Nelsen, Thurlow, Wallace place at North Idaho Rumble

COEUR d’ALENE — Sandpoint wrestling took on some tough competition this weekend at the North Idaho Rumble and three Bulldogs were able to place.

Seniors Brady Nelsen and Heather Wallace and junior Matt Thurlow were the trio of Sandpoint wrestlers that walked away with performances good enough to place.

Of the 20 teams that competed in the tournament, Sandpoint finished 16th with 58 points. Post Falls claimed first with 283. 4A Inland Empire League rivals Lakeland and Moscow took second and 17th respectively.

Coming in, head coach Jake Stark was using this event to see where his team was at with less than three weeks until the district championships. He also knew the Bulldogs would have to be at their best if they wanted to compete in the tourney.

“I thought we wrestled pretty solid,” Stark said. “There’s a couple guys I’d like to see step it up a little bit more but hopefully that’s just an eye opener for a couple guys to get ready for districts.”

Nelsen captured fifth in his weight class after drawing Post Falls A.J. De La Rosa, who went on to claim the title at 145 pounds, in his first bout. He was pinned in that match but then battled back by winning five of his last six matches to make it to the fifth place bout where he pinned West Valley’s Kegan Richter.

Stark thought Nelsen wrestled strong.

“Brady’s been a standout all season,” he said. “I’m proud of him that’s why he’s one of our captains.”

In his return for the Bulldogs, Thurlow won three of his six matches by pin after receiving a bye in his first bout to secure sixth at 220 pounds.

“He did a really good job,” Stark said about Thurlow. “He put in a lot of work in the offseason and so its finally paying off for him.”

Seventeen girls also took part in the tournament and among them was Sandpoint’s Heather Wallace. She claimed second in the girls 115-120 weight class. The performance comes after Wallace recently signed her letter of intent to wrestle at the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana.

The Bulldogs host Lake City for senior night and their final home dual of the season 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Sandpoint results (Bulldog athletes in bold)

98: Champ. Round 1 — Ambridge d. Sorbel, Fall 2:51, Quarterfinal — Williams d. Ambridge, Fall 0:30, Cons. Round 2 — Ambridge d. Albany, Dec. 3-2, Cons. Round 3 — Campbell d. Ambridge, Fall 2:03. Champ. Round 1 — Shaw d. Albany, Fall 1:16, Cons. Round 1 — Albany d. Payne, Fall 1:56.

113: Champ. Round 1 — Eixenberger d. Dickson, Fall 1:37, Cons. Round 1 — Dickson received a bye, Cons. Round 2 — Dickson d. Langager, Fall 1:20, Cons. Round 3 — Korst d. Dickson, MD 15-7.

115-120 Girls: Semifinal — Wallace d. Dotson, Fall 1:32, First Place Match — Kessinger d. Wallace, Fall 2:45.

120: Champ. Round 1 — Birkhimer received a bye, Champ. Round 2 — Kolar d. Birkhimer, Fall 1:01, Cons. Round 2 — Amick d. Birkhimer, Dec. 9-6.

126: Champ. Round 1 — Eldridge received a bye, Champ. Round 2 — Barajas d. Eldridge, Fall 0:21, Cons. Round 2 — Fisher Fodge d. Eldridge, MD 15-6.

132: Champ. Round 1 — Hansen d. Resso, TF-1.5 5:42 (18-3), Cons. Round 1 — Resso received a bye, Cons. Round 2 — Phillips d. Resso, Fall 0:41.

138: Champ. Round 1 — Despino d. Adam, MD 13-2, Cons. Round 1 — Adam received a bye, Cons. Round 2 — Adam d. Cristan, Cons. Round 3 — Maas d. Adam, Fall 1:16.

145: Champ. Round 1 — De La Rosa d. Nelsen, Fall 1:48, Cons. Round 1 — Nelsen received a bye, Cons. Round 2 — Nelsen d. Durette, Dec. 9-3, Cons. Round 3, Nelsen d. Potter, Fall 4:20, Cons. Round 4 — Nelsen d. Avalos, Dec. 4-0, Cons. Round 5 — Nelsen d. Foley, Dec. 8-2, Cons. Semi — Straley d. Nelsen, Dec. 4-2, Fifth Place Match — Nelsen d. Richter, Fall 2:29.

152: Champ Round 1 — Caralis received a bye, Champ. Round 2 — Caralis d. Hartley, Fall 1:54, Quarterfinal — Edwards d. Caralis, Dec. 5-3, Cons. Round 4 — Caralis d. Piazza, Dec. 5-0, Cons. Round 5 — Hsee d. Caralis, Fall 1:21.

160: Champ Round 1 — Giulio d. Becker, Fall 1:15, Cons. Round 1 — Becker received a bye, Cons. Round 2 — Martin d. Becker, Fall 2:24.

170: Champ. Round 1 — Troumbley-Karkoski received a bye, Champ. Round 2 — Brown d. Troumbley-Karkoski, Fall 0:46, Cons. Round 2 — Troumbley-Karkoski received a bye, Cons. Round 3 — Pine d. Troumbley-Karkoski, Fall 0:55.

195: Champ. Round 1 — Belgarde received a bye, Champ. Round 2 — Belgarde d. Winward, Fall 3:04, Quarterfinal — Laguna d. Belgarde, Fall 0:55, Cons. Round 4 — Mjertan d. Belgarde, Fall 0:00.

220: Champ. Round 1 — Laybourne received a bye, Champ. Round 2 — Lambson d. Laybourne, Fall 0:41, Cons. Round 2 — Laybourne received a bye, Cons. Round 3 — Johnson d. Laybourne, Fall 1:29, Champ. Round 1 — Thurlow received a bye, Champ. Round 2 — Thurlow d. Monti, Fall 3:41, Quarterfinal — Kearn d. Thurlow, Fall 0:47, Cons. Round 4 — Thurlow d. Johnson, MD 14-5, Cons. Round 5 — Thurlow d. Killian, Fall 4:29, Cons. Semi — Lambson d. Thurlow, Fall 0:50, Fifth Place Match — Kearney d. Thurlow, Fall 1:55.

285: Champ. Round 1 — Twineham received a bye, Champ Round 2 — Sullivan d. Twineham, Cons. Round 2 — Twineham received a bye, Cons. Round 3 — Mayo d. Twineham, medical forfeit, Champ. Round 1 — Mavity received a bye, Champ. Round 2 — Mavity d. Vaughn, Fall 0:26, Cons. Round 4 — Mayo d. Mavity, Fall 1:07.