Bulldogs battle Montana teams in tri-dual

SANDPOINT — Senior Mahonri Hunsaker (152 pounds) and junior Casey Randles (182) each went 3-0 on Saturday, as Sandpoint went 1-2 in a tri-dual in Kalispell, Montana on Saturday. 

The Bulldogs (4-2) edged Columbia Falls, and lost to Eureka and Flathead High Schools. Sandpoint wrestled under Montana weight classes, which are different than Idaho’s, so the Bulldogs were lighter in several of the weight classes.

Preston Bunty (138), Scout Nash (126) and Elijah Guthrie (160) each won two matches, as the Bulldogs got to square off against three formidable opponents.

Kalispell has multiple state ranked kids, including the top ranked at 120, who defeated August Johnson, and second ranked at 145 who caught Tanner Kohal in what was otherwise a great match that could have gone either way. Their 160 pounder was the second ranked in the state as well, defeating Sandpoint’s Eljah Guthrie in what was probably the best match of the entire day. Casey Randles won by tech fall against a wrestler ranked No. 3.

“Overall we shifted line ups in all three duals, hoping to get a few JV some varsity mat time,” said Bulldog head coach Mike Randles. “In the short run, it may have cost us but will hopefully pay off in the long run as those kids gain confidence on the bigger stage.”

Sandpoint rotated at 98, 145, 170, and heavy as well as using JV guys in all three duals at 113 and 205 pounds. All three matches were close.

Randles lauded the wrestling of Cal Wilcox (205), a relatively inexperienced wrestler for whom the coaches have great expectations, who was dominating Eureka’s 205-pounder when he got just out of position enough to go to his own back. Like all losses, it serves as experience moving forward.

Sandpoint will face Moscow on Wednesday at Lakeland High School.

n FLATHEAD 39, SANDPOINT 27

{103} Hunter Rush (Flathead) over Casey Olesen Fall :40.

{113} Cody Deval (Flathead) over Mason Bangeman Fall :39.

{120} Trae Vasquez (Flathead) over August Johnson Tech Fall.

{126} Scout Nash over Jaden Macheel (Flathead) Major Decision.

{132} Kenyon Fretwell (Flathead) over Tucker Hall Major Decision.

{138} Preston Bunty over Finn Sulivan (Flathead) Tech Fall.

{145} Payton Hume (Flathead) over Tanner Kohal Fall 3:00.

{152} Mahonri Hunsaker over Nate Sommers (Flathead) Fall 3:39.

{160} Tucker Nadeau (Flathead) over Elijaha Guthrie Fall 5:29.

{170} Tyler Presser over Matt Gash-Gilder (Flathead) Major Decision.

{182} Casey Randles over Logan Wilson (Flathead) Tech Fall.

{205} Payton Boyle (Flathead) over Calum Wilcox Fall 1:21.

{HWT} Justin Hobson over Dalen Duren (Flathead) Decision.

n EUREKA 42, SANDPOINT 33

{103} Casey Olesen won by forfeit.

{113} Josh Goff (Eureka) over Micah Holub Fall 2:54.

{120} Kanden Bakkila (Eureka) over August Johnson Fall 1:24.

{126} Scout Nash won by forfeit.

{132} Tucker Hall over James Fehr (Eureka) Fall 1:30.

{138} Josh Smith (Eureka) over Preston Bunty Fall 3:44.

{145} Cannon Smith (Eureka) over Hyrum Hunsaker Fall 5:46.

{152} Mahonri Hunsaker over Jarrett Peckora (Eureka) Fall 3:33.

{160} Elijaha Guthrie over Colby Hammack (Eureka) Decision.

{170} Garrett Graves (Eureka) over Tyler Presser Fall 4:27.

{182} Casey Randles over Joe Fehr (Eureka) Fall 1:19.

{205} Sam Johnson (Eureka) over Calum Wilcox Fall 2:39.

{HWT} Kaelan Yanak (Eureka) over Justin Hobson Fall :47.

n SANDPOINT 33, COLUMBIA FALLS 30

{103} Parker Coon won by forfeit

{113} Winfield West (Columbia Falls) over Mason Bangeman Fall 1:23.

{120} August Johnson over Ayden Role (Columbia Falls) Decision.

{126} Ben Windauer (Columbia Falls) over Scout Nash Decision.

{132} Hunter Peterson (Columbia Falls) over Tucker Hall Decision.

{138} Preston Bunty over Nathan Hader (Columbia Falls) Decision.

{145} Mason Fetters (Columbia Falls) over Hyrum Hunsaker Fall 1:23.

{152} Mahonri Hunsaker over Colton Sweeney (Columbia Falls) Fall 5:27.

{160} Elijaha Guthrie over Troy Meyer (Columbia Falls) Fall :21.

{170} Owen Stebbins over Storm Kemppainen (Columbia Falls) Decision.

{182} Casey Randles over Miguel Garate (Columbia Falls) Fall 1:28.

{205} Jaice Freeman (Columbia Falls) over Calum Wilcox Fall 1:00.

{HWT} Tyler Koski (Columbia Falls) over Zach Alamillo Fall 3:00.