Randles earns All-American honors at nationals

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint Middle School and Top Dog wrestler Casey Randles earned All-American honors for the second time in three years while competing at USA Wrestling’s Folkstyle Nationals at the University of Northern Iowa last weekend.

Randles posted a 6-1 record on his way to a third place finish in a meet with more than 2,700 of the best youth wrestlers in the nation. He opened the tournament by pinning Missouri’s Josh Puthoff and followed that up with a decision over Jake Warner of Illinois.

After being upended by eventual runner up Trae Pecinovsky of Iowa, Randles reeled off four consecutive victories, including a second period pin over Wyoming state champion Reece Jolley and decisions over Tate Allison of Wyoming and Illinois’s Michael Peterson.

In the consolation finals, Randles secured a first period pin over Emmanuel Jeffrey of Iowa. His third place finish was the highest among all of the Idaho competitors.

“As I told Casey, it would have been awesome to see him win nationals but as both a coach and dad I don’t think I could have been prouder in how he bounced back from defeat and disappointment,” said Sandpoint High School head coach Mike Randles. “Over the past two weeks, his record is 9-0 against some pretty stiff competition following a setback.” 

In a bit of irony, the winner of Randles’ bracket was part of Minnesota’s Pinnacle Wrestling team, coached by none other than former Sandpoint wrestling great Jared Lawrence. Despite 26 mats of action, Randles was able to catch up with Lawrence, a former national champion at the University of Minnesota.

“Jared was an amazing wrestler but might very well be a better coach than he was a wrestler,” said Randles, who was an assistant coach as SHS when Lawrence wrestled. “If not this summer, then next we hope to take a crew of kids to his training facility in Minnesota.”

Randles will compete at the Freestyle Nationals in Orem, Utah, from June 25-27.