalist in wrestling, with a state title in 2013. "I've had seven concussions and it's just not worth it to get injured in football season when I'm going to college in wrestling. I kind of had to pick and choose, and chose not to play football this year."

"Seth really has the desire to do the best he can at wrestling," Post Falls coach Pete Reardon said. "He was really divided on that," Reardon added. "He loves playing football and loves playing the game, but he made a commitment that he wanted to be a Division I wrestler and that would give him the best chance to get recruited and stay injury-free that way."

AS IT happened, the Post Falls football team advanced to the state playoffs for the first time in 10 years by finishing second in the 5A Inland Empire League.

"I love those guys," McLeod said. "They're my family and I've played with them since I was in the fourth grade. I was so happy for them and a little bummed out that I wasn't a part of it, but they worked hard and deserved it."

While the Trojans - who finished 5-5 - were clinching the playoff berth, McLeod was at a junior wrestling tournament in Reno, Nev.

"The recruiting process in the fall is very heavy," Reardon said. "And he didn't want to risk getting injured when he was being recruited. He took a lot of trips in the fall to big schools and wanted to make the most of it and didn't think he'd be able to do that with football."

At Boise State, he'll be reunited with Bronco assistant coach Chris Owens, who has coached McLeod in junior national events.

"He's had a good relationship with Chris," Reardon said. "It's a great spot for him. He's trained down there a couple of years for Fargo (junior nationals) and Boise State traditionally has a great wrestling program. And he can get the chance to stay where we can follow him and he can follow his brothers that are still wrestling here. He had a chance to go wrestle at Nebraska and Ohio State, thought it over and decided he wanted to stay close to home and near his family."

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.