PREP WRESTLING: Seth's setup for Tri-State success

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Post Falls junior Seth Martin never stopped thinking about the next step.

Even when it didn’t look as if his night was going to end well.

And, as it appeared his time in the 170-pound final at the Tri-State Invitational was going to end with a pinfall loss.

Martin reversed Capital senior Ezekiel McEwen in the second period, getting a pin 3 minutes, 56 seconds into the final for his first Tri-State title Saturday night at North Idaho College.

“I was just trying some defenses and my coaches told me to try a move,” Martin said. “And it worked out well.”

Martin beat Hermiston’s Benjamin Larson 7-1 in the semifinals.

“100% I was nervous,” Martin said of the finals. “I prayed before the match and that’s pretty much it. It’s amazing. It’s absolutely astonishing. I did a lot of wrestling over the summer, with camps, practices and tournaments. It feels good.”

McEwen had been unbeaten on the season.

“He was really good with the leg ride, and it was really tough to get out of it,” Martin said. “I just had to roll with it and it worked out.”

Martin was fourth at Tri-State last year.
“I’ve got to look at it with a learning mindset,” Martin said. “I could always do better, win or lose. But I’ve got to continue learning.”

“Seth is always just setting something up,” Post Falls coach Pete Reardon said. “At all times. He’s got some positions that he’s comfortable with that are a little unorthodox for others, but not for him. He’s always looking for that next move, and it’s been something he’s been practicing recently. He’s not afraid to go get it.”

After finishing seventh last year at Tri-State, Coeur d’Alene sophomore Rocco White advanced to the 98-pound final before falling by major decision to Kaden Harding of Orting.

“The first day, I felt great,” White said. “Today, I was confident all the way through the weekend, but just didn’t have a great match in the finals. It happens.”

White was sixth at state last year, also at 98 pounds.

“I just need to keep working hard,” White said. “There’s nothing much you can do against those tall, long kids. I just need to keep working.”

White was the second seed in the tournament.

“Rocco was rock solid all weekend,” Coeur d’Alene coach Jeff Moffat said. “In the finals, he got behind 5-0 and he was a little shell shocked and kind of panicked. He dominated his other matches, but you’ve got to be ready for each guy. But he’s coming along nicely.”

“I don’t really worry much about the seeds,” White said. “I just try to go out and wrestle and let whatever happens, happen. I’m going to use this as a starting point for a good season. There’s definitely more to come.”

Junior Rider Seguine, the top seed at 120 pounds for Post Falls, suffered an injury to his right hand during his quarterfinal match, lost in the semifinals and eventually finished sixth.

"He's a tough kid," Reardon said. "He taped his hand and wanted to go today. He fought like crazy, but it didn't work out for him. He'll be fine going forward."

Senior Tyson Barnhart was third at 145, junior Trey Smith (third at 160), junior Kendall Sage (fourth at 195), sophomore Gage Loftin (fifth at 98), freshman Matthew Hamilton (eighth at 106), sophomore Damion Hamilton (eighth at 152) for Post Falls, which finished third with 209 points. The Trojans were second at Tri-State last year.

“We had a couple of tough quarterfinal and semifinal losses,” Reardon said. “But it wasn’t a thing where the kids didn’t fight hard. Sometimes, you get matched up with some tough ones. I was proud of how our guys wrestled back like that. It just shows some good character with that group.”

Bishop Kelly of Boise, in its first trip to Tri-State, won the team title with 218.11 points, edging Mead of Spokane (211.5), which was seeking its first Tri-State title since 2018.

Freshman Brock Armstrong was sixth at 152, junior Will Rossi (seventh at 113) for Coeur d’Alene, which finished ninth.

“Overall, we could have had six or seven placers, but we had a tough time in the blood round,” Moffat said. “Brock placing at 152 — which might have been the toughest of the tournament — was big. The entire team wrestled tough all weekend. We’re pleased with what we did, and it’s something to build on moving forward.”

Freshman Carson Leonard (fourth at 113) and junior Dylan Scott (fourth at 220) placed for Lakeland, which finished 12th.

Junior Garrett Leonard (third at 195) and junior Nathan Booth (seventh at 160) for Lake City.

Sophomore Wyatt Carey (third at 98) and senior Luke Schell (sixth at 182) placed for Timberlake.

