Libby's last 3-time champ, JR Rebo, happy to get company at the top

J.R. Rebo has fond memories of his three-peat while wrestling for the Libby Greenchain and was more than pleased to see Jace DeShazer equal his record in 2024.

“It’s great to see he got there,” Rebo said in an interview with The Western News. “I’m a little bummed it took 20 years for another Greenchain wrestler to win three, but hopefully there’ll be more. 

“I take my hat off to Jace, he’s very goal-driven and to go undefeated, win Tri-State and win state in one year, not many do that.”

Rebo, who is sixth on the all-time wins list with 126, said he was able to coach DeShazer a little bit in middle school.

“But I take no credit for what he’s done,” Rebo said. “His dad worked with him, took him to a lot of tournaments and he’s had great coaches here.”

Rebo said it was similar for him two decades ago. 

“My dad took me all over and it made a big difference,” he said. 

Rebo’s goal was to win three titles after he learned it hadn’t been done before.

“The board on the wall just outside the gym in the high school wasn’t there when I wrestled,” Rebo said. “There was a lot of hearsay about who was good from the coaches and wrestlers, but when I found out there hadn’t been a three-time champ, that’s what I wanted.”

Rebo said former coaches Jay Graham and Todd Berget put the display up sometime after Rebo won his third title. It was a way of honoring past wrestlers and inspiring future grapplers.

Rebo was away from competitive wrestling for a bit before his wife, LaRona, became pregnant with their son, 7-year-old Ryder. 

“Officiating was the best way for me to get back into wrestling,” JR said. 

Rebo recently completed his eighth year officiating wrestling. Now he’s busy helping the Little Guy program as they get set to host the Kootenai Klassic at the high school Saturday.

He and LaRona’s 4-year daughter, Renleigh, will be wrestling along with Ryder.

“The Greenchain is a legacy well beyond any one wrestler,” Rebo said. “It’s ingrained in this community and it’s just a great feeling!”

Part of the legacy are the former wrestlers and coaches that have had a major impact with the Greenchain program, including Kurt Spencer, Dean Thompson and Justin Graham.

Spencer was a champion in 1972 while Graham won the gold in 2006 and is 11th all-time in wins at Libby with 114.

“I feel the program is getting stronger,” Dean Thompson said. “We tell the kids it’s all about putting more work in during the offseason.”

The fifth-year head coach compared his son, Trey, to DeShazer in the way they welcomed and helped younger wrestlers.

"Jace and Trey wrestled each other when they were much younger," Thompson said.

Spencer officiated his last state wrestling tournament in Billings three weeks ago while Trey Thompson officiated his first state tournament. They and Dean, a former official, were able to get together for a photo, celebrating the legacy of the Greenchain.