Trojans, Hawks, Tigers claim district titles
Post Falls’ A.J. De La Rosa, pictured shooting on Coeur d’Alene’s Payton Keough, scored a 7-1 decision in the 132-pound final, as the Trojans won a whopping 13 finals on Saturday.
Lakeland’s Luke Hellem, top, scored a 9-1 major decision over Sandpoint’s Parker Coon, one of 10 district champions for the Hawks in a dominant showing.
Photos by ERIC PLUMMER Timberlake’s Jeremy McLemore, right, throws Bonners Ferry’s Gabe See in the finals of the 195-pound bracket, as the Tigers won the program’s first district championship.
By ERIC PLUMMER
Bonner County Daily Bee
RATHDRUM — Two half-expected dominating performances at the 5A and 4A levels, and one history-making surprise finish at the 3A level were the highlights of the 5A/4A/3A Region 1, District I and II Wrestling Championships on Saturday at Lakeland High School.
Post Falls won a whopping 13 finals while nearly doubling up Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston to claim the 5A championship, Lakeland did much the same at the 4A level with 10 finals wins en route to its 10th consecutive district title, and Timberlake edged Bonners Ferry to win the 3A title and claim the school’s first ever district championship.
It was all part of a busy day as teams were fighting to secure as many state berths as possible to the Idaho State Wrestling Championships, held on Feb. 23-24 at Holt Arena in Pocatello.
5A
Post Falls showed why they’ll be in the mix to win their third state title in the past four years, as the powerhouse Trojans will take 18 wrestlers to state next week, looking to exact some revenge on Columbia, which spoiled their bid for a 3-peat last year.
Senior Matt McLeod (138) won state titles as a sophomore and junior, and will be looking to join a select list of three-time state champions with a strong final trip to state. He’ll take a level-headed confidence to the mat in his final run, calling it no big deal and just another match.
“Last chance, I’ve got nothing to lose. This is it, if I lose or win, it’s over. It’s just another win. You win, life goes on, and that kind of takes the pressure off,” said McLeod, who likes his team’s chances to contend for another championship. “We’ve been doing super well the last month, our guys are peaking at the right time.”
Trojan head coach Pete Reardon said all his team needs to do next weekend is wrestle like it did on Saturday, essentially wrestling to seed, and the rest will take care of itself.
“Aggressive, scoring points, finishing matches, getting through adversity. Keep it going in a good direction. Eighteen is a great number, and we have six to seven kids with the ability to win it,” claimed Reardon, adding what will be the biggest key to winning state. “Kids competing unselfishly. It’s not just the front guys, you can’t win it with champs. You need a full team and that takes kids being unselfish.”
The Vikings will send nine wrestlers to state, as Sam Reese (113), Hunter Schueller (120), Nolan Randles (126), Payton Keough (132), Nick Dohn (182) and Gabe Zanetti (220) all notched runner up finishes on Saturday.
Owen Hughes lost a tough 1-0 decision in the 285 pound final to lead Lake City, and Zane Monahan (170) and Connor Dremann (195) also finished second, as the Timberwolves will send nine to state.
4A
The last team from the North to win a 4A state championship was Sandpoint in 2003, and the last time Lakeland won a state title was in 1989 at the 3A (then A-3) level. Rob Edelblute and the Hawks would love to update both of those lists, and if Saturday’s showing is any indication, have a squad to make a legit run.
Lakeland had 10 wrestlers claim titles, led by Alex Edelblute (106), Sam Edelblute (113), William Edelblute (126) and Larry Johnson (145), each of whom will be a favorite to win titles next weekend.
Johnson is looking to join a rather elite club, vying to become just the third 4A wrestler ever to be a four-time state champion. He called the chance to win a fourth state title bittersweet, as it means an end to his high school career.
“This is a special moment. I’ve been doing this my whole life. I’m more excited than nervous,” admitted Johnson, who still has to handle his business in the final go around. “Make sure I’m in the match mentally and physically. I’ll be prepared and ready for anything that comes my way.”
Rob Edelblute has now coached Lakeland to 10 straight district titles, building a strong program looking to improve on last year’s third place state finish. The Hawks are taking 16 wrestlers down, with the possibility for five more at-large berths, and it’s a more seasoned squad.
Edelblute said the district meet panned out how they felt it would, and making a run at a state title is all about getting big numbers of down there.
