Post Falls, Lakeland extend region title streaks

RATHDRUM — Post Falls and Lakeland added onto their division title streaks and Bonners Ferry won its first 3A district title since 2013 on Saturday night at Lakeland High.

Post Falls, the defending state 5A champions, picked up its fifth straight 5A Region 1 title thanks to placing 18 wrestlers — including seven individual champions. Similarly, eight individual champions helped 4A Lakeland continued its decade-long stranglehold over its district.

Meanwhile in the 3A ranks, Bonners Ferry’s district win proved how much of a turnstile the league has become. The Badgers held a slim 231-211 lead over the defending champion Timberlake Tigers, but finished with a little more breathing room by the time the championship rounds ended.

But despite the action, the specter of a new state qualification process loomed over the 5A and 4A divisions. Unlike past seasons, District 1-2 schools earned fewer at-large bids, which made the route to state even tougher.

The 4A schools were hit the hardest. A few Boise-area 5A schools dropped to 4A during the offseason, which cut the number of northern schools’ guaranteed bids in half. Last season, the top two wrestlers, plus an at-large bid would advance; this season, only the champion of each weight class is guaranteed a state berth. The at-large berths for 5A and 4A schools will be determined this morning after a handful of high school wrestling coaches convene in Boise in order to vouch for their athletes. All in all, most athletes will have to wait until Sunday to hear if they are wrestling at state.

Nevertheless, 13 defending district champions and six state champions convened for a jam-packed day of wrestling action, in hopes of punching their tickets to state, scheuduled for this Friday and Saturday at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

5A

If there was any doubt that Post Falls was a wrestling juggernaut, the sheer number of Trojans participating and, most importantly, medaling on Saturday afternoon put those doubts to rest. Over half of the 30 wrestlers Post Falls sent to districts ended up on the podium, giving the Trojans enough roster depth to compete for another state title.

“All of our expectations are to take first [at state],” Post Falls coach Pete Reardon said. “But really our team goal is to reach our fullest potential. Our goal is to do our best, and I think our best is that we could win a state title.”

The Trojans will be led by several state-caliber seniors, but only one can boast a perfect record so far. Post Falls 145-pound senior Ridge Lovett will carry a perfect 36-0 record into the state tournament. He is undefeated in his high school career. And although the pursuit of perfection would be daunting to some, Lovett isn’t fazed by it due to a combination of his previous experience of winning three state titles, preparation and constant competition in practice.

“The streak is cool, but it’s not the end-all thing,” Lovett said. “I’m really just focusing on wrestling my best and keep training right. If I do the right things, the winning will take care of itself.”

Lovett also cited the depth of Post Falls’s roster as a benefactor. Practicing on such a deep team isn’t an easy task; doing so for four years has refined the senior to this point.

“I think I’m pretty good. But I’m not just going into practice to kick kids’ butts,” Lovett said. “I go into practice and have tough goes with everybody. Everyone in our room is tough, and it’s amazing because you have all these good practice partners. We just build each other up.”

Lake City, with five regional champions, will send 12 and Coeur d’Alene, with three, will send 13, while Lewiston will send four wrestlers to state.

4A

On one hand, changes to the at-large bid process didn’t appear to hinder the Lakeland Hawks, who won their 11th consecutive regional title in convincing fashion.

On the other hand, Lakeland coach Rob Edelblute noticed that his team felt more pressure this time around — especially with the Hawks’ logjam of talent.

“This districts was more nerve-wracking than ones in years past because the number-two guy might not even get into state this year,” Edelblute said. “We had a couple of guys falter a bit, but other than that, they all wrestled well.”

No team felt the impact of the state meet changes quite like Lakeland: Four championship match-ups pitted Lakeland teammates together with a state bid on the line.

“For those matches we just sit back and tell them to have fun and be safe,” Edelblute said.

Even though the Hawks have eight wrestlers all set for next week, Edelblute expected to fight for more bids when the coaches convene in Boise this morning. Of the Hawks that are going, Edelblute expects Cage Hendry, Colton Boettger, Sam Williams, and his son Sam Edelblute to make deep runs at state.

As of Saturday night, Lakeland will take eight wrestlers to state, Sandpoint will take four and Moscow will take three. Today’s meetings in Boise could change these numbers, however.

3A

In order for the Bonners Ferry Badgers to win their first district title in six seasons, they needed to go back to the basics.

“These guys were weightlifting at 6:30 a.m. three times a week, constantly drilling each other well in practice and were led by six seniors,” Bonners Ferry head coach Conrad Garner said. “It’s been a team effort from the get-go until now.”

