PREP WRESTLING: Post Falls edged by Nampa in title match

POST FALLS — It was a wild Saturday for the host team at the 27th River City Duals at The Arena at Post Falls.

In the semifinals of the Gold Bracket, Post Falls got a pin in its final match to fend off Sunnyside (Wash.) 38-30.

In the championship match, the defending champion Trojans were edged by Nampa 37-36.

“Both of those duals were really awesome,” Post Falls coach Pete Reardon said. “It was a close match, man (in the finals); the atmosphere was really good.”

Nampa won its second River City Duals, and first since 2005. Post Falls was looking for its eighth title in 10 years, and ninth overall.

In the semifinal dual, Sunnyside cut Post Falls’ lead to 32-30 heading into the final match. At 138 pounds, Trojan junior Tanner Piper trailed 7-4 before pinning Jesse Denson late in the first round.

“Tanner he’s a really exciting kid to watch,” Reardon said. “As a coach you’re pulling your head out. He’s one of those kids that lives on the edge; usually the more action in the match, the better for him. He can pull out a win, no matter what the score.”

In the championship dual, Post Falls led 33-13 before Nampa won five straight matches from 113 to 138, three by pin, to take the lead.

“They're really tough in their lower weights, and we thought we had the advantage in the middle and upper weights,” Reardon said. “Duals often come down to bonus points (getting pins, or technical falls, or major decisions instead of decisions), and we left a couple of points there on the board. But our kids wrestled hard.”

Reardon also had praise for sophomore Damion Hamilton (152), one of a handful of Trojans to go undefeated in the tourney.

Lakeland won the Silver Championship, beating Kellogg 47-33. Thunder Ridge downed Timberlake 57-39 for third place.

Pasco defeated Sandpoint 39-36 to win the Tin Championship. Jordan Tyler (195) of Sandpoint went 6-0 with three pins for the Bulldogs.

St. Maries was third in the Bronze Championship, beating Ephrata 39-37.

Next up for Post Falls is the Tiger-Grizz tournament this weekend in Idaho Falls.

GOLD CHAMPIONSHIP

NAMPA 37, POST FALLS 36

152 — Damion Hamilton, PF, p. Kai Sena, 1:41. 160 — Taycen Genatone, PF, p. Braden Morgan, 1:59. 170 — Jonathan Seamons, Nampa, d. Seth Martin, 11-7. 182 — Elijah Kincheloe, Nampa, p. Jason Stone, 3:21. 195 — Kendall Sage, PF, p. Jose Tamez, 2:32.

220 — Kyden Martin, PF, by forfeit. 285 — Xander Scholes, PF, d. Joey Duke, 3-1. 98 — Ryan Hirchert, Nampa, md. Gage Loftin, 10-0. 106 — Matthew Hamilton, PF, p. Ilan Shank, 4:32. 113 — Vincent Contreras, Nampa, md. Logan Loaiza, 12-2. 120 — Aulani Macias, Nampa, p. Jared Wallace, 2:00. 126 — Moses Kelley, Nampa, p. Lucas Anello, 3:10. 132 — Jayden Dodge, Nampa, d. Brandon Felix, 4-3. 138 — Carson Exferd, Nampa, p. Tanner Piper, :45. 145 — Tyson Barnhart, PF, d. Akio Sanders, 7-0.

Cd'A's Tucker, White, Lake City's Leonard win at Rocky Mountain Classic

MISSOULA, Mont. — Junior Colton Tucker (145) and sophomore Rocco White (98) captured individual titles for Coeur d’Alene, which finished third at the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic at Sentinel High.

Tucker went 4-0 with two pins, beating Dylan Delorme of Columbia Falls 8-4 in the championship match.

“He’s a hard worker in practice,” Coeur d’Alene coach Jeff Moffat said of Tucker. “He puts in the time; it’s good to see him having some success. He beat a couple of tough kids in the tournament.”

