Cardinals dedicate efforts to Ricky Petersen after his death
Medical Lake wrestlers had some additional inspiration heading into last Saturday’s District 7 tournament, but it was certainly not the kind they wanted.
The Medical Lake community as a whole was dealt a shock Friday with the news of the unexpected death of 19-year-old Ricky Petersen, a former wrestler.
But Petersen’s passing galvanized the team and served as motivation for a group of primarily young wrestlers who battled through an emotional day and will move on to regionals Saturday at Colville.
“It was a blow to the hearts of all of us, the Medical Lake community” head coach Josh Edmondson said.
The top five finishers from districts will battle the Caribou Trail schools. The Cardinals will send their top finisher, senior Nick Reed, a runner-up at 113-pounds. Additionally, Braden Wirth (third at 132), Weston Thomas (fifth at 106), Justin Warnick (fifth at 120) and Isaiah Schlosser (fifth at 195). Bodhi Forbes (sixth at 126), along with Evan Petersen (113) and Peter Ploegman (120) are alternates Edmondson said.
“Nick represented us well and made it through to the finals,” Edmondson said.
He met Trent Baun from Colville, a 2015 state competitor who was runner up at Mat Classic and had dropped down a couple of weight classes, Edmondson said. Baun defeated Reed 53 seconds into their final with a pinfall. “I’m very proud of him,” Edmondson said of Reed.
Wirth, a Cheney transfer and a junior, has been one of the leaders on the team. ”You have some captains, you have some that just inspire you,” Edmondson said.
“He wrestled every match just like it was a championship,” he added. “He’s one of those kids who’s been battling injuries and ended up coming out halfway through the year. He’s been working hard and it’s neat for him to go to regionals.”
Thomas, just a freshman, has been phenomenal with a 22-5 record and had a unique tournament because he had to wrestle Jeff Friedman from Lakeside in the first round — where he lost in a 10-9 decision — but then met Friedman again in the consolation and beat him in a fall.
“He lost to him and then came back and beat him,” Edmondson said. “I told him ‘get it when it counts.’”
Warnick is a freshman, just like Thomas who has stepped up and is wrestling tough. ”He had a really awesome tournament,” Edmondson said. He worked his way all the way back to third after a second-round loss.
Forbes, perhaps, carried some of the biggest emotional weight, taking the place of Petersen’s brother, Brayden, at 126 pounds.
“Bohdi went through and got a couple of matches — from a coach’s standpoint — he shouldn’t have won,” Edmondson said. “He just held on for dear life.” It was good for the fifth-place finish and earned Forbes a spot in Colville.
Freshman Schlosser, like Thomas, had to beat the same kid twice. “The hope is with his age and maturity he’ll improve and we’ll get him to be a state champion,” Edmondson said.
As a tribute to Petersen, a 2014 Medical Lake grad and a district champion that year, wrestlers all wrote his name on their headgear and wristbands.
The entire crowd got behind the tributes to Petersen. “It warmed our hearts to have such love from the wrestling community,” Edmondson said.
Colville won the team title, edging Deer Park 290-285 with defending 1A champ Freeman third at 282. Medical Lake scored 117 points.
PETERSEN SERVICE:
A memorial service for Ricky Petersen will be held Saturday, Feb.13 at 2 p.m. at Medical Lake High School Gym. A reception will follow at 3 p.m. at Medical Lake Middle School.
Donations are being accepted for the Ricky Petersen Memorial Fund at WSECU in Medical Lake. The address is PO Box 519, Medical Lake, WA 99022.
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.
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