Fio tops two state champs in Pasco

PASCO — Forfeiting two and sometimes three weights in each dual, the Sandpoint Bulldog wrestling team stepped up and earned an impressive third-place finish at the 32-team Best of the West championships which concluded Thursday at the Trac Arena.

Sandpoint defeated Newberg, Ore., 39-27 in the consolation finals, after losing to Pasco in the semifinals. In the quarterfinals, Sandpoint downed Tumwater, Wash., 39-33.

"It was probably the gutsiest performance I've had by a team in probably five years," Sandpoint coach Mike Randles said. "They were kicking and scratching for everything they could get. In each match, they were taking it up to a new level."

Joey Fio, coming off a second-place finish at the Tri-State tournament last weekend, beat two-time state champ from Newberg, Ore., and a state champ from Pasco at 125 pounds.

Randles also had praise for the Morris twins, Taylor (171) and Jared (189).

"Basically, every kid in the lineup stepped up," he said.

Sandpoint returns to action Jan. 4 at home vs. Moscow.

QUARTERFINALS

SANDPOINT 39,

TUMWATER 33

103 — Tim Pepperdine, Spt, by forfeit. 112 — James Van Essen, Spt, p. Duray, 1:11. 119 — West, Tum, d. Alec Ward, 9-5. 125 — Chad Spade, Spt, md. Monterni, 12-2. 130 — Allen, Tum, p. Darren Thompson, 4:41. 135 — Joey Fio, Spt, tf. Robbins, 19-4. 140 — Tum by forfeit. 145 — Tum by forfeit. 152 — Alex Watson, Spt, d. Hoagland, Tum, 12-7. 160 — Taylor Morris, Spt, d. Low, 11-5. 171 — Jared Morris, Spt, p. Demery, 3:00. 189 — Tum by forfeit. 215 — Sheldon Cramer, Spt, d. Erskin, :48. 275 — Pulzinski, Tum, p. Peterson, 1:18.

SEMIFINALS

PASCO 46,

SANDPOINT 20

152 — Pas by forfeit. 160 — T. Morris, Spt, d. Wick, 13-3. 171 — Kiehn, Pas, d. J. Morris, 18-16, OT. 189 — Pas by forfeit. 215 — Miles, Pas, d. Cramer, 6-5, 2OT. 275 — Biddle, Pas, p. Peterson, 1:01. 103 — Castro, Pas, d. Pepperdine, 14-6. 112 — Covert, Pas, d. Van Essen, 14-3. 119 — Ward, Spt, p. Carpenter, 1:36. 125 — Fio, Spt, d. Mendez, 10-4. 130 — Spade, Spt, d. Schadler, 10-7. 135 — Borey, Pas, p. Thompson, 3:50. 140 — Pas by forfeit. 145 — Watson, Spt, md. Manzoi, 12-0.

CONSOLATION FINALS

SANDPOINT 39,

NEWBERG 27

171 — T. Morris, Spt, d. King, 7-1. 189 — J. Morris, Spt, d. Libbert, 13-8. 215 — Cramer, Spt, d. Brown, 6-3. 275 — Rustrum, New, p. Peterson, 1:20. 103 — Pepperdine, Spt, p. Stein, 1:27. 112 — Ward, Spt, d. Walker, 8-1. 119 — Van Essen, Spt, p. Cornett, 1:41. 125 — Fio, Spt, d. Eng, 7-3. 130 — Sid Winter, Spt, by forfeit. 135 — Spade, Spt, d. Clint Peebles, 8-7. 140 — Brock Hill, New, p. Thompson, 1:14. 145 — Watson, Spt, d. Sturdevant, 1:48. 152 — New by forfeit. 160 — New by forfeit.