Led by 195-pound senior Gabe See — who Garner said “did an awesome job” defending his district title — the Badgers will take 14 wrestlers to the state meet. Last year’s district champs Timberlake will take 12 wrestlers, Kellogg will send nine and six Priest River wrestlers will go to state.

5A

(Top 3 to state)

TEAM SCORES — 1. Post Falls, 420, T-2. Coeur d’Alene, 305, T-2. Lake City, 305, 4. Lewiston, 137

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

98 — Roddy Romero, PF, d. Tristan Bremer, Lew, 3-1

106 — Caden Hess, LC, d. Braxton Mason, PF, 6-4

113 — Dom Jessos, Cd’A d. Brelane Huber, PF, 3-2

120 — Lane Reardon, PF, d. Devin Sorrelle, LC, 5-0

126 — Isaac Jessen, PF, d. Hunter Schueller, Cd’A, 8-3

132 — Payton Keough, Cd’A md. Ethan Miller, PF, 13-1

138 — A.J. Delarosa, PF, p. Nolan Randles, Cd’A, 2:38

145 — Ridge Lovett, PF, p. Jonathan Hill, PF, 1:55

152 — Gunner Giulio, Cd’A p. Garrett Ashby, Cd’A. 2:44

160 — Tyler Morris, PF, p. Seth Nutting, LC, 2:45

170 — Wyatt Shelly, PF, d. Matthew Whitcomb, LC, 9-4

182 — Zane Monaghan, LC p. Nick Dohm, Cd’A, 4:36

195 — Mahlon Clark, LC, d. Isaiah Laguna, PF, 4-2

220 — Logan Parson, LC, d. Connor Dremann, LC, 5-4

285 — Owen Hughes, LC, p. Jackson Kohal, Cd’A, 1:50

THIRD-PLACE MATCHES

98 — Raji Singh, PF, d. Christian Paniagula, Cd’A, 5.3

106 — Ryan Graves, PF, d. Dylan Moffat, Cd’A, 4-1

113 — Gage Fiamengo, Lew p. Bryce Smith, PF, 2:14

120 — Rome Borley, Cd’A, p. Kyle Lara, Cd’A. 0:22

126 — Jacob Krous, Cd’A, p. Noah Janzen, LC, 1:16

132 — Ricky Thomas, LC, d. Taistan Shaw, PF, 8-4

138 — Nicholas McLeod, PF, p. Ethan Potter, Cd’A, 2:14

145 — Kaleb Strickler, LC, p. Kale Nick, Lew, 2:20

152 — Mathias Delarosa, PF, d. Porter Howard, LC, 5-4

160 — Mitchell Moffat, Cd’A p. Baylor Shong, LC, 0:45

170 — Elijah Mills, LC, p. Damon Shaw, Lew, 1:58

182 — Reuben Thill, Lew d. Tyler Cook, PF, 7-5

195 — Jacob Woody, Lew, p. Kaden Noesen, PF, 2:28

220 — Keith Meeks, PF, p. Jackson Washington, Cd’A, 0:52

285 — Tanner Peterson, Cd’A, p. Austin Portner, PF, 4:40

4A

(Winner to state, top three potential at-large)

TEAM SCORES — 1. Lakeland, 445.5, 2. Sandpoint, 305, 3. Moscow, 234

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

98 — Jordan Birkhimer, Spt p. Payden Wysong, LL, 4:28

106 — Sam Williams, LL, p. Heather Wallace, Spt. 1:19

113 — Tanner Korst, LL, p. Tanner Dickson, Spt, 2:12

120 — Casey Olesen, Spt p. Lucas Williams, LL, 1:38

126 — Sam Edelblute, LL, md. Chandler Axtell, LL, 10-2

132 — Riley Siegford, LL, p. Jake Ryan, Spt, 5:31

138 — Mason Bangeman, Spt, d. Malachi Fleck, Spt, 14-12

145 — Ryan Quimby, LL, tf. Brady Nelson, Spt, 19-2

152 — Cage Hendry, LL, d. Rhonin Edwards, LL, 6-2

160 — Colton Boettcher, LL d. Carson Heim , LL, 3-1

170 — Britton Needham, Mos, d. Curtis Johnson, LL, 11-5

182 — Luke McGreevy, Mos, d. Hunter Oles, LL, 7-0?195 — Taggert Benefield, Spt p. Hayden Berger, LL, 1:50

