Seniors lead Bulldogs into state championships
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Sandpoint senior Scout Nash, pictured facing two-time state champ Larry Johnson of Lakeland, is one of a handful of Bulldogs with state podium aspirations.
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Sandpoint senior Preston Bunty, left, is the No. 5 ranked 152 pound wrestler in the 4A ranks. The steady Bunty has the most wins on the season for the Bulldogs.
SANDPOINT — A trio of state ranked wrestlers will be seeking spots on the podium when the 4A Idaho State Wrestling Championships start today at the Ford Center in Nampa.
Leading the charge will be Owen Stebbins, who is currently ranked No. 4 at 182 pounds by TheIdahoWrestler.com. Stebbins is the lone returning Bulldog to earn a podium spot, finishing sixth last season at 170 pounds.
Scout Nash is ranked No. 5 in the state at 138 pounds, and could be a sleeper if he can stay on the opposite side of the bracket of two-time state champion Larry Johnson from Lakeland.
Preston Bunty (152) is ranked No. 5 in the state, anchoring the Bulldog lineup in the middle with a team-high 34 wins on the season. He’s hoping to add a few more, and finish his high school career standing somewhere on the podium.
Another strong podium contender will be junior Andrew Webster, who has come on strong of late and could be a sleeper in the loaded 170 pound bracket. He claimed a title at the North Idaho Rumble, and despite not being ranked currently, will be one of the wrestlers to beat in his bracket.
Senior Zack Alamillo, junior Hyrum Hunsaker and sophomore Calum Wilcox each won two matches at state last year, and will look to turn that experience into a state medal.
Sandpoint finished fifth as a team last year at state, their best finish in years, which included two state titles by Tyler Presser and Casey Randles. A top 10 finish is within reach.
Action starts today, with the finals slated for tomorrow.