SHS sends six to Tri-State

COEUR d’ALENE — A little lighter on returning champions and adding a 15th weight class, the 41st Tri-State Invitational wrestling tournament begins this morning at North Idaho College.

Sandpoint will be taking six underclassmen wrestlers to the two day tournament, arguably the best in the Northwest. Tanner McNelly (113), Lewis Dunton (132), Chris Bunty (160), Adam Weindl (170), Jonathan McCormick (170) and Josh Travers (195) will compete for the Bulldogs. Wendl is seeded No. 6, and as usual, many of the brackets feature multiple state champions vying for the title.

“With our youth, we are sending a partial team to Tri State,” said Bulldogs coach Mike Randles. “This is a tournament that will give our guys a clear idea of where they are and where they need to be if they hope to reach that next level of wrestling.”

Only, Tyler Berger, a two-time champion from Hermiston (Ore.) at 138 pounds, Josh Newberg, a two-time champion from Kelso (Wash.) at 126, and Chandler Rodgers of Mead at 170 return to defend their titles.

“It’s probably the fewest returning champions we’ve had,” tournament organizer and NIC wrestling coach Pat Whitcomb said. “We had a lot of seniors that won last year, but we’ve got a pretty good field overall.”

New to the tournament is the 98-pound category. After being adopted in Idaho last year, it makes its Tri-State debut this year. Washington and Oregon do not have the division, but will have wrestlers compete in it this weekend.

“We thought we’d give it a try,” Whitcomb said. “Nobody’s going to be seeded in it, but it’s going to be a wide-open bracket.”

Mead won the team title last year, with Lewiston finishing second and Post Falls third. Some of the brackets will be brutally tough to navigate.

“The middleweights shape up as the ones to watch out for,” Whitcomb said. “At 138, you’ve got Berger and (John) Kenyon (of Lewiston) and Blaine Invernon (Bonners Ferry) can jump right in there and shake things up. That (138 bracket) is going to be one tough bracket.”

More than 50 high schools will participate in the tournament, which begins at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14. The tournament will continue at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 with finals beginning at 5:30 p.m.

All-session passes are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students.