SHS seniors lead wrestlers to win

SANDPOINT — Six Sandpoint seniors celebrated wins during a spirited Senior Night dual victory over Coeur d'Alene Thursday night at the high school.

Five of the wins came from the Bulldogs' stable of highly-ranked state wrestlers are were wins coach Mike Randles has come to expect. But it was Darren Thompson's pin of J.J. Larson at 145-pounds, two weight classes up for Thompson, that swung momentum Sandpoint's way as they won the last three matches en route to a 40-33 win over the Vikings.

"Darren delivered; he's been known to do that," said Randles of his versatile senior. "He's off the radar; not one of the six guns so we move him around."

Sandpoint's Kyle Meschko scored a pivotal 3-2 decision over Jeremy Zabel in a tactical, grind-it-out win at 160-pounds, each wrestler countering the others attacks.

The Vikings got pins from Grant Turner (275-pounds), Sam Howard (112) and Jesse Nielsen (152), but coach Jeff Moffat said his team getting pinned four times was costly with points at a premium.

"In tight duals you have to stay off your back," he said."It was a fun dual. We had some opportunities to win matches."

Randles also said he expected a tight dual and told his kids beforehand how important bonus points would be, and they took the advice to heart. Alec Ward, Joey Fio, Taylor and Jerod Morris, Thompson, Meschko, Nick Myers, Cliff Csizmar and Jesse Peterson celebrated senior night.

Sandpoint is at Lakeland in a dual of 4A powerhouses next Friday night.

SANDPOINT 40, COEUR d'ALENE 33

215 — Ian Turner, Cd'A, by forfeit. 275 — Grant Turner, Cd'A, p. Jesse Peterson, 1:50. 103 — Timmy Pepperdine, Spt, tf. Andrew Palmer, 18-3. 112 — Sam Howard, Cd'A, p. Jacob Porter, :29. 119 — Alec Ward, Spt, p. Mike Kincaid, 3:08. 125 — Will Hughes, Spt, md. Alex Murren, 12-2. Joey Fio, Spt, p. Pete Miley, :42. 135 — Isaak Lawlor, Cd'A, by forfeit. 140 — Chris Wheeler, Cd'A, d. Cliff Csizmar, 10-5. 145 — Darren Thompson, Spt, p. J.J. Larson, 4:31. 152 — Jesse Nielson, Cd'A, p. Nicolas Myers, 3:22. 160 — Kyle Meschko, Spt, d. Jeremy Zabel, 3-2. 171 — Jerod Morris, Spt, md. Phil Howard, 10-2. 189 — Taylor Morris, Spt, p. Jordan Mowry, 5:56.