Belgarde, Winter lead Sandpoint at state tournament
POCATELLO — Garret Belgarde (103 pounds) and Sid Winter (135) each went undefeated to lead Sandpoint on the first day of the state wrestling tournament at Holt Arena in Pocatello.
Belgarde, the No 1 seed, registered two pins in under a minute to earn a berth in the semi-finals today, where he’ll face Blackfoot’s Juan Navarro. Belgarde displayed some of his dominant early-season form, which makes him very dangerous.
“He found that aggression he had early in the season,” said Bulldogs head coach Mike Randles. “Right now it looks like his confidence is back.”
Winter pinned his first opponent in just 28 seconds, before grinding out an 11-10 decision to propel him into the semis, where he’ll face No. 1 seeded Gerald Cervantes (27-2) of Blackfoot.
“Sid knocked off a higher seed,” said Randles of the tight quarterfinal match. “The match went back and forth, and at the end, Sid took control of it.”
Leonard Fister (152) also had a quick first round pin, before a mistake in the quarters proved costly. Fister was leading 5-0 when he got pinned in the first period. He rallied for a 13-1 major decision in the consolation match and remains alive in the hunt for a trophy today.
“He had the match in hand, but he got caught and it cost him,” said Randles of the loss. “He bounced back well in consolation.”
Kyle Csizmar (112) registered a first round pin, before getting pinned by the No. 1 seed in the second round. He bounced back to register a first period pin in consolation, and is the last of the four Bulldogs still alive in the state tournament today.
Jacob Porter (119), Colter Sigman (125), Chris Book (130), Dylan Quigley (160) and Terry Taylor were each eliminated. Taylor and Sigman each suffered close losses. Sandpoint is in 11th place as a team with 33 points.
“A lot of the kids just ran into tough opponents,” said Randles, alluding to the fact there are no easy matches at state.
Action continues today, with the finals slated for 5:30 p.m.
FIRST ROUND
103 — Garret Belgarde, Spt, p. Tyler Bartlett, Wood River, :52. 112 — Kyle Csizmar, Spt, p. Kaden Luper, Jerome, 4:55. 119 — Jackson Blakley, Columbia, md. Jacob Porter, Spt, 11-2. 125 — Cody Agee, Jerome, d. Colter Sigman, Spt, 8-6. 130 — Kaeo Doronio, Mt. Home, p. Chris Book, Spt, 1:54. 135 — Sid Winter, Spt, p. Gerrald Young, Nampa, :28. 152 — Leonard Fister, Spt, p. Henry Russell, Emmett, :37. 160 — Dalton Whiting, Columbia, p. Dylan Quigley, Spt, :41. 285 — Wes Howard, Pocatello, p. Terry Taylor, Spt, 5:31.
SECOND ROUND
103 — Belgarde, Spt, p. Jared Jordan, Nampa, :37. 112 — Tyler Proska, Pocatello, p. Csizmar, Spt, 4:15. 135 — Winter, Spt, d. Bryce Howard, Bonneville, 11-10. 152 — Chris Percy, Blackfoot, p. Fister, Spt, 1:13.
CONSOLATION
112 — Csizmar, Spt, p. Braden Graham, Skyview, :59. 119 — Alberto Ramirez, Minico, p. Porter, Spt, 3:36. 125 — Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, d. Sigman, Spt, 5-3. 130 — Sean McLelland, Pocatello, d. Book, Spt, 7-1. 152 — Fister, Spt, md. Cody McCoy, Jerome, 13-1. 160 — Todd Livingston, Emmett, p. Quigley, Spt, :30. 285 — Ramiro Riojas, Minico, d. Taylor, Spt, 3-2.
n Spartans, Badgers advance two wrestlers into 3A semi-finals
Priest River’s James Hegge (119) and Wayde Rabidue (145) each won their first two matches at state on Friday to advance to the semi-finals today. The Spartans are in contention for a team trophy, sitting in 3rd place our of 25 teams after the first day with 70 points.
Dayne Swisher (140) and Trevor Hampton (135) also each advanced to the semi-finals by winning both of their matches.
The Badgers sit in 14th place, with 31.5 points.