Spartan wrestling falls to Tigers in War of the Waters, places 6 at Conrad Garner

PRIEST RIVER — A shorthanded Priest River wrestling team was unable to knock off rival Timberlake in a War of the Waters dual on Tuesday night.

The Spartans fell 60-15.

Priest River lost Devin Nessel (138), Keegan Poirier (152) and Hunter Brokaw (145) for the season and they were unable to fill in enough holes in their lineup to overcome the Tigers.

The Spartans forfeited six matches against Timberlake and lost four by pin.

Bradley Bennett earned the sole pin for Priest River. He took down Timberlake's Evan Howell in 2:43 at 160.

"He did well," head coach Quinton Holbrook said about Bradley's performance. "He's got really good defense and ... I'm looking at him making it to state if he keeps wrestling tough."

The most exciting match of the night came at 106 pounds. Hayden Sorbel earned a 13-11 sudden-death victory over Timberlake's Ayden Meehan.

Holbrook said it was exciting match for the home crowd to watch.

"We had a really close one there at 106," he said. "Hayden's beat that kid like three times now, but I think that kid is sneaking up on him ... but we pulled it off."

Aidan Troumbley won by forfeit at 126 pounds.

Holbrook said there was two matches he was hoping the Spartans could pull off that they just fell short in.

The first came at 120 pounds between Keith Poirier and Timberlake's Stryker Huston. Poirier and Huston are currently the top two seeds in the district at 120. Holbrook was looking for Poirier to build some momentum for a potential rematch with Huston at districts, but he was pinned in 2:47.

The other bout came at 132 pounds. At a dual with Timberlake this past Friday, Shayd Wong-Yuen earned a majority decision over Jacob Howell. But on Tuesday, Howell was able to pin Wong-Yuen in 2:23.

On Saturday, the Spartans competed in the Conrad Garner Invitational at Bonners Ferry High School.

Seven teams took part in the tournament and six Priest River wrestlers placed.

Troumbley, a sophomore, led the way, placing first at 126 pounds. He pinned Coeur d'Alene's Dax Larsen in 3:23 in the championship match to earn the title. He went a perfect 4-0 at the invitational.

Sorbel captured second at 106 pounds. He earned a victory by majority decision and pin to earn a spot in the first place bout where he fell 7-3.

Keith Poirier took home third and Caeden McLaimtaig placed fourth at 120 pounds. Poirier defeated McLaimtaig 9-0 in the third place match.

Bradley Bennett secured third at 160 pounds with three pins and Matyus McLain grabbed fourth at 182 pounds.

Dylan Lord and Charles Bennett went 1-2 at the event while Wong-Yuen was pinned in both of his matches.

The day before, Priest River made the trek to Bonners Ferry for a pair of duals.

In a battle with St. Maries, the Spartans lost 54-24. Priest River lost six matches by forfeit. Troumbley and Bradley Bennett both claimed wins by pin.

Priest River also faced Timberlake in what was a preview for Tuesday's War of the Waters. The result was nearly identical as the Spartans fell 66-13.

Priest River lost eight matches by forfeit. Troumbley pinned Timberlake's Isaiah Winkler in 14 seconds, Wong-Yuen earned a victory by majority decision 15-7 at 132 pounds and Sorbel grabbed a 15-11 win.

Priest River heads to Bonners Ferry for a dual at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. After that match, the Spartans will focus all of their attention on the 3A Region 1 championships on Thursday, Feb. 18.

Holbrook said he is feeling pretty good about his group and believes a couple Spartans could grab titles at districts.

"I think we can still get six or seven kids down to state," he said. "I think they're looking pretty tough."

Results from Feb. 9

Timberlake 60. Priest River 15.

98 — Double forfeit. 106 — Hayden Sorbel, PR, d. Ayden Meehan, SV 13-11. 113 — Hunter Gardner, T, by forfeit. 120 — Stryker Huston, T, p. Keith Poirier, 2:47. 126 — Aidan Troumbley, PR, by forfeit. 132 — Jacob Howell, T, p. Shayd Wong-Yuen, 2:23. 138 — Tristyn Frank, T, p. Egil Williams, 1:38. 145 — Luke Schell, T, by forfeit. 152 — Ashton Peightal, T, by forfeit. 160 — Bradley Bennett, PR, p. Evan Howell, 2:43. 170 — Paul Shaner, T, by forfeit. 182 — Ryder Paslay, T, p. Matyus McLain, 4:46. 195 — Double forfeit. 220 — Trevor Cady, T, by forfeit. 285 — Matt Soito, T, by forfeit.