THE BEST WRESTLING TEAM IN SCHOOL HISTORY? Cougars place third, first time in school history on the podium at state
(GENO LUDWIG/Chewelah Independent)

Kaden Krouse and Jake Jeanneret were Chewelah’s two state champions at Mat Classic this year. (Mickey Olson photos)
Krouse and Jeanneret win state titles…
Seven Chewelah Cougar wrestlers will weigh-in a little heavier this week, not just because the season is over and they can now pig-out on the types and amounts of food they have restricted themselves from for the past three months, but because they will all be wearing state tournament medals around their necks.
The Cougars returned from the Tacoma Dome with two state championships, three third-place medals, a fourth place medal, a sixth-place medal, and a third place team trophy from this year’s state wrestling championships. The Chewelah septet won 29 bouts and scored 152.5 team points to finish third behind Tonasket and Lake Roosevelt out of the 45 class-B schools sending competitors to the tournament. This was Chewelah’s highest-ever finish in the team standings at the tournament.
“Coming into this year, I felt I had a unique group of wrestlers that could really do something special,” said Coach Tim Slater. “I believed if we took care of business, we would be in the top five. I’ve been with this senior group since they were freshmen. I am proud of the way they have grown and developed. Winning state medals to cap off their careers is a bonus, a validation of all their hard work and growth. I am proud of everyone who helped us achieve this monumental accomplishment.”
Kaden Krouse won his second state championship in the 170-pound weight division with an 8-3 decision, and Jake Jeanneret followed with an 11-4 decision in the 182-pound weight class championship. It was the first time that Chewelah has had two state champions since 2002 when Seth Weatherman and Phil Eggleston earned first-place medals. Krouse is a sophomore and Jeanneret is a junior, so they will both return to defend their state championships at next year’s Mat Classic.

Several Chewelah wrestlers brough home medals for the Cougars. (Mickey Olson photo)