Season preview: SHS wrestling primed to overcome adversity, contend for regional title

SANDPOINT — It's wrestling season and the Bulldogs can’t wait to take the mat and showcase what true commitment in the offseason looks like.

Right now, things look a little bit different for Sandpoint with several key pieces out of the lineup, but head coach Jake Stark believes this team has the depth to overcome those challenges in the early stages of the season.

“I think we’re starting off on a good note,” he said. “I feel like we’re young and green, but I feel like we can adapt pretty fast. I think we’ll be able to step it up and as the season goes on we’ll be able to adjust and make the best out of it.”

Four state qualifiers graduated, but the Bulldogs were slated to have six state returners coming back this winter — senior Blake Sherrill, juniors Forrest Ambridge, Owen Wimmer, Darrian Resso, Carson Laybourne and sophomore Shane Sherrill. However, due to injuries and some unfortunate circumstances, it's currently unknown if all six will see the mat this season.

The biggest absence is Resso, who Stark believes has the potential to make some noise in his weight class at state. Currently, Resso isn’t on the team and Stark said there’s a small chance he takes the mat this year, meanwhile Wimmer (182 pounds) and Laybourne (heavyweight) are currently sidelined with injuries suffered during the football season.

Wimmer broke his hand, Stark said, and he is hopeful that he’ll get cleared to return in a few weeks. For Laybourne, Stark could see him coming back at some point in January.

The Bulldogs also have some other question marks scattered throughout their lineup. Junior Christian Troumbley-Karkoski, who finished third at 170 pounds at regionals last year and went 8-0 at the Columbia Wildcat Camp over the summer, has a broken hand and isn’t expected to be back until next month. Junior Raphael Eldridge, who has earned the nickname “Turtle” at 138 pounds, recently discovered he has some tears in his knee that will require surgery and is out for the season, Stark said.

The junior class is the backbone of this team and the absence of some key components of that group will certainly impact the Bulldogs, Stark said, but it also presents plenty of opportunities for younger wrestlers to step up and seize the moment.

Sandpoint has 40 wrestlers this season and a talented crop of incoming freshmen. It won’t be easy to fill some holes in their lineup, but the Bulldogs have the depth to ensure they remain competitive when they aren’t at full strength.

Rival Lakeland has won 13 straight 4A Region 1 titles. For years, the Bulldogs have wondered, “is this the year we dethrone the Hawks and reclaim our place at the top?” Well, Stark believes the streak could come to an end this winter and the crown is there for the taking.

“I think we got a really good shot at winning districts this year,” he said. “If it's our year to catch Lakeland, this is our year. Even though we're missing a couple guys, I think the guys that we have can do it.”

Blake Sherrill couldn’t agree more and believes the talent is there for the Bulldogs to make it happen; the younger wrestlers just need to shake off some rust, he said.

Blake is looking for a clean sweep this winter. He punched a ticket to state as freshman, sophomore and junior — all that’s left is earning a trip as a senior.

Blake looks primed to complete the amazing achievement, but just a few months ago taking the wrestling mat this season was far from his mind. In the season-opening football game at Post Falls on Aug. 27, Blake fractured his vertebrae. It was a scary injury and one that appeared to be season-ending.

“I’ve never really hurt anything in football that bad before,” he said.

But somehow Blake found his way back on the football field about two months later, just in time for Sandpoint’s playoff run.

It was an unbelievable comeback and Blake said he recovered much faster than doctors anticipated. Now he gets an opportunity to take the mat and he couldn’t be more excited to get the season underway.

Last year, Blake fell by pin to Lakeland’s John White in the regional championship match at 182 pounds. But White has graduated and Blake is determined to capitalize on the opportunity and bring home the title.

“I’ve always had a really tough opponent and I feel like this year I got a pretty good chance at winning,” he said.

As long as he stays healthy, Stark said a regional title and a state medalist position is within reach for Blake.

“He’s been wrestling his whole life,” Stark said. “It’s really time for him to step it up.”

Blake’s younger brother, Shane, is also looking for redemption this season after coming up just short in the 132-pound regional title bout. He will move up to 138 pounds this winter and has the potential to make a run at placing at state after going 0-2 last year.

There are several wrestlers Stark is expecting to have breakout performances this season, and at the top of that list is junior Austin Smith, who started at right tackle for the football team this fall.

He lost the regional title match at 195 pounds last year and will start the season wrestling at 220, but will drop down to the 195 weight class as Laybourne works his way back into the lineup to fill the heavyweight spot, moving senior Greg Belgarde down to 220.

“He’s going to have a killer year,” Stark said about Smith. “He’s one of those guys that’s just right there.”

Ambridge is the only returning regional champ for the Bulldogs. He reigned supreme at 113 pounds last year, but has moved up two weight classes this winter. Stark doesn’t think the change in weight will impact Ambridge one bit.

“He wants it more than anybody I think, you can just see it in his eyes,” he said. “He wants to win so bad he can’t even see straight and he’s willing to do whatever it takes.”

Andrew Duke came on the scene last year as a freshman and captured the attention of everyone with his grittiness. Duke wrestled at 98 pounds, but he only weighed 82 pounds. He was outweighed in every match, but that didn’t stop him from giving it his all.

