Wrestlers mark strong campaign

Wrestlers in front, front from the left are Dane Hall, Garrett Phillips, Chris Jones and Nolan Burrill. In back, from the left, are coach Dennis Gransbery, Nate Barney, Johnathan Nelson, Augie Allenbach, Travis Knauff, Ben Ahmann and assistant coach Cliff Knauff.

Eight Colfax wrestlers and Travis Knauff of Garfield/Palouse were honored Thursday, March 9, at the wrestlers' banquet in the Colfax High School cafeteria.

The banquet concluded a season which saw five members of the team compete at the state Mat Classic finals in Tacoma. Juniors Dane Hall and Knauff each placed third in the state event which merges all B schools in the same level of competition.

Coach Dennis Gransbery noted the team this year competed without a senior in the lineup, and that means a lot of experience will be back on the mats for the start of the season next year. Five of the team members this year were juniors.

Hall, who compiled a 28-11 record in the 152 class, was named outstanding wrestler. Hall placed second at the district and regional rounds and just missed advancing to the championship bout at Tacoma.

Chris Jones, a 138-pound junior received the inspirational award. Coach Gransbery noted Jones competed in what was probably the toughest weight class. Jones compiled a 28-19 record. He also won the most takedowns award with 53 and received the team captain's award.

Nolan Burrill, the team's 106-pound freshman, received the most improved award. Burrill qualified for state and booked a 21-15 record on the season. He topped the weight class at districts and placed third in the regional.

Knauff was presented his award by his dad, Cliff Knauff, who again served as assistant coach for the team this year. A football injury kept Knauff off the mats until after the Christmas break. On the way to his third-place finish at state, Knauff compiled a 23-7 record and placed second in regionals and at districts.

Garrett Phillips, a sophomore in the 113 class, rolled up a 15-16 record. He rolled up 14 of his wins with pins and placed second in both the district and regional events.

Augie Allenbach, a sophomore in the 220 class, received the team's "Hulkamania" award. Allenbach booked a 15-17 record for the season and placed third at districts and fifth at the regional. That qualified him to roll to Tacoma as an alternate in the 220 class, but he did not receive the call. All of his 15 wins this year were on pins.

Ben Ahmann, who also missed part of the season with a football injury, rolled up a 6-8 record with all his wins on pins in the 145 class. He placed fourth at districts and competed in the regionals.

Nate Barney, a 138 junior, rolled up a 2-19 record and placed sixth at districts.

Freshman Johnathan Nelson sustained 13 defeats in his first season, but he was credited with heading in the right direction by the coach. Nelson was also credited with providing Allenbach with a lot of support over the season.