Belgarde leads Bulldog wrestlers at Tri-State tournament

COEUR d’ALENE — Defending champion Garret Belgarde pinned his first three opponents Friday to lead Sandpoint at the 38th Annual Tri-State wrestling tournament at North Idaho College, which features  more than 40 teams from around the northwest.

Sandpoint sent six wrestlers down to compete and won a handful of solid matches.

Belgarde, the defending champ at 103 pounds, moved up to 112 and pinned his first three opponents just over five minutes of work. He fell 11-9 in the quarterfinals to drop into the consolation bracket.

Payton Dillon (103) pinned his first opponent in 1:29, was then pinned in his second match, before rebounding to win 6-3 in consolation.

Kyle Csizmar (119) pinned his first opponent in :55, before getting pinned in the second round to drop into consolation.

Leonard Fister (160) pinned his first opponent in 1:30, before falling 12-6 in the second round, dropping into consolation. David Marienau (145), Dylan Quigley (152) and Pat Charland (160) each lost twice on the first day, which was still in progress at press time.

Semifinals will begin Saturday at noon, with the finals tentatively set to begin at 5 p.m.