“Minico has 24 kids, and they’re the favorite. Last year we had seven kids who went two and out, and I don’t think that’s going to happen,” said Edelblute, who knows catching Minico will be a tall task. “They realize they’re going to have to contribute. It takes a team effort, but anything is possible.”
Sandpoint will send eight wrestlers to state, led by Hyrum Hunsaker (170) and Andrew Webster (182). Webster exacted some revenge over Moscow’s Andrew Schwendiman in the finals, winning a 15-5 major decision after falling in the previous two meetings this season.
3A
Kelly Amos started the Timberlake wrestling program in 1998, so it was only fitting that after returning to the helm four years ago he would lead the Tigers to their first ever district wrestling championship, edging Bonners Ferry 282-273 in a tightly contested 3A battle.
Timberlake finished with six champions, including seniors Ian Broxson (152), Connor Yanez (195) and Reise Peightal (285), and will send 14 wrestlers to state next weekend.
Amos was happy to see the program finally break through in its 20th season.
“It means a lot to me, and it’s a big deal to us. I talk about culture a lot,” he said. “What got us this title was the seniors, who sealed the deal. It’s great to see the seniors come through and carry our team.”
Amos has what he believes are three finalist-type kids, and another three capable of getting into the medal rounds, but admits it will take the other eight kids stepping up and scoring to make a run at a team trophy.
“We’re a lot of sophomores, and they’re a game group,” said Amos. “They wrestle hard, we’ll be fine down there.”
Bonners Ferry will take 15 wrestlers, Priest River eight and Kellogg six to state on Friday and Saturday in Pocatello.
5A
(Top 3 to state)
TEAM SCORES — 1, Post Falls, 411.5. 2, Coeur d’Alene, 208. 3, Lewiston, 204. 4, Lake City, 153.
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
98 — Roddy Romero, PF, tf. Braxton Mason, PF, 17-0.
106 — Lane Reardon, PF, d. Jacob Engels, Cd’A, 7-0.
113 — Isaac Jessen, PF, p. Sam Reese, Cd’A, 1:57.
120 — Jordan Grimm, PF, md. Hunter Schueller, Cd’A, 11-0.
126 — Ridge Lovett, PF, d. Nolan Randles, Cd’A, by forfeit.
132 — A.J. De La Rosa, PF, d. Payton Keough, Cd’A, 7-1.
138 — Matt McLeod, PF, d. Tanner Hutchens, Lew, by forfeit.
145 — Jason Burchell, PF, d. Mathias De La Rosa, PF, by forfeit.
152 — Wyatt Shelly, PF, d. Tyler Morris, PF, by forfeit.
160 — Braydon Huber, PF, md. Max Hill, Lew, 12-3.
170 — Coleton Kazmierczak, PF, tf. Zane Monaghan, LC, 16-0.
182 — Lance Lorang, Lew, d. Nick Dohm, Cd’A, 9-8.
195 — Reuben Thil, Lew, p. Connor Dremann, LC, 1:31.
220 — Quin Bennett, PF, d. Gabe Zanetti, Cd’A, 4-0.
285 — Terran Sharbrough, PF, d. Owen Hughes, LC, 1-0.
THIRD-PLACE MATCHES
98 — Gage Fiamengo, Lew, p. Miner Wild, Cd’A, 1:28.
106 — Brelane Huber, PF, d. Demittio Morales, Lew, 5-0.
113 — Owen Hemphill, Lew, p. Rome Borely, Cd’A, 1:31.
120 — Devin Sorrell, LC, p. Ethan Miller, PF, 1:26.
126 — Nicholas McLeod, PF, d. Jacob Krous, Cd’A, 4-0.
132 — Cade Hendren, Lew, p. Tristan Shaw, PF, 2:50.
138 — Mathew Whitcomb, LC, p. Garrett Ashby, Cd’A, 4:05.
145 — Mitchell Moffat, Cd’A, d. Hunter Fliger, Lew, 5-3.
152 — Max Peressini, Cd’A, p. Zack Taylor, Lew, 2:41.
160 — Seth Nutting, LC, p. Klayton Hindberg, Cd’A, 1:50.
170 — Elijah Mills, LC, d. Challis Adams, Lew, 7-5 (OT).
