SHS wrestlers ready for state

SANDPOINT — Eight Sandpoint wrestlers, including three with seeds, will be vying for a state medal today when the 5A/4A/3A/2A state wrestling tournament kicks off this morning at Holt Arena.

Junior Matt Lockey, the No. 3 seed at 220 pounds, is the top-seeded Sandpoint wrestler. Head coach Mike Randles calls Lockey as dangerous as they come because of his aggressiveness and explosive style.

Justin Pepperdine is seeded No. 4 at 182 pounds, and will no doubt be hungry to medal in his final attempt at state.

Senior Peyton Dillon is also hoping to grab his first podium spot at state, which will take some hard work as the No. 6 seed in a 120 pound bracket that includes two returning state champions and four returning state placers. Randles said Dillon simply needs to keep doing what he’s done all year and he’ll make some noise.

Some of the 4A teams will feature between 15-20 wrestlers, but such numbers can be deceiving. While Randles would love to have more than eight kids at state, he’s pleased with the quality of the group, which also includes Tanner McNelly (106), Lewis Dunton (126), Troy Goodman (132), Adam Weindl (170) and Josh Travers (195).

“Kids sometimes are able to sneak through districts without really possessing the skills to remotely compete at the state level,” said Randles, noting that is not the case for Sandpoint. “I am confident that each of the eight kids we are taking not only deserve to be there but are capable of collecting wins.”

Action kicks off today at 9 a.m. on the campus of Idaho State University.