Chase Smith's wrestling career is marked by consistent dedication and significant achievements, spanning from his high school years to the collegiate level and beyond. This article delves into his accomplishments, highlighting his journey and the impact he has made in the wrestling community.
New EHS Hall of Fame inductee Chase Smith.
Early Success at Enumclaw High School
Chase Smith established himself as a formidable wrestler during his time at Enumclaw High School in Washington. His dedication and hard work culminated in several notable achievements:
- 2005: Third-place finish at the state tournament.
- 2006: Runner-up finish at the state tournament.
- 2007: Washington State Championship.
His impressive run of success at Enumclaw High included a third-place finish at state in 2005 and a runner-up finish in 2006 prior to winning a state championship in 2007.
The 2024 ceremony took place the evening of Jan. 4 in the school’s Chuck Smith Gymnasium. This year’s inductees join a group that already numbered 51 individual athletes and 17 teams.
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Hall of Fame Induction
The EHS Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed three new additions the evening of January 4, all from the world of Hornet wrestling.
Collegiate Career at the University of Wyoming
Following his successful high school career, Smith continued his wrestling journey at the University of Wyoming. Coach Steven Suder announced the signing of Chase Smith to a National Letter of Intent for the 2007-08 season.
- Smith went on to wrestle at the University of Wyoming where he was a four-year starter.
- Smith, 141 pounds, from Enumclaw, Wash. Smith was a Washington State Champion and a Cadet Freestlye Nationals All-American.
"We just feel like Chase is the whole package. He competes and trains year round, is a great student, has been well coached and comes to our family from a great family and support system."
Transition to NCAA Division I Football
Interestingly, Smith's athletic career took an unexpected turn when he transitioned to football at the NCAA Division I level. Despite being a standout defensive tackle, he didn't receive any D-I football offers initially.
“My goal was to go D-I in one of my sports,” said Smith, who was also a standout defensive tackle on the BHS football team.
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Among the schools who’d taken an interest in Smith at football were Bemidji State and St. John’s, before he decided to continue his exploits on the mat at NDSU.
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Interest from North Dakota State University (NDSU)
Smith's performance at the state wrestling tournament garnered interest from North Dakota State University (NDSU). He advanced to the Class 3A individual state semifinals and ultimately took third place in the heavyweight division.
“I think it’s because I got top three at state,” Smith said of NDSU’s interest.
Smith will be the first BHS wrestler to compete in Division I since 2014 alum Kade Johnson wrestled one season for NDSU in 2014-15.
“We’re excited for our wrestling community, for the Bemidji community, and obviously excited for Chase,” BHS head coach Rance Bahr said.
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“It means a lot,” Smith said of becoming one of the select few from Bemidji wrestling to go D-I.
Lumberjack senior Chase Smith (top) pins St. Cloud Tech's Aaron Voigt to place third at heavyweight in the Class 3A individual state tournament on Feb. 29 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Legacy at Bemidji High School
Smith's contributions to Bemidji High School (BHS) wrestling are significant. He earned three letters and maintained a 76-21 career record, with a 40-5 record in his senior season.
- He was also a two-time All-Mat King Conference first team selection.
- Was a member of three BHS wrestling All-Academic Gold Teams as recognized by the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association.
“He made the varsity lineup partway through his sophomore year and was kind of a mainstay in the lineup his junior and senior years,” Bahr said.
“He was someone that we always counted on for wins in our duals and at tournaments.
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Third-place finish at state (Enumclaw HS) |
| 2006 | Runner-up finish at state (Enumclaw HS) |
| 2007 | Washington State Championship (Enumclaw HS) |
| Senior Year (BHS) | 40-5 record |