Sandpoint wrestling topped by Vikings

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint wrestling fell to Coeur d’Alene 63-15 Thursday night.

Despite the scoreline, head coach Jake Stark was proud of the aggressiveness his team showed and felt they made up for their last home dual against Lakeland.

“We asked them to bring the fight to them and they did,” he said. “The score didn’t really dictate how the match felt, we brought it in every single match. It was a dogfight in every single match. I seen some of their really good guys getting really frustrated just because our guys were out there playing it tough, toe-to-toe with them. We definitely respect them but we kind of wrestled like we didn’t.”

The Bulldogs lost eight matches by pin but Raphael “Turtle” Eldridge emerged victorious in his 126 pound bout pinning his opponent 55 seconds into the match.

“He’s a fiery wrestler,” Stark said about Eldridge. “He brings it every single time, he’s got a great attitude and he’s a super hard working kid. He earned it tonight.”

Isaiah Caralis also won his match by decision 1-0 and Brady Nelsen nearly pinned his opponent at 145 pounds, but ultimately lost 8-3.

“I think if there was another 30 seconds in that match he would’ve had that kid,” Stark said about Nelsen’s match. “That kid was about ready to break and that’s how Brady is.”

Sandpoint heads to Thompson Falls, Montana for the Ted Kato Invite on Saturday.

Results (Sandpoint athletes in bold)

Sandpoint 15. Coeur d’Alene 63.

98: Paniagua d. Ambridge, Fall 0:52

106: Bridge d. Otterson, Fall 0:25

113: Dickson accepted forfeit

120: Randles d. Birkhimer, Fall 2:33

126: Eldridge d. Chamness, Fall 0:55

132: Schueller d. Wilson, Fall 0:20

138: Keough d. Adam, Dec 3-2

145: Roberts d. Nelsen, Dec 8-3

152: Caralis d. Piazza, Dec 1-0

160: Giulio d. Becker, Fall 2:45

170: Brunner d. Troumbley-Karkoski, Fall 1:53

182: Stockham accepted forfeit

195: Mjertan d. Belgarde, Fall 0:35

220: Washington d. Laybourne, Fall 0:26

285: Dunbar d. Mavity, Dec. 3-2