Sandpoint downs Bonners Ferry to reclaim 'B' Cup

Editor's note: Check out a photo gallery from the dual here.

SANDPOINT — This year, the "B" Cup is coated in red.

Sandpoint wrestling handled its business Wednesday night, taking down Bonners Ferry 54-36 to bring the "B" Cup back to SHS.

This is Sandpoint's sixth "B" Cup victory in the last eight years. The Badgers took away the trophy last year by the narrowest of margins and the Bulldogs were determined to reclaim county supremacy.

"It feels really good to get it back at our school," head coach Jake Stark said. "I'm just proud of the guys. It wasn't our best match, but we got it done."

The battle between the Bonner County and Boundary County foes is typically tight-contested, but there was a little less drama Wednesday. Bonners Ferry forfeited matches at five different weight classes, making the Badgers' margin for error razor thin and the Bulldogs capitalized in a big way.

None of the matches went the distance, they were all decided by pin or forfeit.

Greg Belgarde got the whole team fired up in his heavyweight clash with Donald Riess from Bonners Ferry. He took control early and pinned Riess in 1:23.

It was the first match of the dual and Belgarde wasn't shy about showing his emotion after the victory. His intensity really set the tone for the Bulldogs, Stark said.

"He's that type of energetic kid who brings that fire every time he goes out on the mat," he said, "and I was really excited to start with a guy like that."

After that thrilling start, the Badgers earned a pin at 98 pounds to even the score a 6-6. But then the Bulldogs won the next four matches by forfeit to take a commanding 30-6 lead. Aiden Rork (106), Emma Garman (113), Ashlei Hawkins (120) and Parker Warren (126) all accepted forfeits.

Forrest Ambridge added to Sandpoint's advantage by dismantling his opponent at 132 pounds in just 24 seconds with a pin.

"I was proud of Forrest," Stark said. "He came out firing and wrestled a really solid match. He had a good takedown and controlled him on top."

With the score at 36-6, the Bulldogs were in control and had no plans on letting go, but Bonners Ferry didn't give in.

The Badgers claimed victories by pin at 138, 152, 160, 182 and 220 pounds.

Shane Sherrill accepted a win by forfeit for the Bulldogs at 145 pounds and Kai McKinnon outlasted his opponent at 170 pounds, earning a pin just over a minute into the second round.

Blake Sherrill secured the last victory of the night for Sandpoint at 195 pounds. He made quick work of Teigan Banning from Bonners Ferry, pinning him in 37 seconds.

Stark expected Blake to bring it in the season-opening dual and the senior delivered.

"He knows that he's one of those top dogs," Stark said, "and he's a senior, so he's going to leave it all on the mat this year."

Overall, the Badgers secured six victories by pin, while Sandpoint grabbed four.

As entertaining and impassioned as the dual was, the real highlight of the night came before the varsity match even started. Prior to the "B" Cup battle, a super miniweight bout between Timmy Stark, the son of head coach Jake Stark, and Dalton Regehr, the brother of Bonners Ferry's Marcus Regehr, took center stage.

Everyone in the crowd was intrigued by the 70-pound match between a third and fourth grader who have been wrestling each other for years in tournaments and camps, Stark said, and the special showcase helped create quite the atmosphere for the rivalry dual.

"I was kind of nervous because I knew it would be such a good match between those two and it could go either way at all times," Stark said, "but it was really cool because Timmy is like our little team mascot. He follows me everywhere and so everybody on the team knows him, and everybody was screaming 'Timmy.'"

It was quite the fight as well and Timmy emerged victorious with a pin in the third round.

Stark said it was an amazing moment for two future high school stars and one they won't ever forget.

"They're pretty good rivals and they're pretty good friends, too," Stark said.

The Bulldogs travel to Kellogg on Friday for the George Wild Tournament. Competition starts at 4 p.m. and continues Saturday.

Results (Sandpoint athletes in bold)

Sandpoint 54, Bonners Ferry 36.

98 — Brandon Williams p. Andrew Duke, 3:35. 106 — Aiden Rork accepted forfeit. 113 — Emma Garman accepted forfeit. 120 — Ashlei Hawkins accepted forfeit. 126 — Parker Warren accepted forfeit. 132 — Forrest Ambridge p. Porter Blackmore, 0:24. 138 — Tully Reinhardt p. Wyatt Marker, 1:15. 145 — Shane Sherrill accepted forfeit. 152 — Dakoda Heller p. Adam Belgarde, 2:00. 160 — Marcus Regehr p. Jordan Tyler, 1:08. 170 — Kai McKinnon p. Cleo Henslee, 3:15. 182 — Eli Richards p. Calvin Hinds, 0:46. 195 — Blake Sherrill p. Teigan Banning, 0:37. 220 — Jackson Richter p. Austin Smith, 1:48. HWT — Greg Belgarde p. Donald Riess, 1:23.