Top wrestlers attend Reardan Elementary

REARDAN – Three local elementary school students have made a big splash in the world of youth wrestling.

Lane and Larsen Butterfield and Addie Neufeld are champions in their respective age groups and share the dream of one day standing amongst the best to have worn Screaming Eagles' singlets.

Neufeld is a member of the Reardan Renegades wrestling program and the Butterfields wrestle for Inland Northwest Training Center's club in Spokane.

12-year-old Lane Butterfield is in his seventh year of competitive wrestling and is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 12 and under, 160-pound weight class. This season he placed first at the Salt Lake Slam and the Washington State Championships.

His record this season is 11-2. When he gets to high school, his goal is to be a four-time champion of the Tri-State Wrestling Tournament.

"The thing I like about wrestling is that I am only responsible for myself," Butterfield said. "It's not like a team sport where I have to carry the other kids."

He described wrestling practice as "hard and terrible," but a necessity that pays off, "when you're on the podium wearing a big medal."

His brother Larsen Butterfield, age nine, has wrestled for four years. He is in the 10 and under, 63-pound weight class and has compiled a record of 25-5 this season.

Recently, he won a gold medal at the Bigfoot Battle in Spokane. He is ranked second in the state and fifth in the nation in his age group.

His goal is to be a four-time 2B champion at the state high school wrestling tournament.

"Wrestling makes you into a man," he said. "It's a lot of work, but you've got to do it if you want to get better."

10-year-old Addie Neufeld started wrestling in 2017. Last month she defeated eight girls to win a gold medal at the Washington Folkstyle State Championship.

She won all three of her matches, two by pinning her opponents.

Neufeld said she wrestles because it is fun but also because "learning new things is cool."

She expressed pride in her brother Preston, who won a 106-pound state championship this year as a sophomore.

"I thought it was cool because me and my brother both won state championships this year," she said.

Neufeld said she would like to continue wrestling.

"When I get on the school team, I'd like to be a state champion," she said.

According to Lane Butterfield, to become a champion, "you must have a good attitude and if you want to be the best, you must out-work your competitors."

"Wrestling teaches you that when you're discouraged, keep going," he said.

Addie is the daughter of Justin and Stephanie Neufeld and Lane and Larsen are the sons of Simon and Amber Butterfield.