Naccarato scores thrilling win at district wrestling
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Larry Naccarato scored a wild 7-6 win in the district championship on Saturday. He’ll be one of eight Spartans in action this weekend at state.
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Dausen O’Brien and the Spartans will face Bonners Ferry in a loser-out game today at 4:30 p.m. at North Idaho College.
n Spartans qualify eight wrestlers into 3A state tourney
RATHDRUM — A thrilling win by senior Larry Naccarato (145) and a pair of dominating performances by Riley DeMent (138) and Aaron Reyes (220) led the Spartans to a third place finish at the 3A District I-II wrestling championships on Saturday at Lakeland High School.
All told the Spartans will take eight wrestlers to state this weekend, with a handful vying for state medals.
The match of the day on the 3A mat at districts came when senior Larry Naccarato scored a thrilling 7-6 win over Timberlake’s Caleb Miller in the 145 pound final. Trailing by three late in the third period, Naccarato scored a late reversal and near fall in the final seconds, stunning Miller to earn the win.
An excited Naccarato, sporting a black eye, explained the key to victory.
“Having quick hips and listening to my coaches,” said Naccarato, who would love to make the state podium in his final attempt.
“My goal is to get in the top six at state and medal.”
Naccarato’s exciting win set off a celebration by head coach Jesse Hellinger, who was fired up by the spirited comeback.
“That was all heart and effort right there. What a match, that’s what you get in wrestling,” said Hellinger. “No quit in (Naccarato), wrestled until the end. That’s what’s beautiful about the sport of wrestling.”
DeMent is getting ready to sign to wrestle next season at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Hellinger said DeMent (138) and Reyes (220) will be among the favorites in their brackets after both placing fourth last year.
“They’re both state contenders,” said Hellinger.
“They have state experience, been there, done it.”
Junior Brandon Downs (120) is a two-time state placer who will look to keep his chances alive of joining the aforementioned four-time Spartan placers. Hellinger hopes his charges raise their game on the state mat.
“Take it up one more notch,” he said. “Wrestle hard, and keep mistakes down.”
The 3A state meet is Friday and Saturday at Holt Arena in Pocatello.
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.
n Spartans fall to Wildcats in district tourney opener
COEUR d’ALENE — The top-seeded Wildcats (16-3) scored the game’s first 23 points, and kept the Spartans (2-19) scoreless into the second quarter on Monday night in the 3A Region 1 boys basketball tournament at North Idaho College.
Chase Jerome scored 12 points for Kellogg, a nice passing bunch which saw all 11 players score.
Dylan Johnson scored five to lead the Spartans, who struggled for offense in the unfamiliar confines of Rollie Williams Court and finished the first half with just three points.
Kellogg will play Timberlake in the championship game Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. at NIC. Priest River will face Bonners Ferry in a loser-out game Wednesday at 4:30.
Priest River 0 3 7 4 — 14
Kellogg 14 28 16 9 — 67
PRIEST RIVER — Hegel 4, O’Brien 1, Johnson 5, Anselmo 0, Downs 0, McCracken 4, Brennan 0, Salesky 0, Thompson 0, Lucas 0, Bell 0.
KELLOGG — Gibbons 9, Samuelson 8, Jerome 12, Atkins 2, Mueller 6, Bumgardner 7, Nearing 8, Jennings 3, Finlay 2, Morgan 4, Luna 6.
n Kellogg 71, Priest River 36
PRIEST RIVER — It was a tough Senior Night for the Spartans, who lost 71-36 to the Wildcats in a regular season finale.
Chase Jerome scored 12 to lead the Wildcats (6-0 IML), who used a 27-6 second quarter to break open the close game.
Keegen Hegel scored 13 points for the Spartans (0-6 IML). Dylan Glazier scored six in his final home game, and fellow seniors Dausen O’Brien and Ronnie Downs added five apiece in the loss. Also honored on Senior Night were Dylan Johnson and Kody Salesky.