Bulldog wrestling looking to return to its former roots

SANDPOINT - Not only did head wrestling coach Mike Randles take a one-year hiatus last season, but so did the tried and true style that has defined Sandpoint wrestling for the last 15 years.

Randles, who stewarded the program in the early part of this decade stepped down last year, and head coach Kirk Hartzell tried to instill a new way of doing things. So Randles returns this season to try and reestablish the old-school Sandpoint brand of wrestling.

"For better or worse, it went a different direction," said Randles of the program last season, adding he hopes to get the team back to the fundamentals. "I want to make sure the kids who've been in the program don't suffer for the coaching changes, and to create a foundation that puts Sandpoint wrestling back on the map."

Leading the Bulldogs this season is senior 140 pounder Sid Winter, who finished fifth at state last season, the Bulldogs' lone returning state placer. He's hoping his experience, and not being so nervous at state, will lead him to a state championship.

Four other wrestlers return with state experience in Colter Sigman (119), Garret Belgarde (103), Leonard Fister (160) and Terry Taylor (215). Randles praised Sigman as one of the few kids that participated in the off-season wrestling program, hoping that pays dividends this year.

New to the program this year is Will Bellagontaine, 145 pound transfer from Louisiana. He's a two-time state placer in Louisiana, and Randles expects him to be one of the key contributors this season.

He also expects big things from Taylor and Belgarde, both of whom were one match away from placing at state last season.

"I'm looking for those guys to lead by example," said Randles. "We run a challenging program and wrestling is a tough sport. We try to turn it up a notch up here (Sandpoint)."

One thing is certain with a Randles-led team, they will be well-conditioned and ready to grind when they take to the mat.