Sandpoint senior Shane Sherill was fifth at 138, junior Jorden Tyler (seventh at 195) placed for the Bulldogs.

Priest River junior Colm McLaimtaig was fourth at 138.

Kellogg freshman Johnny Stovern was eighth at 98.

Senior Trey Gibson (third at 182), sophomore Aiden Yearout (eighth at 160) placed for St. Maries.

"I'm pretty excited for Trey," St. Maries coach Dennis Humphrey said. "He's made huge strides from last season. He has put in the work, and it was a well-earned piece of hardware."

Most Outstanding Wrestler awards went to Josh Neiwart of Mead (132 pounds) and Lane Hedrick of Chiawana (285 pounds).

TEAM SCORES — 1, Bishop Kelly 218. 2, Mead 211.5. 3, Post Falls 209. 4, Orting 203. 5, Tahoma 195.5. 6, Chiawana 146. 7, Lake Stevens 144. 8, University 127. 9, Coeur d’Alene 121.5. 10, Hermiston 109.5. 11, Othello 107.5. 12, Lakeland 97. 13, Belgrade 92. 14 (tie), La Grande, Mt. Spokane 92. 16, Pullman 76.5. 17, Hanford 72. 18, Kamiakin 71. 19, Castle Rock 69. 20, Lewiston 67. 21, Omak 66. 22, Lake City 65. 23, Arlington 62. 24, St. Maries 61. 25 (tie), Moses Lake, Weiser 58. 27, Libby 57. 28, Sunnyside 56. 29 (tie), Central Valley, Deer Park, Tonasket 54. 32, Kellogg 53. 33, Clarkston 52.5. 34, Riverside 51. 35, Burlington-Edison 50. 36, Granger 49. 37, Timberlake 48. 38, Sandpoint 46. 39, Cashmere 45. 40, Grandview 44. 41, West Valley (Spokane) 41.5. 42, Priest River 41. 43, Anacortes 39. 44 (tie), East Valley, Gonzaga Prep 38. 46 (tie), Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls, Wash.), Royal 36. 48 (tie), Cheney, Vashon Island 33. 50, Freeman 30.5. 51, Okanogan 30. 52, Moscow 29. 53 (tie), Capital, Lewis and Clark 26. 55, Colville 25. 56, Reardan 24. 57 (tie), Centralia, Medical Lake 23. 59, Richland 20. 60, Eatonville 19. 61, Grangeville 17. 62, Kelso 15. 63, Bonners Ferry 13. 64 (tie), Frenchtown, Lake Roosevelt, Liberty (Spangle) 12. 67, Newport 8. 68, Selkirk 6.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

98 — Kaden Harding, Orting, md. Rocco White, Coeur d’Alene, 15-3. 106 — Crew Lambro, Tahoma, d. Bragen Anderson, La Grande, 6-4. 113 — Czar Quintanilla, University, d. Dominic Thomas, Orting, 2-0. 120 — Trevor Anderson, Orting, d. Owen Marshall, Tahoma, 3-2. 126 — Evan Bentinez, Grandview, d. Aidan Larson, Hermiston, 5-2. 132 — Josh Neiwart, Mead, d. Jake Castagneto, Bishop Kelly, 6-4. 138 — Quentin Harding, Orting, d. Manuel Valdez, Bishop Kelly, 12-10. 145 — Israel Acosta, Pullman, md. Joe Sullivan, Tahoma, 11-3. 152 — Matthew Martino, Bishop Kelly, d. Jeroen Smith, Mead, by injury default. 160 — Jadon Skellenger, Bishop Kelly, d. Dustin Baxter, Arlington, 10-4. 170 — Seth Martin, Post Falls, p. Ezekiel McEwen, Capital, 3:56. 182 — Cody Northwind, Granger, d. Asa Knutson, Hanford, 9-4. 195 — Jace DeShazer, Libby, p. Kaleb Grove, Weiser, :54. 220 — Brendan Hughes, Mt. Spokane, d. Koen Mattern, Lake Stevens, 4-2. 285 — Lane Hedrick, Chiawana, p. Markus Fetcho, Mead, 1:08.

