MOUNT BAKER
MOUNTAINEERS
Coach: Ron Lepper
Last year: Finished tied for first in the Class 2A NWC standings and tied for first overall with a 5-0 conference record. ... Placed first at the 2A Regional Tournament and advanced 12 wrestlers to state. ... Finished 12th at the state tournament with 47 points and had Tyrel Cronk place seventh at 195, Carsen Monaghan place seventh at 113 and Alec Postlewait won a state title at 285.
Wrestlers to watch: Tyrel Cronk (Sr., 195), Sterling Honeycutt (Sr., 220), Jake Larsen (Sr., 285); Joey Walton (Jr., 132-138); Matt Scoles (Sr., 220)
Outlook: A successful football season usually means little time to prepare for the start of wrestling. That's certainly the case at Mount Baker, as coach Ron Lepper said about half the wrestling team plays football. To make matters worse, the Mountaineers lost seven wrestlers from its starting lineup to graduation and eight of its starters counting Nazar Bezugly, who is no longer at Mount Baker. "It's like losing eight of your frontline guys," Lepper said in a phone interview. It's not all bad news for Mount Baker, though. Seniors Tyrel Cronk, Sterling Honeycutt and Jake Larsen, as well as junior Joey Walton, return state experience and provide strong veteran leadership. "We are going to try to rally around our tradition a little bit and make sure we represent ourselves well," Lepper said. The number of open spots in Baker's lineup provides a handful of juniors with limited varsity experience the chance to prove themselves. Lepper said he's excited to see who will step up and fill those gaps.
2012-13 SCHEDULE
Dec. 7 at Battle at the Border 1 p.m.
Dec. 8 at Battle at the Border 10 a.m.
Dec. 12 Bellingham* 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 Cashmere Invitational TBD
Dec. 19 Mount Baker/Justin Compton Invite 9 a.m.
Dec. 28 at Vashon Invite 9 a.m.
Jan. 2 at Lynden* 7 p.m.
Jan. 5 Warden Tournament TBD
Jan. 9 at Ferndale* 7 p.m.
Jan. 12 at NWC Tournament 10 a.m.
Jan. 16 Blaine* 7 p.m.
Jan. 19 at Lynden Tournament 9 a.m.
Jan. 23 at Sedro-Woolley* 7 p.m.
*NWC match
Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.
