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turn out for PHS boys basketball
Prairie boys basketball has their biggest turnout of players in several years as there are 28 players turned out as of Monday, Dec. 1. Some of this can be attributed to the fact they had only 1 senior graduate off of last year’s team. 
The Pirates return the entire starting lineup from a team that was 1 win away from advancing to the state tournament last year. Returning starters are seniors Kyle Daly, Eric Daly and Tyler Forsmann and juniors David Sigler and Branden Waller. Other returning varsity players are sophomore Devin Schmidt, and juniors who played both JV and varsity last year, Kyle Holthaus, Joe Schumacher, Conner Rieman and Derek Schaeffer. Additional juniors on the squad this year are Andy Gabica, who played for Prairie as a freshman, transferred to Middleton and then back to Prairie at the semester break last year, Jimmy Ingebretson and Caio Moveair, a foreign exchange student. Sophomores on the squad are Ryan Dalgiesh, Brock Heath, Beau Schlader, Seth Guyer, Silas Whitley and Mikey Karel. Freshmen are Justin Schmidt, Cody Schumacher, Troy Lorentz, Josh Zigler, Robert Nau, Tim Frei, Kyle Uhlenkott, Garrett Roush and Jarett Frei. Prairie has about 10 C team games scheduled this year so that the younger players will be able to get in some playing time. The Pirates should be in contention for one of the 2½ state berths out of the White Pine League this year although they still have the same weakness that hurt them in several games last year, no athletic big man taller than 6’2” that can match up with the other big men in the league. Genesee looks to be a strong contender and Lapwai, despite losing their big man, is still Lapwai and can never be counted out. The same can be said for defending state champion Troy who graduated their top scorers but always seems to find others to fill those positions. Kendrick ought to be down this year after graduating their top two scorers. Nezperce, Highland and Culdesac are now in a league of their own with Summit Academy just like in girls volleyball. The Pirates see their first action this Friday at Nezperce and then face league favorite Genesee on Monday in their home opener in a non-league game.  13 turned out for wrestling There are 13 students turned out for wrestling this year on the Prairie wrestling team. 
Included are 3 who competed at State last year: James Jackson, a senior who earned a state medal as a freshman; Brandon Poxleitner, a junior who earned a state medal last year; and Mitch Jungert, a sophomore. Other seniors are Chance Ratcliff and Brandon Ross. Juniors include Tyrell Langston, who likely could’ve competed at state last year if not for an injury that ended his season early; Jack George and Jeremy Ross. Sophomores are Phillip Smakman, Ethan Tassel and Sheldon Klinkefus. Freshmen are Nick Creutzberg and Nick Hartnett. Head coach Steve Lamont said Kamiah will be loaded, especially in the middle weights, this year but that Prairie’s wrestlers should all have a good chance of advancing to state as 3 wrestlers in each weight class will advance from District. Prairie’s first wrestling action of the season will be at Grangeville, Tuesday, Dec. 9. Several schools are expected to be attending. The Jamboree listed on the blue printed schedules has been cancelled. Prairie has 7 regular meets and 5 tournaments scheduled during the season. The district meet will be at Grangeville this year and State is at Pocatello.  3 of 9 earn medals in final meet The final tournament of the season for USA Wrestling was held in Moscow on Saturday, Nov. 22 with 3 of Cottonwood’s 9 wrestlers earning medals. Hunter McWilliams and Devin Ross each earned a gold medal while Cole Creutzberg earned a silver medal. Also competing were Brayden Nopens, Jared Nopens, Hunter Chaffee, Dallon Roberts, Rafe Coates and Caleb McWilliams. 
PIRATES BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR 2008-09 *indicates league game 8-Genesee, here 11-Grangeville, here 15-Kamiah, there 18-Troy, there 19-Council, here, 8 p.m. 29-Wilder Tournament, TBA 30-Wilder Tournament, TBA 10-C.V., there* 13-Troy, here* 15-Grangeville, there 16-Deary, there* 22-Timberline, there* 24-Lapwai, here* 27-Highland, here 29-Nezperce, here 9-Culdesac, here 13-Highland, there 16,20,24,26-District at LCSC 28-State Play-in Game, TBA March 5-7-State at Boise PIRATES WRESTLING SCHEDULE FOR 2008-09 DECEMBER 9-at Grangeville, 6 p.m. 18-at Potlatch, 6 p.m. 20-Grab Bag Invitational, Pullman 30-Pomeroy Invitational 9 & 10-Kamiah Invitational 13-at Orofino, 6 p.m. 16 & 17-Orofino Invitational 29-at Kamiah, 6 p.m. 30 & 31-New Plymouth Tournament 20 &21-Districts, at Grangeville 26-28-State at Pocatello |
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