Kellogg Wrestling battles outside adversity

KELLOGG –– The winter sports season has been a roller coaster for all of our local schools, all of which have had to navigate COVID-related shutdowns, seasonal-related shutdowns, tweak their schedules, and live with the consequence of missing games.

Perhaps no program understands this more than Kellogg’s wrestling program, which missed three events last week for a myriad of strange reasons.

After weathering a two-week COVID shutdown in early December, the team had gotten back on track and had been dominating their schedule heading into a potentially busy week last week.

But then things got weird.

First it was St. Maries being canceled for COVID-related reasons on Jan. 12, a mixer that likely won’t be rescheduled due to it being an out-of-district competition.

Two days later, a wind storm decided to throw a curveball of its own and shut down most of the Panhandle in more ways than one – that event was a home dual with other Intermountain League teams and will need to be rescheduled.

Then, this last weekend the annual River City Duals and Tournament – hosted at Post Falls High School - wasn’t cancelled but the Wildcats were unable to make the first day due to the lingering effects of the wind and then were told that they wouldn’t be admitted to come to the second day due to missing day one.

Kellogg had been on quite the roll prior to last week, including multiple championships at tournaments heavily involving larger area schools, but Coach Scott Miller is hoping that his resilient team of grapplers bounces back and continues to flex their muscles over their IML opposition headed into heavy district competition.

“It continues to be an interesting season with our fair share of adversity,” Miller said. “Fortunately, bigger picture wise, our kids and their families all came through the wind storm safely and we look forward to getting back to competing next week.”

The Wildcats are on the road this week at Timberlake on Tuesday and then in Lewiston this Friday and Saturday.