182 — Kyle Cook, Lew, d. Ethan Carpenter, Cd’A, 4-1.
195 — Mahlon Clark, LC, p. Kaden Noesen, PF, 2:44.
220 — Jared Dykes, Lew, by forfeit.
285 — Cooper Brown, LC, d. Austin Tipton, PF, 9-4.
4A
(Top 2 to state, plus at-large)
TEAM SCORES — 1, Lakeland, 437. 2, Moscow, 211. 3, Sandpoint, 199.5.
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
98 — Tanner Korst, LL, p. Andrea Taylor, LL, 1:10.
106 — Alex Edelblute, LL, p. Heather Wallace, Spt, 1:04.
113 — Sam Edelblute, LL, md. Casey Olesen, Spt, 16-3.
120 — Shane Spence, Mos, p. Riley Siegford, LL, :42.
126 — William Edelblute, LL, p. Jake Ryan, Spt, 2:50.
132 — Luke Hellem, LL, md. Parker Coon, Spt, 9-1.
138 — Ryan Quimby, LL, p. Brady Nelson, Spt, 1:51.
145 — Larry Johnson, LL, md. Cage Hendry, LL, 13-5.
152 — Colton Boettcher, LL, d. Logan Siegford, LL, 8-4.
160 — Logan Kelley, LL, d. Britton Needham, Mos, 5-4.
170 — Hyrum Hunsaker, Spt, tf. Curtis Johnson, LL, 16-1.
182 — Andrew Webster, Spt, md. Andrew Schwendiman, Mos, 15-5.
195 — Nathanael Dansereau, LL, p. Aaron Nickerson, Mos, :30.
220 — Adam Wallace, Mos, d. Lucas Gardner, LL, 6-0.
285 — Evan Stickelmeyer, Spt, p. Dimas Barajas, Mos, :31.
3A
(Top 3 to state, plus at-large)
TEAM SCORES — 1, Timberlake, 282. 2, Bonners Ferry, 273. 3, Priest River, 137. 4, Kellogg, 121.
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
98 — Brayden Herbert, TL, p. Dakota Eixenberger, Kel, 5:34.
106 — Evan Barajas, BF, p. Chance Madden, BF, :39.
113 — Taylor Bush, Kel, d. Tyler Beazer, BF, 8-7.
120 — Isaiah Evans, TL, p. Brandon Downs, PR, :51.
126 — Juddson Hall, Kel, p. Ethan Jerome, TL, 1:37.
132 — Jesse Campbell, Kel, d. Manuel Naccarato, PR, by forfiet.
138 — Riley DeMent, PR, md. Denton Eby, BF, 13-5.
145 — Larry Naccarato, PR, d. Caleb Miller, TL, 7-6.
152 — Ian Broxson, TL, p. Blaine Goodner, Kel, 3:22.
160 — Jesse Sandelin, BF, p. Josh Yanez, TL, 5:25.
170 — Joey Follini, TL, p. Jessie Bradley, BF, 2:33.
182 — Connor Yanez, TL, p. Donovan Varelman, BF, :41.
195 — Gabe See, BF, p. Jeremy McLemore, TL, 3:38.
220 — Aaron Reyes, PR, p. Shayne Walker, BF, 2:13.
285 — Reise Peightal, TL, p. Larry Hoehne, BF, :17.
THIRD-PLACE MATCHES
98 — Austin Madden, BF, by forfeit.
106 — Graden Hanes, PR, p. Brianna Davis, TL, :41.
113 — Devin Nessel, PR, by forfeit.
120 — Lucas McDonough, TL, p. Mason Knapp, BF, 1:48.
126 — Ben Tadlock, BF, d. Grant Merritt, BF, 11-8.
132 — Chad Maas, BF, d. Noah Herbert, TL, 8-6 in OT.
138 — Trey McCorkle, TL, d. Austin Manty, Kel, 12-10.
145 — Austin Stepro, Kel, p. Orion Trask, Kel, :27.
152 — Preston Coon, BF, md. Nathaniel Varelman, BF, 12-4.
160 — Truxton Wilson, PR, p Ryder Paslay, TL, :23.
170 — Andrew Cazier, TL, p. Connor Underhill, BF, 2:02.
182 — Taiga DeLeon, BF, p. Hunter Ranney, TL, 4:31.
195 — Dustin Carlson, TL, by forfeit.