STATE WRESTLING: Post Falls pair battles just to get back to state
5A
Trey Smith suffered an infection in his knee at the Rollie Lane Invitational in Nampa in early January.
The Post Falls High junior and 160-pounder visited a local hospital, then came home.
He didn’t feel well on the ride home.
“He was in the hospital for 4-5 days,” Post Falls wrestling coach Pete Reardon recalled. “His season was done. We said ‘Just get healthy; we don’t want you to lose your leg. Let’s get you ready for spring or summer wrestling.’”
Smith had other ideas.
He returned for last week’s 5A Region 1 tournament, won his weight class, and is one of 19 Trojans qualified to compete at the state wrestling championships today and Saturday at the ICCU Dome (formerly Holt Arena) in Pocatello.
Post Falls junior Rider Seguine (120) is a two-time state champion.
But his bid for a three-peat hit a snag in December, when he suffered a broken hand in the semifinals at Tri-State.
“Rider never doubted,” Reardon said. “He said ‘I’ll be back in three weeks.’”
OK, it took a little longer than that, but Seguine returned shortly before regionals, went on to win a regional title and will try for his third title in as many seasons this weekend.
“He’s a tough customer; he fights hard,” Reardon said.
Post Falls has finished in the top three at state 12 straight years, including five state titles in a six-year stretch, the last one in 2020. The Trojans were second last season.
Post Falls figures to be in the title hunt again. Meridian, the three-time defending champion, qualified 19, and Middleton qualified 19.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Reardon said.
Tyson Barnhart (145) was second at 132 at state last year, Smith third at 145, Seth Martin (170) third at 152, Tanner Piper (138) fifth at 138.
Coeur d’Alene qualified 13 to state, including sophomore Rocco White (98), who was sixth at state last year.
“He’s steady, and probably a top-3 at 98,” Viking coach Jeff Moffat said.
Lake City qualified 10 to state, including junior Garrett Leonard (195), who was fifth at state last year.
“Garrett in a very tough weight class; 195 is loaded,” Timberwolves coach Corey Owen said. “He’s wrestling as well as any kid I’ve coached. The defending champ (Meridian's Carson Gooley) is back. If he (Leonard) puts together a weekend, he could win it.”
4A
Lakeland, coming off its 15th regional title in 16 seasons, qualified 15 to state.
Those qualifiers include freshman Carson Leonard (113), whose father, Clint, was a three-time state champion; and junior Dylan Scott (220), who has lost just three times this season.
Junior Jaren Knopp was sixth at 113 in 2023.
Minico is the three-time the defending champion.
Lakeland, led by second-year coach and former Hawk standout Will Edelblute, last brought home a trophy in 2021, when it finished fourth.
3A
Timberlake qualified 15 to state, including sophomore Wyatt Carey (third at state at 98 in 2023), sophomore Paul Sundstrom (fourth at 113) and senior Luke Schell (fourth at 182).
Freshman Wyatt Carey was third at 98 pounds for Timberlake, which finished 11th with 77 points.
Sophomore Paul Sundstrom (fourth at 113), senior Stryker Huston (fourth at 120) and junior Luke Schell (fourth at 182) also placed for Timberlake at state last year.
South Fremont is the three-time defending champion.
2A
Kellogg qualified 17 for state in its second year in the classification. The Wildcats tied for fifth last year with Aberdeen with 101 points.
Among their district champions were senior Kolter Wood (132), sophomore Johnny Stovern (98), junior Ricky Haralson (120), sophomore Chase Scribner (126), senior Jaeger Hall (145) and senior Ramsey Rainio (170). Scribner was third at state at 106, Haralson sixth at 120, Wood third at 126 in 2023.
St. Maries qualified 12 after finishing runner-up in last week's District 1-2 tournament at St. Maries High.
Senior Trey Gibson is 45-4 at 195 pounds.
Lakeside, in its first year with a wrestling program, qualified two to state. Senior Lucky Matt (285) qualified by placing third at last week’s District 1-2 tournament, and junior Layne Morris earned a wild card at 220.
New Plymouth won its second title in three years, also winning in 2021.
GIRLS
Lake City senior Madi Cook (132) finished third at state last year, and “I expect her to be in the finals this year,” T-Wolf girls coach Nathan DeLeon said.
Junior Alexxis Johnson (120) was one round from placing at state last year, and DeLeon said a top-three finish is possible this weekend.
Post Falls sophomore Emma Younger qualified at 120 for the first time.
Coeur d'Alene senior Cara Brown was runner-up last year (152) and sophomore Brooklyn Anderson (152) was fifth.
Eagle has won the first two state titles.
TIME SCHEDULE
Times PST
Friday
6:30-8:30 a.m. — Weigh-ins, all weights
8:30-11:30 — Championship, first round
Noon-3:30 p.m. — Championship, second round; consolation, first round
4-5:30 — Consolation, second round
4 — weigh-in, all weights
Saturday
7:30-9:30 a.m. — Championship semifinals; consolation, third round
10-noon — consolation semifinals
12:15-2 p.m. — placing matches
2:30 — Parade of athletes
3 — Championship finals