Bulldog wrestling team returns many veterans

Colfax wrestlers started a new season Saturday with a trip to the Walla Walla tournament. Riane Jones won her weight class at Walla Walla, and Augie Allenbach, now a senior, placed second in the heavyweight class.

Starting his ninth year as head coach, Coach Denis Gransbery has 17 wrestlers in the lineup with several veterans back from last year when the Bulldogs finished fifth in the B division of state at the Mat Classic.

Grads off last year’s team were state medalists Chris Jones and Dane Hall, and Ben Ahmann and German exchange student, Leo Huels. Travis Knauff of Palouse also graduated.

Two wrestlers who placed third at state on opposite ends of the weight classes, Allenbach and Kolby Sisk, will be back. A sophomore, Sisk will probably wrestle at 113 this year. Also back is Nolan Burrill, now a junior, who placed sixth at state at 113. He figures to wrestle at 126 this year,

Kolby Slate, a state entrant as a freshman, will wrestle at 138.

Caden Noha, a state finisher who wrestled for SJE as part of the Colfax contingent, will be part of the Colfax team this year.

Also back in the lineup are Chayne Aeschliman, senior at 195; Gabe Ahmann, senior at 152; Garrett Philips, senior at 120; Dakota Hall, senior at 160, Mason Miller, senior at 195, and Jon Nelson, junior heavyweight.

Jacob Brown, a sophomore, joins the lineup and will compete in the 182 class.

Other wrestlers in the lineup are Jacob Sisk, freshman at 106; Dillon Meithof, freshman at 105; Trenton Ensley, freshman at 160; Regan Noha, freshman at 160.

With Travis Knauff departed and the Nohas in Colfax, the team this year will not have wrestlers from Palouse or St. John as part of the lineup.

However, Cliff Knauff of Palouse is again helping Coach Gransbery.

The Bulldogs will compete at the Potlatch tournament Saturday.