Gorilla squad soon to be extinct

Some, such as the current Libby High School administration, may ask what a gorilla has to do with Loggers, but for generations, some Libby wrestlers have coveted it as a symbol of their strength.

"This gorilla sets the wrestling team apart from the other teams," said Eric Wilson, who wrestled for the "Gorilla Greenchain" as a member of the LHS Class of 1986.

"We've always been the gorilla squad," said Wilson, adding it is a symbol easily depicted on banners and T-shirts, like the basketball is a symbol for Logger basketball.

"I just wanted to make sure that two or three people aren't the ones taking it down," Wilson added.

What was actually taken down was a banner in the wrestling room depicting the Greenchain gorilla, which had hung since former LHS wrestling coach Larry Hilderman's days, about 30 years ago.

LHS Vice Principal Jim Germany said there is no conspiracy behind taking down the banner - just that Hilderman might like to have the old banner back, since it came from his era.

"There's a perception going around that we're erasing or getting rid of the gorilla," said Germany. "The funny thing is there is no gorilla to get rid of."

But the new banner that replaced the old one was missing the longtime symbol of wrestling strength for the Greenchain - the gorilla.

According to Germany, the high school administration does not wish to completely eliminate the gorilla, just de-emphasize it in Logger wrestling.

"The only thing we ask is that we are known as the Logger Greenchain," he said. "We are simply not emphasizing the gorilla of the past. We're not asking anyone to erase it from the walls though," he said, adding that the stolen gorilla from the 1970s is still alive and well in Todd Schatz's classroom.

As the story goes, Havre had a plywood cutout of the gorilla on their basketball hoop, which the Logger wrestlers stole after a meet in the mid-70s.

The two schools stole it back and forth until Libby made an exact replica, which they sent to Havre - keeping the original.

Logger wrestling coach Jay Graham said he can see both sides of the argument, but needs to focus more on the wrestlers themselves.

"To me, it's not that big a deal," he said. "But there's also a lot of people who are upset. Now if they tried to get rid of the Greenchain, then that would upset me," he said, adding, "I've got other things to worry about, like trying to get these young guys ready to go."

Germany said LHS wrestlers can still wear their gorilla T-shirts, which are not banned, but the symbol should be reserved for the younger wrestlers.

"It's connected to our Little Guy wrestling program," said Germany. "It's simply not emphasized at the high school, because we're known as the Libby Logger greenchain, we're not known as the Libby Gorillas."

But many, such as Wilson, don't appreciate their history being downplayed.

"It's just one of those things - we've always been the gorilla squad," Wilson said. "Everybody I talk to says, 'What? They're getting rid of the gorilla?'"

"I don't understand the drive behind eliminating it," said Central School teacher Todd Berget. "As a teacher I support the administration in everything, but I've never met a wrestler who didn't think they were anything but a Logger.

I coached for eight years with the varsity and back in the 80s I wrestled," he added. "We've always been Loggers and I've not really heard any concern or confusion about the gorilla."

Many on both sides wonder why the gorilla has caused such a stir.

"There is a lot of wrestling blood in Libby," said Berget. "Most people are going, 'what is the reasoning? Who has that right to eliminate the gorilla, or whatever?'

"To me, it's sad and I don't understand it. We have a lot of things going on in this town and why is this even an issue?"

For now, the gorilla will slowly fade as the LHS Greenchain's symbol of raw power and strength.

England said he will answer any questions the public may have about it.

"I'm open to take any phone calls to clear up any confusion in this," said England. "The tradition is alive and well, we're just putting the emphasis with the Little Guys. We're the Logger Greenchain - we're emphasizing our mascot, which is who we are."