Fundraiser to help Invernon's wrestling quest

The Invernon family is rallying around one of their own.

The family is hosting a fundraiser to help pay for Blaine Invernon’s passion for wrestling.

Invernon, a Bonners Ferry High School senior, will be busy with his favorite sport for the next three months.

To help pay for those endeavors, the family is holding a fundraiser, combination, silent auction, yard sale will start at 8 a.m. Friday, June 29 and Saturday,

June 30, at Memorial Hall at Boundary County Fairgrounds.

After earning second first place title at the 3A Idaho state championship this year, Invernon took a trip to Bulgaria with two top wrestling coaches in the world who have a mini Olympic training center in Boise.

Invernon won a gold medal in the 127-pound bracket at the Dinko Petrov International Memorial Tournament in Bulgaria dominating a field of 14 wrestlers from places like Russia, Turkey and Greece to earn the Outstanding Freestyle Wrestler Award.

Invernon, one of seven members wrestling for the Boise/Pocatello-based Suples Wrestling Club, stood out among the nine countries and 26 clubs represented in the invitation only tournament.

Invernon recently returned from Akron, Ohio, after taking second place in the Grecko category at the Fila Cadet Nationals.

Invernon’s father Eddy, said he just dropped his son off at the airport Sunday to catch a plane to Boise to train for the upcoming Cadet Junior Nationals to be held in Fargo, N.D., July 5 through July 21.

“The community has been so great with helping support Blaine, and we hope there is a good turnout for the yard sale and silent auction,” said Eddy Invernon.

After Fargo, Blaine will again return to Europe for a three country tour.

His coaches from Boise will accompany Invernon again for this two-week period in August that will take Invernon to matches in Bulgaria, Turkey and Germany.

“I am just so proud, it takes Blaine a lot of and work and self discipline for a kid his age. It is just great,” said Eddy Invernon.

Blaine started wrestling when he was four and his father, Eddy, a wrestling coach, would take him to the little Badgers wrestling practices.

Although he wasn’t quite old enough at the time, he would wrestle and pay close attention to the other kids.

He has been hitting the mats ever since.

Invernon, the No. 1 ranked 3A wrestler in the state at 132 pounds, is motivated by the possibility of joining former Badger and Boise State wrestler Adam Hall as a three-time state champion.

Invernon has Olympic aspirations. He also wants a wrestling scholarship. He would love to wrestle for Boise State, but wants to see what his options might be when the time comes.

Anyone wanting to donate sale or auction items can call Leny at 290-4541 or Marianne at 290-6705.