Duke gained some muscle over the offseason and is now at 98 pounds and ready to erase last year’s regional title defeat.

“His practice level is twice of what it was last year,” Stark said. “He’s got so much intensity and is on it every single time. He’s going to be in every single match he wrestles.”

The Bulldogs could also have a few surprises this winter including from freshman Jordan Tyler at 160 pounds and freshman Parker Warren at 120.

“He’s really tough,” Stark said about Warren. “Every day he surprises me. Just when I think someone is getting a hold of him, he just flips it around and takes it to them. He’s definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with.”

Sandpoint has some stiff intersquad competition at a few weight classes as well, including at 170 pounds between juniors Kai McKinnon and Calvin Hinds and at 106 pounds with freshmen Gavin Clifton and Aiden Rork.

“It makes the room more competitive and makes everyone better all around,” Stark said about the weight class battles.

Senior Wyatt Marker is the team captain this season. Stark said the dedication Marker displayed over the offseason along with the way he carries himself made him the clear cut choice to lead the Bulldogs.

“He just epitomizes wrestling, he’s just that type of kid,” Stark said. “He does the right thing all the time, and I know I can trust him.”

Marker didn’t start wrestling until his sophomore season. He took it up as a way to stay in shape for football season, but it quickly became his favorite sport.

“It’s so different from every other sport,” he said about wrestling. “Everything is up to you and the second you step in the ring, it's all you. No one else has any influence on what happens.”

This offseason, Marker decided to focus all of his attention on wrestling and not play football this fall. Last year, Marker suffered a tear in his Achilles on the gridiron and he wanted to ensure he was fully healthy for his final season on the mat.

Marker put in the work over the summer and feels he is much better on his feet heading into this season. He is also more confident in his ability to string together several moves.

Marker wrestled at 138 pounds last year and will stay there for the Bulldogs’ season-opening dual, but after that he will drop down to 132. Marker was disappointed with his fourth-place finish at regionals last winter and he’s confident he can claim the regional championship in his weight class this year.

“I’m three times as good as I was last year,” he said.

A regional title would secure Marker’s first trip to state and he said it would mean the world to him to do it as a senior.

“It’s the pinnacle and what we train for all year,” he said.

As a team, Marker wants to see everyone take a step forward on and off the mat.

“I want to see everyone become the best wrestler they can and through that become a better person,” he said. “We got a really good group of guys … and I think every person here can become really good wrestlers.”

With the youth the Bulldogs will lean on this season, Blake said he is making sure to keep up the intensity and plans on holding the inexperienced wrestlers accountable.

“We can’t just settle for being good, we just always have to be great,” he said.

Wrestling is part of who Blake is and he’s glad he’s had this team to lean on throughout his high school career.

“It’s always been super hard, but it's honestly the most rewarding sport I’ve ever played,” he said. “It always makes you feel so good when you get off of practice and you’re so tired, but you get home … and you feel like you’re accomplished.”

This winter is a monumental one as the Idaho High School Activities Association will be sanctioning a state wrestling tournament for girls for the first time ever. The IHSAA approved 10 weight classes for the girls state tournament and an eight-person bracket for each.

Sandpoint has three wrestlers who will be vying for a spot in the inaugural tournament — Emma Garman, Aurla Palmer and Rylie Hancock. Sophomore Grace Balch, who captured second at 159 pounds in the third and final unofficial girls wrestling state tournament last year, underwent knee surgery and will not be able to wrestle this season, Stark said.

Idaho was due for a sanctioned state tournament for girls. Over the last few years, the state has seen the number of girls wrestling skyrocket and 388 will be competing for state berths this winter.

The Bulldogs have had several girls come through the program in recent years and have plenty of success on the mat, including Kayelin Johansen and Heather Wallace, who became the first two girls at SHS to receive scholarships to wrestle collegiately.

Sandpoint has plenty of talent coming up the pipeline on the girls side and Stark knows that interest will only continue to grow. He said the varsity girls are looking forward to making a push for state berths this winter and being a part of history.

“I can tell they’re excited about it,” he said. “I think it just lets a lot off their shoulders knowing they don’t have to wrestle a guy to get to state. It evens the playing field I think, so if they put in the right amount of work, they can earn their berth just as well as a guy can.”

The Bulldogs sent 10 wrestlers to state last season and Stark is looking to at least match that number this winter and bring home more individual regional titles. Stark’s young squad got their feet wet last year, and he expects them to be more focused and aggressive when they make it back to the state stage.

“They’re not going to be deer in the headlights anymore,” he said.

Thanks to this team and those around the program, Marker said wrestling has changed his life and he will always be grateful for that.

“There’s definitely been times where the team has just guided me in the right direction through ups and downs in my life,” he said.

The Bulldogs open their varsity season at 6 p.m. Wednesday when they host Bonners Ferry in the battle for the “B” Cup. The Badgers have won two of the last three “B” cups and Sandpoint is determined to change that.

“We’re looking for that opportunity to get that ‘B’ Cup back because they took it from us … and we haven’t forgotten,” Stark said.