THIRD-FOURTH PLACE

98 — Wyatt Carey, Timberlake, d. Holten Crane, Bishop Kelly, 3-2. 106 — Cody Westlake, Belgrade, d. Kaden Schaff, Grangeville, 6-0. 113 — Nolan Brown, Belgrade, d. Carson Leonard, Lakeland, 8-4. 120 — Jacob Christianson, Lake Stevens, d. Jesus Campos, Centralia, 5-1. 126 — Mason Gutenberger, Belgrade, d. Juan Hoffman, Kamiakin, 4-0. 132 — Hoyt Hvass, Lewiston, d. Bryan Dickerson, Orting, by injury default. 138 — Daeton Johnson, Chiawana, p. Colm McLaimtaig, Priest River, :32. 145 — Tyson Barnhart, Post Falls, d. Colin McIntyre, Vashon Island, 6-0. 152 — Apollo Cruz, Orting, d. Ivan Acosta, Pullman, 7-1. 160 — Trey Smith, Post Falls, d. Cyrus Comia, Tahoma, 4-3. 170 — Caden Wilson, Hanford, d. Seiya Thompson, Bishop Kelly, 6-0. 182 — Trey Gibson, St. Maries, p. Tayten Cissne, Chiawana, 1:06. 195 — Garrett Leonard, Lake City, md. Kendall Sage, Post Falls, 8-0. 220 — Braeden Harvey, Mead, d. Dylan Scott, Lakeland, by injury default. 285 — Noah Morago-Bigboy, Omak, p. Quinnton Flores, Lewis and Clark, :32.

FIFTH-SIXTH PLACE

98 — Gage Loftin, Post Falls, d. Bodey Schweiger, Riverside, by injury default. 106 — Kaysic Lundquist, Mead, d. Tanner Crosby, Mt. Spokane, 4-1. 113 — Ahmad Banishamsa, Lake Stevens, d. Samuel Valencia, Sunnyside, 3-0. 120 — Troy Valentine, Lake Stevens, d. Rider Seguine, Post Falls, 4-0. 126 — Jake Mescher, Bishop Kelly, d. Mason Russell, Othello, 8-6. 132 — Dawson Bailey, Clarkston, d. Blaine Beard, Central Valley, 4-1. 138 — Shane Sherrill, Sandpoint, d. Logan Utecht, West Valley (Spokane), by injury default. 145 — Toimmy Belding, La Grande, d. Carlos Valdez, Bishop Kelly, by injury default. 152 — Isac Deonigi, Tahomas, md. Brock Armstrong, Coeur d’Alene, 14-5. 160 — Hugh Wheeler, Cashmere, p. Samuel Thomas, University, 1:50. 170 — Benjamin Larson, Hermiston, d. Ridge Kehr, La Grande, 10-3. 182 — Bayden Beard, Central Valley, d. Luke Schell, Timberlake, 3-0. 195 — Trenton Moore, Cheney, d. Joshua Limon-Garcia, Kamiakin, 3-0. 220 — Xavier Cardona, Omak, p. Landon Bolson, Chiawana, 2:40. 285 — Mason Perez, Othello, d. Maximus Ugarte, Hermiston, 3-0.

SEVENTH-EIGHTH PLACE

98 — Trandyn Lundquist, Mead, p. Johnny Stovern, Kellogg, 2:54. 106 — Libby Roberts, University, d. Matthew Hamilton, Post Falls, 5-2. 113 — Will Rossi, Coeur d’Alene, p. Carter Tughan, Tahoma, 1:46. 120 — Chris Lopez Gonzales, Burlington-Edison, p. Ben Sommers, Burlington-Edison, :20. 126 — Cooper Williams, Castle Rock, p. Gavin McCloy, Pullman, 1:37. 132 — Darrell Nanpuya, Omak, md. Taylor Daines, University, 9-1. 138 — Jayson Bonnett, Mt. Spokane, d. Braxton Smith, Mead, by injury default. 145 — Tensei Thompson, Bishop Kelly, d. Michael Fritz, Orting, 3-0. 152 — Jordan Tobias, Chiawana, d. Damion Hamilton, Post Falls, 7-5. 160 — Nathan Booth, Lake City, d. Aiden Yearout, St. Maries, 5-3. 170 — Kash Cobb, Weiser, d. Devin Pierce, East Valley, 7-3. 182 — Brice Cuthbert, Lewiston, d. William Jackson, Gonzaga Prep, 3-1. 195 — Jorden Tyler, Sandpoint, p. Conner Kline, Reardan, 1:18. 220 — Liam Hamilton, Lakeside, d. Micah Burkhart, East Valley, 2-1. 285 — Brooks Knight, Kamiakin, d. Dominic Echeverria, Hermiston, 3-2.

