Randles, Brown pace Bulldogs at state wrestling

SANDPOINT — It’s been a steady climb back to the upper echelon of the state wrestling ranks for Sandpoint, which posted its strongest showing at state in years last weekend in Pocatello, with one champion and three runners up. For the program, long one of the best in the state, it could just be the start of things to come.

Sophomore Casey Randles led the way with a state title at 170 pounds, and the elite high school wrestler is well on his way to becoming the latest in a long line of three-time state champions at Sandpoint. Randles and his coach/dad Mike shared a rare and special embrace after the championship match, the culmination of a lot of early morning and after school workouts.

“Despite being an underclassmen, anything less than a state title this year probably would have felt like a disappointment to Casey,” said Mike Randles. “He came into the championship match with a lot of confidence and aggression, securing a double-digit lead before getting the pin in the second period. Anyone familiar with Casey’s work ethic knows that that title is very much deserved.”

Going in to state Randles emphasized two key points to his team. First, Sandpoint traditionally tends to wrestle well at state. Second, guys who put in the extra work tend wrestle especially well at state. The team took the words to heart.

Perhaps the best illustration of both points came from senior Tyler Brown, who entered the 220 pound bracket unseeded before blazing his way to the finals, where he lost by one point in a match that could have gone either way. Randles said Brown exceeded everyone’s expectations, except those who know the competitive spirit he brings to the mat.

“Tyler may be the ultimate example of what happens when you believe in yourself, rather than concerning yourself with the limiting beliefs of others,” described Randles, noting Brown had to fight out of potential pins in the semis to upset the No. 2 seed. “Not only did he fight off his back but he fought back to secure a third period pin and advance to the state finals, where he came oh-so-close to claiming a state title.”

Tyler Presser entered the season on nobody’s radar, before ending it as the runner up in the 160 pound bracket. A day didn’t pass in the practice room when he and teammate Tanner McNelley didn’t fight for every inch. Presser earned the No. 1 seed, and save for an injury, was on his way to a state title.

“In the state finals, he lifted his opponent and returned him to the mat pretty aggressively. He took a 4-0 lead on the move but both kids required injury time,” recounted Randles. “Tyler tried to continue to wrestle but simply couldn’t use his right arm after taking the lead.”

The last of the second place finishers was junior Jake Williams, who lost to his nemesis Killian Estes from Lakeland in the 195 pound final. Williams beat Estes in the final home dual, then lost a hotly-contest final at districts, and it was clear then that they could very well meet again. The two 4A North wrestlers were the top two seeds at state, and took care of business to set up a final showdown on the season.

“Jake is now a two-time state placer and like his fellow state qualifiers, his work ethic in the practice room paid off at the right time and will continue to pay off,” said Randles. “In the semis, he wrestled a smart match against a well-conditioned competitor from Kuna.”

Senior Tanner McNelley rounded out the Bulldog state placers with a fourth place finish at 145 pounds. Unseeded, McNelley wreaked havoc on his bracket with four wins against two losses, ending his high school career on a high note.

“Tanner’s losses came to the eventual state champ and the original No. 2 seed,” said Randles. “His four wins came as the result of really smart, controlled wrestling.”

The Sandpoint program fell on hard times, at least by their standards, a few years ago, and have steadily built it back to relevance. With a host of underclassmen making their mark and an influx of young talent coming up the ranks, the upward trend figures to continue.

One thing that has never wavered, is the blue collar approach.

“The guys who got on that bus did Sandpoint proud, fighting every second they were on those mats,” said Randles. “Four for four in the semis says a lot about the mental toughness these guys brought to the mat.”