SHS places seventh at George Wild Tournament

Nine Bulldogs placed en route to a seventh-place finish at the George Wild Wrestling Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Fleck brothers Isiah and Malachi led the way on the podium, as both placed second in the 160 and 138 lb. divisions, respectively.

Yet this result almost didn’t happen.

Malachi, the younger Fleck, fell behind but battled back and forced overtime for a close 14-12 win over Flathead (Mont.)’s Braden Comer in the quarterfinals.

Fleck’s come-from-behind win set up a semifinal matchup with a familiar foe: Sandpoint senior Parker Coon. Although Fleck won in an 8-5 decision, Coon went on to place sixth in the same weight class.

Coming from behind seemed to be the theme for Sandpoint wrestlers across the board.

Senior captain Casey Olesen had his undefeated season on the line against Clearwater Valley’s Christian Fabbi in the 126 lb. quarterfinals. After sustaining a 4-4 tie for the majority of the match, Olesen rattled off three straight points to win 7-4 by decision. Despite finally getting in the loss column this season, Olesen defeated Lakeland’s Chandler Axtell 2-0 in the third-place match.

Elsewhere, freshman Jordan Birkhimer rebounded from a 10-second tech fall early in the 98 lb. bracket to finish fourth.

Over in the heavier divisions, sophomore Tag Benefield blitzed his first three opponents in the 195 lb. bracket; the Sandpoint football standout opened with a 32-second tech fall, then toyed with Priest River’s Truxton Wilson before cruising to a 10-5 win by decision. Two straight losses amounted to a sixth-place finish.

Rounding out the finishers, sophomore Korder Tonge placed fourth in the 220 lb. bracket.

Sandpoint’s lone win by major decision came courtesy of freshman Daniel Zech, who dominated 17-3 in the first consolation round of the 113 lb. weight class. Zech would later bow out of the bracket in the third consolation round.

Speaking of underclassmen, freshman Tanner Dickson (113) and sophomore Zac Kohal (120) placed sixth in their respective lightweight divisions.

All in all, Sandpoint’s underclassmen carried the team by scoring

A total of 26 Sandpoint wrestlers participated in the event, and 16 of those athletes recorded a pin. Isiah Fleck had finished with a team-high three pins, but Mason Bangeman recorded two in a speedy 59 seconds.

IHSAA 2A member Orofino High School took the team title with 193 points. IEL rival Lakeland placed sixth, edging out Sandpoint 125.5-122. The event featured 12 schools from Idaho and two from Montana.

Sandpoint’s next wrestling event is today at the Timberlake Quad.