Bulldogs punish Bears in last dual
Sandpoint junior Sam Becker (right) battles a Lake City opponent during a 160 pound bout on Feb. 5.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
MOSCOW — Sandpoint wrestling competed in its final dual of the regular season Thursday night and took down rival Moscow 44-33.
After losing at Sandpoint 56-21 last year, the Bears were looking to get revenge but the Bulldogs spoiled those hopes and handed Moscow a loss on their senior night.
Head coach Jake Stark said heading into the dual the goal was to give Moscow everything they could handle and prove they can compete after taking a long bus ride.
“That’s kind of the plan we’ve had since Monday and we stuck with it,” he said. “The seniors wrestled in their last dual which is good to see them go out on top.”
The dual started at 113 pounds and the teams traded forfeits before Moscow won bouts by decision and pin to take a 15-6 lead.
But then came the teeth of the Bulldogs lineup — the middleweights. That is where Sandpoint has dominated all season and it was no different tonight as the Bulldogs won seven straight bouts from 138 to 195 pounds to take a 44-15 advantage.
Moscow claimed the final four matches but it was too late and Sandpoint held on for the win.
The Bulldogs won three bouts by forfeit and Brady Nelsen, Sam Becker and Christian Troumbley-Karkoski all secured victories by pin.
Now Sandpoint gets just over a week to prepare for the district championships on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Lakeland High School.
Stark said the Bulldogs will take it to their two league foes but knows it will be tough to dethrone the Hawks and take the league crown.
“We’re just going to keep the momentum that we have now and don’t let Moscow in the door and go after Lakeland,” he said. “It’s going to be a battle. Lakeland’s definitely a solid team, we’re going to have to wrestle our best and we’re going to have to knock Lakeland off if we want to do it.”
Results
Sandpoint 44. Moscow 33.
(Bulldogs in bold)
98: Zimmerman p. Albany, 1:01. 106: Reynolds d. Otterson, 9-3. 113: Domras accepted forfeit. 120: Birkhimer accepted forfeit. 126: Bales d. Eldridge, 13-8. 132: Stone p. Marker, 1:06. 138: Fleck tf. Ayala, TF 20-5, 4:25. 145: Nelsen p. Deaton, 3:18. 152: Caralis d. Vetter, 10-8. 160: Becker p. Wallace, 0:56. 170: Troumbley-Karkoski p. Greene, 2:42. 182: Belgarde accepted forfeit. 195: Suhr accepted forfeit. 220: Kearney d. Benefield, 10-4. 285: Marsh p. Twineham, 4:58.