Sandpoint girls second

at Lakeland tourney

RATHDRUM – Sylvia Becker (165) and Lilli Marti (235) both won their respective round-robins to lead the Bulldogs to a second-place finish out of 13 teams at the Lakeland girls tournament.

Becker pinned all three of her opponents on Saturday. In round one, she pinned Tamzyn Feierabend of Coeur d`Alene (0:30); round two, Shariece Vandever of Lakeland (0:41); and in round three, Emma Roberts of Bonners Ferry (0:58). Marti pinned in one of her two matches on Saturday — Hallie Hartman of Bonners Ferry (1:47) — and won her other match via a medical forfeit.

“Sylvia Becker had an incredible day on the mat,” Sandpoint coach Valerie Johansen said. “The entire coaching staff was impressed with her and all our girls today. They continue to work hard each week.”

Isabella Rice (120) and Raylee Reynolds (126) won for Post Falls, and Izzy Davis (145) won for Kellogg.

TEAM SCORES — 1, Bonners Ferry 170; 2, Sandpoint 127; 3, Post Falls 103; 4 (tie), Kellogg, Mead 41; 6, Mt. Spokane 29; 7, Lakeland 25; 8 (tie), Moscow, Timberlake 18; 10, St. Maries 16; 11, Priest River 11; 12, Coeur d`Alene 4. No score – East Valley.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

107 – Nevaeh Therrien, Bonners Ferry, won round robin. 113 – No match. 120 – Isabella Rice, Post Falls, 9-1, p. Emma Garman, Sandpoint, 5-2, 4:23. 126 – Raylee Reynolds, Post Falls, 7-3, d. Matisyn Stiern, Bonners Ferry, 5-3, 5-2. 132 – Sofia Brown, Bonners Ferry, 7-1, p. Shelby Garten, Timberlake, 4-2, 3:32. 138 –  Aubree Graves, Bonners Ferry, won round robin. 145 – Izzy Davis, Kellogg, 8-0, p. Aubrey Wells, Bonners Ferry, 4-2, 1:43. 152 – Savannah Rickter, Bonners Ferry won round robin. 165 – Sylvia Becker, Sandpoint, won round robin. 185 – Eva Willis, Bonners Ferry, won round robin. 235 – Lilli Marti, Sandpoint, won round robin.

THIRD-FOURTH PLACE

107 – Sophia McLain, Kellogg, won round robin. 113 – No match. 120 – Hunter Edmondson, Sandpoint, 5-4, p. Ireland Grady, Bonners Ferry, 5-4, 1:07. 126 – Izzy Stark, Sandpoint, 8-2, p. Alexandrea Schroeder, Lakeland, 3-2, 0:34. 132 – Emma Younger, Post Falls, 7-5, p. Jaya Rosenau, Sandpoint, 2-6, 2:21. 138 –  Kamryn Ellis, Mt. Spokane, won round robin. 145 – Teagan Newsom, Sandpoint, 6-4, p. Abby Thoreifson, Mead, 2-2, 0:52. 152 – Zxyloh Johnson, Sandpoint, won round robin. 165 – Shariece Vandever, Lakeland, won round robin. 185 – Emma Hilton, Sandpoint, by default. 235 – Grace Balch, Sandpoint, by default.

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Post Falls junior Seth Martin attempts to take down Capital senior Ezekiel McEwen during the 170-pound championship match at the Tri-State Invitational on Saturday.
  

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Coeur d'Alene sophomore Rocco White attempts to get out of the grasp of Orting's Kaden Harding during the 98-pound championship match at the Tri-State Invitational on Saturday at North Idaho College.
  

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Coeur d'Alene sophomore Rocco White attempts to throw Orting's Kaden Harding during the 98-pound championship match at the Tri-State Invitational on Saturday at North Idaho College.