Sandpoint's Belgarde third at Minico tourney

RUPERT — Sandpoint sophomore Garret Belgarde, the No. 1-ranked 103 pound wrestler in the state, suffered his first loss of the season Saturday, finishing third to lead Sandpoint to a 13th-place finish at the 26 team Red Halvorson Memorial Invitational.

Belgarde lost by technical fall to Mac Buhrley of Centennial in the semis, making some tactical errors on the mat that proved costly.

“He came out and tried to muscle the kid and got put on his back; and that happened again and again,” said Sandpoint coach Mike Randles, noting that Buhrley, who won in the finals, is an All-American wrestler. “It was a panic and desperation deal more than anything.”

Belgarde bounced back to score a 7-3 decision over Borah’s Ryan Slater in the third place match.

Colter Sigman (125) placed fourth, losing 9-3 to Kyle Vandever of Lewiston in the third-place match.

“He’s wrestling really solid, knocking off the fourth seed to place,” said Randles of Sigman. “It helps put him in a position to possibly medal at state.”

Kyle Csizmar (112) finished sixth to round out the Bulldogs’ placers, and Sid Winter (135) and Leonard Fister (152) were each one match away from placing. Pocatello won the tournament, edging Highland by 10 points.

Sandpoint hosts Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday.