Sandpoint wrestling bounces back with victory over Timberlake

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint wrestling had no problem with Timberlake on Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs bullied the Tigers 63-18 in a dual and bounced back from last week's "B" Cup defeat.

Head coach Jake Stark said his team had that intensity he was looking for against Bonners Ferry.

"I saw some fire, especially in our middleweights," he said.

It didn't take long for the Bulldogs to gain a stranglehold on the dual. Sandpoint won two of the first three matches by forfeit and after senior Tanner Dickson fell at 120 pounds, the Bulldogs claimed the next seven matches.

It was a dominant performance by the Bulldogs and Sandpoint did it without three key seniors — Isaac Webb, Blake Sherrill and Tag Benefield.

Their absence allowed some younger wrestlers to step up and fill their roles in the varsity lineup against the Tigers.

"It's kind of good to see what's up and coming," Stark said. "'We're putting you in the varsity lineup, show us what can you do.'"

Jacob Albany (106), Kayelin Johansen (126), Shane Sherrill (132), Raphael Eldridge (138), Darrian Resso (145), Trevan Adam (152), Sam Becker (160) and Carson Laybourne (285) all earned victories by pin.

Becker had quite the showing. He took down his opponent less than 10 seconds into the match and pinned him in 21 seconds.

"He is a very underestimated wrestler," Stark said about Becker. "He's very aggressive, he's very calm and he's very controlled ... he's going to surprise some people."

Eldridge, aka "the turtle," trailed after the first period in his bout, but took it to Timberlake's Tristyn Frank in the second period to secure a pin.

"Raphael Eldridge really turned it on," Stark said. "That's probably a kid he shouldn't have beat. He just beat him by sheer determination, going hard and being in better shape. It was good to see him get that win tonight."

Christian Troumbley-Karkoski also earned a 10-7 victory at 170 pounds. Andrew Duke (98) and Forest Ambridge (113) won their matches via forfeit.

The Bulldogs were able to let in a select group of fans to watch Wednesday's dual. Two parents per Sandpoint wrestler were allowed in and the parents were rotated in and out of the gym like a line change in hockey.

Between the 98 and 126 pound matches, SHS let in a total of 10 parents. Then a short intermission took place and those 10 parents left the gym and in came another group of 10 to watch the 132-160 pound bouts. The process was repeated for the final five matches of the dual.

It wasn't the same due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it was better than nothing.

"It was good to see some familiar faces in the audience," Stark said. "If my kid was wrestling I would definitely want to be there to watch it too ... and it felt good to have them back, even though it was a little different. It worked out good.

Sandpoint will compete in the George Wilde Invitational this Saturday at Lakeland High.

Results (Sandpoint athletes in bold)

Sandpoint 63. Timberlake 18.

98 — Andrew Duke accepted forfeit. 106 — Jacob Albany p. Ayden Meehan, 4:36. 113 — Forest Ambridge accepted forfeit. 120 — Stryker Huston p. Tanner Dickson, 1:49. 126 — Kayelin Johansen p. Ty Gallimore, 2:34. 132 — Shane Sherrill p. Callum Micke, 1:42. 138 — Raphael Eldridge p. Tristyn Frank, 3:28. 145 — Darrian Resso p. Luke Schell, 3:10. 152 — Trevan Adam p. Nolan Marosi, 3:12. 160 — Sam Becker p. Miles Handin, 0:21. 170 — Christian Troumbley-Karkoski d. Nick Geissler, 10-7. 182 — Carter Fortin p. Kai McKinnon, 1:15. 195 — Ryder Paslay d. Austin Smith, 5-1. 220 — Trevor Cady d. Matt Thurlow, 6-1. 285 — Carson Laybourne p. Matt Soito, 0:52.