Shane Sherrill learns a lot on national stage
Shane Sherrill competed at the USA Wrestling Idaho State Championships on May 6-7. He was crowned 16U freestyle state champion at 152 pounds and runner up in Greco. He will represent Team Idaho at the national duals this summer.
(Photo courtesy ROB SHERRILL)
Shane Sherrill gets ready for his match at the 2022 US Marine Corps 16U & Junior Nationals wrestling tournament in Fargo, North Dakota.
The 2022 Fargo USA Wrestling Nationals held in the Fargo Dome in Fargo, North Dakota, is one of the biggest wrestling events in the country.
Team Idaho put together its best performance ever at this year's event with the largest playing field in tournament history.
The team brought 110 wrestlers and came home with 21 All-Americans, the second-largest number in state history.
Sandpoint High School junior Shane Sherrill, and Bonners Ferry High School wrestlers Eli Richards, and Savannah Rickter all competed for Team Idaho.
"It was awesome to see the team do so well on a national scale," Sherrill said. "Idaho isn't looked at as a national powerhouse, but everyone showed out."
Sherrill finished the tournament 1-2 overall in the 152-pound weight class and didn't place but gained valuable experience throughout the tournament.
"At first, I was a little nervous being around these kids," Sherrill said. "After I got close to them and got to hang out with them, I found out their fun and down-to-earth guys. They're super helpful and fun to be around."
Sherill finished the freestyle part of the tournament 1-2, losing the first bout of the tournament against Ernest DiStefano 10-0.
During the Greco Roman portion tournament, Sherrill managed to capture a victory in his first bout against Tavier Greene of Arizona 9-0.
In the second bout of the championship round, Sherrill fell to Tristin Greene of Ohio 8-0. He ended his Greco Roman run with a loss to North Dakota's Waylon Cressell 8-0.
"The big thing for me was realizing that wrestling at the national level is a huge jump," Sherrill said. "It's a huge jump getting used to wrestling at two national tournaments."
Sherrill labeled his experience with Team Idaho as a humbling one.
"I wanted to get more exposure to better wrestling, and I learned I had a lot to learn," Sherrill said. "I can put up a good fight against anyone in Idaho, and there is so much left to do. They'll always be people out there better than me. I'm excited to get back with the high school team and wrestle with how much I've improved."
Overall, Sherrill exceeded his expectations on how he thought he'd perform on the national scale. He gave a lot of praise to the Team Idaho coaching staff.
"We were surrounded by great coaches," Sherrill said. "I'm so grateful that I met the team and coaches. It's been a blessing to be around these people and the knowledge they have is crazy. Last month I went 6-10, and I thought I was only going to win around three matches."
Now that Sherrill's national tour has wrapped up, he's getting prepared for the football season, which is Sherrill's last stop before his high school wrestling season.
Sherrill wrestled at 152-pounds during the summer. He's trying to gain weight for the football season, but once wrestling comes around, he'd like to get back down to 145 or even 138.
Sherrill and the rest of the Sandpoint wrestling team will have a new man in charge with Scot Davis. Davis' pedigree is undeniable, being the winningest amateur wrestling coach in history.
Sherrill hasn't had many chances to meet with Davis due to his prior commitments, but he has had chats with his new head coach.
"I'm excited to see how things are going to go," Sherrill said. "I'm excited to see a new face and how the team will shape up. I believe we'll have a strong core group. I can't wait to see how we'll grow and develop through another year. Hopefully, we'll win another district championship."
