While most students were playing in the fun and sun of summer, juniors Corbin Eysted and Jeremy LaPorte were working hard representing Montana at the U.S. Nationals Wrestling competition in Fargo, North Dakota. The competition took place July 19-26 and serves as a preliminary to the World Championships. "I was pretty excited to go," said LaPorte. "I had a feeling I knew what it was going to be like and it turned out to be totally different." Where Eysted placed in the top three at the state tournament held in Butte last April 6, LaPorte got in by less conventional means. "You're supposed to qualify in the top four," said LaPorte. "I didn't make it, but they had a vacancy so I got to go." The tournament was preceded by a wrestling camp At the tournament both wrestled well considering the competition. "Jeremy was one match out of placing in greco (a style of wrestling)," said FHS wrestling coach, Jeff Anderson. "Both got beat out of freestyle wrestling. They're basically competing against our future Olympic wrestlers." Said eysted of his typical day during the tournament: "We get up, drill and condition for the tournament. At the tournament we sit in a spot with our teammates and wait to be called, warm up and wrestle. If you get beat out you still get to stay and watch your friends wrestle." The two weeks were not all work and no play. Free time was abundant after wrestling with the day's events. "Once at the motel you could do just about anything you wanted," said Eysted. "The day after the camp, I went over to the host family's home and we innertubbed behind their boat on the river (Missouri). That was probably the most fun part." The trip was a new experience for both wrestlers. "It's a big change to wrestle kids from the east and other parts of the country," said LaPorte. "I was excited," said Eysted. "There's a lot of good experience gained there." The greatest advantage of this experience may come when wrestling season rolls around. "They should be two of our top wrestlers at state," said Anderson. "I plan on wrestling varsity," said Eysted of this season. "I hope to win a state championship." |