White went 3-0 with two pins, then won by major decision 11-2 over Trandyn Lundquist of Mead for the title.

“Rocco’s been steady all year,” Moffat said of the Tri-State finalist. “Just doing what Rocco does.”

Ten of the 12 Vikings who entered placed in the top six. Logan Bradley (138) was second, Tanner George (120), Brock Armstrong (152) and Gabe Larsen (160) were third, Mason Rogers (126) and Gabe Grassel (182) fourth, Anthony Browning (170) fifth and Boston Spear (132) sixth.

Mead won with 262 points. Ronan (Mont.) was second with 190.5, and Coeur d’Alene had 175.5.

“Everybody competed really hard, gaining momentum going forward toward the end of the season,” Moffat said.

Lake City junior Garrett Leonard beat Braeden Harvey of Mead 9-3 for the 205-pound title.

“It was probably his best match of the year,” Lake City coach Corey Owen said. “He really dominated that kid and just wrestled well. He’s (Harvey) a lot bigger than him because they wrestle in different weights, but Garrett really handled himself well.”

Lake City finished 10th.

Lake City junior Nathan Booth was second at 152. Other Lake City placers were sophomore Connor Johson (fourth at 120), junior Alden Curto (sixth at 145), junior Cliff Eddington (seventh at 205), freshman James Swanson (eighth at 103), freshman Ashton Duboise (eighth at 113) and, senior Caden Dutra (eighth at 152).

Next up for Coeur d'Alene and Lake City is the TerHark Cup on Thursday at Coeur d'Alene High.

GIRLS

Sandpoint wins at Hellgate tourney

MISSOULA — The final match of the day ended up deciding the winner of the Hellgate Girls Invitational at Hellgate High on Saturday. 

In a North Idaho showdown, Lilli Marti of Sandpoint pinned Hallie Hartman of Bonners Ferry in the third round of the third-fourth place heavyweight match to help the Bulldogs capture the championship trophy.

“Sandpoint came into this morning in third place and just rose to the occasion,” Sandpoint coach Valerie Johansen said. “They each battled physically and mentally today. I continue to be amazed by this group of young women and how well they represent women's wrestling.”

Mackenzee Donenfeld (100) and Emma Garman (120) both notched second place finishes in their respective weight divisions. Izzy Stark (126) finished in third place. All three wrestlers went 2-1 on the weekend. Sylvia Becker (165) took home gold after defeating the only other wrestler in her weight class via pin.

Kara Brown (138) and Brooklyn Anderson (152) won titles for Coeur d'Alene.

Senior Madi Cook (132) and junior Alexxis Johnson (120) won titles for Lake City.

“Those two are probably the hardest working kids in the wrestling room,” Owen said. “They’re both work horses. I’m really happy they’re having some success because they’ve earned every bit of it.”

Bonners Ferry, which finished second, made a class act move after the tournament ended. The team offered Sandpoint a ride home with them after hearing the Sandpoint bus had broken down.

“It was pretty amazing to be on a bus with the top two teams of the tournament, both of which are from North Idaho,” Johansen said.

Sandpoint will dual Lakeland as part of the ‘Battle for the Paddle’ annual spirit competition on Friday. This year’s event will be held at Lakeland High.

    MARK NELKE/Press Post Falls junior Kendall Sage looks to control Andres Graciano-Pulido of Sunnyside (Wash.) at 195 pounds in the semifinal round of the River City Duals on Saturday at Post Falls High. Sage won by pin.

    Courtesy photo The Sandpoint girls wrestling team holds up the championship trophy from the Hellgate Girls Invitational held at Hellgate High this Friday and Saturday. In the front row from left are Mackenzee Donenfeld, Emma Garman, Lilli Marti, Izzy Stark, and Sylvia Becker; and back row from left, Jean Marshall, Kaysha Kimura, Emma Hilton, Hunter Edmondson and Jaya Rosenau.