Belgarde leads Bulldogs at Clearwater Classic

LEWISTON — Led by four podium finishers, the Sandpoint wrestling team posted a respectable 7th place finish among 29 teams at the Clearwater Classic in Lewiston on Friday and Saturday.

Sandpoint took 11 wrestlers to the tournament, with senior Garret Belgarde scoring three pins and finishing second after falling to Lewiston’s Josh Carlton in the 119 pound championship match. In the semis, Belgarde notched an impressive 16-3 technical fall over Caldwell’s Ariseo Gallego, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the 5A rankings at 119 pounds.

Peyton Dillon (112) scored five wins against two losses, including a decisive victory over Caldwell’s Tony Gonzales, also currently ranked No. 3 in 5A, and finished fifth overall.

Kyle Csizmar (140) also posted five wins against two losses to finish fifth. All five of Csizmar’s wins came by way of fall, including a second period upset against the bracket’s second seed. Matt Lockey (215) posted four wins against two losses to also finish fifth, rounding out the Bulldog placers.

Also collecting wins for the Bulldogs were Jack Carleton, Josh Allen, Josh Wren, Justin Pepperdine, and Troy Goodman. Wren edged teammate Peyton Dillon for the tournament’s quick pin trophy. Wren secured a lightning-quick nine second fall, finishing  three seconds ahead of Dillon.

Sandpoint hosts Lakeland in a telling 4A North dual on Thursday, with the JV meet starting at 5 p.m. and the varsity to follow at 6:30 p.m.

n Team Scores — Lewiston 234.5, Caldwell 230, Mac High 192.5, Shadle Park 151.5, Cheney 140.5, Pasco 126.5, Sandpoint 112.5, Bonners Ferry 106.