THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: A lesson in valley history

Chances are, if I ever had to repeat history in high school, I’d flunk.

Miserably.

Along with a few other subjects if I’m being honest.

So when quizzed last week about my knowledge of Kellogg High wrestling history, I failed again.

IT HAS been more than a few years since I’ve covered the Wildcat program on a daily basis, but in my best efforts, when the squad from Kellogg was fighting for the state 2A championship last week, I was under the impression that the team’s third-place finish in 2002 was the best in program history.

Well, sort of.

The Wildcats had been third a few other times in the 1980s with Ron Wood as coach.

BUT, thus far at least, the program’s top finish was in 1987, when the Wildcats scored 145.5 points with state champions Kelly Burt (126 pounds) and Jamie Barnes (185) leading the way that year.

Gary Beatty (105) and Guy Faraca (132) were runner-up for the Wildcats on that particular weekend at College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.

A little closer look at the placers — top four back then — had Rob Edelblute of Lakeland (second at 98), Shon Schreiber of Wallace (fourth at 98), John Andrews of Wallace (champion at 119), Ryan Wood of Kellogg (fourth at 119), Joe Hill of Wallace (fourth at 126), Jeff Meyer of Lakeland (fourth at 138), David Quimby of Lakeland (third at 167), Bill Anderson of St. Maries (second at heavyweight) and Chris Miller of Lakeland (fourth at heavyweight) also bringing back medals.

Rob Edelblute coached at his alma mater for 23 years, 22 as head coach, was part of the program’s first two state wrestling champions in 1988 and 1989 under coach Jim Whiteman. Quimby, also part of those title teams, has been an assistant in recent years as Edelblute’s nephew, Will, has taken over the program the last two years.

In addition, Schreiber is the son of longtime Wallace High wrestling and baseball coach Bob Schreiber, who coached the Miner program for 31 years before passing away in 2013.

All these years later, and with the Idaho High School Activities Association about to undergo another classification change for the 2024-25 school year, it still amazes me that, once upon a time, Kellogg, Lakeland and Wallace shared a conference.

Not only shared it, but had some competitive programs to boot.

SPEAKING OF some good competition, the North Idaho College men’s basketball team has its eyes on the Region 18 Tournament as the regular season winds down today in Twin Falls against College of Southern Idaho.

With a win, NIC will be the second seed for next week’s tournament. Lose, and NIC could fall to fourth and face Salt Lake in the opening round.

NIC beat CSI 91-73 on Feb. 3 at Rolly Williams Court.

The men’s tournament will be at Salt Lake Community College after beating visiting Snow 86-64.

The Cardinal women will conclude the season today against CSI, the final of four meetings this season between the rival schools.

The women’s tournament is March 15-16, also at Salt Lake after the Bruins finished 9-1 in conference play this season.

And who knows, maybe the fourth time will be the charm for the Cardinals?

Stranger things have happened in the Scenic West Athletic Conference, right?

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter at @JECdAPress.