Conrad Garner inducted into hall of fame
March 24, 2013
Photos by Brenda Liermann

A big crowd from Bonners Ferry traveled to Coeur d'Alene Saturday evening to be on hand as wrestling coach Conrad Garner, who has not only coached the Bonners Ferry Badgers for 27 years, but has worked with and mentored local wrestlers of all ages, be awarded the Idaho Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame "Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award" and inducted into the Hall of Fame.

He was one of five so honored, though sadly one of the inductees, Wallace wrestling coach Bob Schrieber, passed away in February before his recognition.

Also honored were coaches Ron Wood, Kellogg, and Greg Cossette, Post Falls.

Another inductee familiar to local wrestlers was Merrill Owens, who has officiated both high school and college wresting for more than 30-years before retiring this year.

Garner, the lead science teacher at Bonners Ferry High School, served as assistant wrestling coach at Lakeland for two years before moving to Bonners Ferry in 1986. He has served as head wrestling coach ever since, amassing a 165-145 win loss record and coaching 19 Idaho State Champions, two collegiate All-Americans and four USA All-Americans, most of whom he'd coached long before they reached high school.

Two of his state champions, Adam Hall and Blaine Invernon, won state titles three times.

He was named Idaho's Wrestling Coach of the year three times, in 2004, 2006 and again this year.

Merrill Owens
Owen Merrill, Coeur d'Alene, officiated matches in North Idaho Schools for 34 years, to include officiating at the Tri-State Tournament for 26 consecutive years. He was named the 1991 Official of the Year by the National Federation of High School Officials and as 2001's Official of the Year by the National Officials Association.

Robert Schreiber, who taught physical education and health at Wallace High School and coached both wrestling and baseball since graduating from the University of Idaho in 1971, passed away February 12 at the age of 66.

He was remembered Saturday for keeping the school's wrestling program alive, often spending his own money to do so, so as to give students the opportunity to compete and improve.

Even though he often didn't have enough students to field a team, if a student wanted to compete, Rob would coach and mentor, often taking them to meets on his own. His dedication to the sport was felt far beyond Wallace; he served 20 years, from 1985 to 2005, as president of the North Idaho Wrestling League, where his focus was always the personal improvement of wrestlers.