220 — AJ Fahey, Mos, d. Logan Kearney, Mos, 5-4

285 — Sam Feusier, LL, p. Johnny Sullivan, LL, 2:26

SECOND-PLACE MATCHES

106 — Heather Wallace, Spt, d. Kayelin Otterson, Spt, RULE

113 — Tanner Dickson, Spt, p. Savannah Kidwell, LL, 2:52

120 — Lucas Williams, LL, p. Wen Suko, LL, 0:52

126 — Chandler Axtell, LL, d. Andrew Ston, Mos, RULE

132 — Jake Ryan, Spt, p. Blake Sherrill, Spt, 4:11

138 — Malachi Fleck, Spt, d. Luke Hellem, LL, RULE

145 — Brady Nelson, Spt d. Parker Coon, Spt, 5-3

152 — Rhonin Edwards, LL, d. Dallin Lassen, Mos, RULE

160 — Carson Heim, LL p. Owen McGreevy, Mos, 1:49

170 — Curtis Johnson, LL p. Jesse Hernandez, Mos, 1:14

182 — Hunter Oles, LL, d. Connor Heim , LL, RULE

195 — Hayden Berger, LL, d. Aaron Nickerson, Mos, RULE

220 — Logan Kearney, Mos, d. Cole Clark, LL, RULE

285 — Johnny Sullivan, LL, d. Bennett Marsh, Mos, RULE

THIRD-PLACE MATCHES

113 — Savannah Kidwell, LL p. Daniel Zech, Spt, 3:22

120 — Wen Suko, LL, p. Chase Yaw, Spt, 2:53

132 — Blake Sherrill, Spt, md. Nathaniel Blaker, Mos, 4-2

138 — Luke Hellem, LL, d. Devon Suko, LL, 3-2

145 — Parker Coon, Spt, d. Cameron Vetter, Mos, 11-5

152 — Dallin Lassen, Mos, p. Isaac Webb, Spt, 1:29

160 — Owen McGreevy, Mos, md. Jacob Bracken, Mos, 13-0

170 — Jesse Hernandez, Mos, p. Rick Lewis, LL, 3:55

182 — Connor Heim, LL, d. Jake Suhr, Spt, 5-2

195 — Aaron Nickerson, Mos, p. Jacob Lafollette, LL, 3:00

220 — Cole Clark, LL, p. Matt Thurlow, Spt, 0:44

285 — Bennett Marsh, Mos, d. Dimas Barajas, Mos, 10-3

3A

(Top 3 to state, next highest state-wide seed qualifies)

TEAM SCORES — 1. Bonners Ferry, 263. 2. Timberlake, 236, 3. Kellogg, 172, 4. Priest River, 89

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

98 — Jake Summerfield, BF d. Carter Stepro, Kel, 12-7

106 — Dakota Eixenberger, Kel, p. Austin Madden, BF. 2:18

113 — Evan Barajas, BF, p. Nicky Follini, TL, 1:42

120 — Ethan Guy, Kel, p. Graden Hanes, PR, 3:45

126 — Isaiah Evans, TL, p. Spencer Eby, BF, 2:28

132 — Judson Hall, Kel, d. Brandon Downs, PR, 11-4

138 — Manuel Naccarato, BF, d. Chad Maas, BF, 5-2

145 — Eli Richards, BF p. Louis Powell, TL, 3:46

152 — Caleb Miller, TL, p. Kyle Smith, BF, 2:47

160 — Austin Stepro, Kel, p. Blaine Goodner, Kel, 0:41

170 — Josh Yanez, TL, d. Colby Poe, PR, 4-2

182 — Joey Follini, TL md. Truxton Wilson, PR, 13-1

195 — Gabe See, BF, p. Kaden Scott, TL, 1:03

220 — Aaron Reyes, PR, p. Zachary Miller, BF, 0:23

285 — Trevor Cady, TL, d. Garrett Rickett, TL, 5-1

THIRD PLACE MATCHES

106 — Keith Poiriar, PR, by forfeit

113 — Raymond Heely, Kel, d. Callum Micke, TL, 5-0

120 — Cody Sverdsten, Kel, p. Grady Woodworth, TL, 1:24

126 — Tristyn Frank, TL, p. Hunter Silva, Kel, 0:25

132 — Ethan Jerome, TL, md. Bryan Durette, BF, 8-0

138 — Austin Manty, Kel, d. Kayden Zimmerman, Kel, 9-2

145 — Roman Bisaro, Kel d. Preston Coon, BF, 15-10

152 — Gavin Fuller, TL p. Aeden Carpenter, BF, 0:52

160 — Nathaniel Varelman, BF, d. Jackson Richter, BF, 11-4

170 — Jessie Bradley, PR, p. Connor Underhill, BF, 2:48

182 — Donovan Varelman, BF, d. Ryder Paslay, TL, 6-4

195 — Carson Hudson, Kel, p. Hunter Ranney, TL, 0:54

285 — Isaiah Shottanana, BF p. Robby Bublitz, Kel, 1:00