Youthful Bulldog wrestling team ready for a 'rebuilding year'

SANDPOINT — Rebuilding is a word no coach in any sport ever wants to use — as its very definition means to repair, restore or change a program that once was among the best — but most coaches no it’s inevitable.

For the Sandpoint wrestling team and longtime head coach Mike Randles, however, the word is better than the another that has summed up recent years.

“The past couple of years we were surviving, and this is a rebuilding year,” says Randles, who feels the program climbing back to its successful roots. “We’re back to a cycle where experience is coming into the program. We’ve got freshman coming in with five or six years of wrestling behind them.”

Junior captain Lewis Dunton (132 pounds) was part of a committed group that logged some hours training since last season ended, and he’s hoping the hard work will pay off when the Bulldogs take to the mat.

“A lot of the varsity guys are busting their ass in the off-season and it shows,” describes Dunton, who has set a high goal this season. “My goal is the state finals at 132 pounds.”

Dunton and junior Adam Weindl both went to state last year, where Weindl was the lone Bulldog placer at 6th. Randles believes both could make another strong podium run this year.

“Lewis will open some eyes up. His dedication won a handful of matches last year, and he’s just been going, and going and going,” describes Randles. “Adam has athleticism and a competitive nature; he can definitely be a top-three kid.”

Junior Josh Travers (195/220) is athletic and competitive, and his tall frame presents challenges for opponents. Randles hopes junior Chris Bunty (152) makes what he calls “Sandpoint progress,” taking a wrestler that nobody has heard of and putting them on the podium by the time they’re seniors.

Sophomore Tanner McNelley (113) qualified for state as a freshman, and will look to make a podium run this time around.

“He could very well be on the podium. He has experience and isn’t easily rattled,” says Randles. “He’s so competitive, with a genuine desire to get better.”

A strong freshman influx of talent will fight for a number of varsity starts, led by Christian Felton (98), Tyler Presser (130), Jake Williams (160) and Mahonri Hunsaker, each of whom boast plenty of the aforementioned club experience.

Sophomores Dakota Calleen (106), Alex O’Shea (145) and Tyler Brown are part of a young team looking to return to prominence. Randles likes the youth, work ethic and leadership of the squad. He’s hoping to take 9-10 wrestlers to state, all of them underclassmen.

“We have three freshman that might have more experience than the team combined. It’s a breath of fresh air,” admits Randles, noting the next couple years will see even more club experience coming up. “With youth, there is some inconsistency, but it’s rebuilding, rather than surviving.”

Sandpoint opens the season tonight in a dual at Timberlake High School.