Bulldog wrestling captures Ted Kato Memorial title, 8 place

THOMPSON FALLS, Mont. — Just like head coach Jake Stark had hoped, Sandpoint wrestling kept the momentum rolling Saturday at the Ted Kato Memorial Tournament.

Fresh off their first dual victory over Lakeland since 2007, the Bulldogs took home the team title at the Thompson Falls tournament.

Sandpoint's intensity and results on the mat have reached another level since the calendar turned to 2022. Stark said he can't pinpoint one reason why his team has turned it on in recent weeks, but he loves coaching them because of their commitment.

"I think these guys have just been working their way to the top week-by-week," he said. "They kind of have that never back down attitude with this group and they're just a fighting group, and they refuse to lose. They put it on the line every time they go out there."

A victory for the Bulldogs didn't come easy and it took the whole team to get it done, Stark said. But one match proved to be the difference.

In the first-place match at 205 pounds, Austin Smith pinned Priest River's Matyus McLain in 1:16 to push Sandpoint past the Spartans for the team title by one point, 162 to 161.

Stark said the Montana teams at the tournament provided the Bulldogs with some great competition, and he was proud of the way his team embraced the challenge.

"For us to pull out the tournament win is awesome because it was kind of back and forth between us and Priest River all day," he said.

Smith, who cruised to first in his weight class, was one of eight Sandpoint wrestlers who placed.

Darrian Resso and Christian Troumbley-Karkoski also made it to the championship match in their respective weight classes.

Resso pinned his opponent at 152 pounds to take first and cap off a perfect 4-0 showing at the tourney. Resso, who went 2-2 at state last year, missed the first month of the season, but he's starting to round into form, Stark said.

"He's on the right climb," he said. "He's going to peak right about districts and state, and that's good because that's exactly where we want him."

Troumbley-Karkoski came up just short in the title bout at 160 pounds, falling by decision 7-5 to finish second with a 3-1 mark. On Friday in the Battle for the Paddle, Troumbley-Karkoski made his return to the varsity lineup after recovering from a broken hand. He pinned Lakeland's Dylan Scott in that dual and he carried the momentum from that victory into the Thompson Falls tourney.

Stark is happy to have Troumbley-Karkoski back.

"He just brings a lot of team morale, team spirit," he said. "He's been on the mat for so long that everyone respects him."

Freshman Ashlei Hawkins grabbed third at 120 pounds with a 5-1 record, and Blake Sherrill secured third at 182 pounds with a 4-1 mark.

"Blake Sherrill wrestled outstanding," Stark said. "He kind of fell short in his semifinal match, but if he keeps wrestling like this he can place at state."

Greg Belgarde battled back to capture third at 285 pounds by pinning the opponent that took him down in the quarterfinals.

Freshman Jorden Tyler earned fourth at 160, and Calvin Hinds placed fourth at 170. Hinds lost a hard-fought third-place match, 10-8.

"He's always a competitor," Stark said about Hinds, "and he's always in there fighting."

Sandpoint heads to Coeur d'Alene on Friday and Saturday for the North Idaho Rumble. Last year, the Bulldogs were unable to compete on the second day of the tournament due to COVID-19 issues within the program.

TEAM SCORES — 1, Sandpoint 162. 2, Priest River 161. 3, Superior 120. 4, Fairfield 103. 5, Bigfork 100.5. 6, Plains/Hot Springs 75.5 7, Cascade 69.5. 8, St. Ignatius 60.5. 9, Whitefish 58. 10, Polson 48. 11, Thompson Falls 45. 12, Arlee 39. 13, Shelby 32. 14, Valier 15. 15, Missoula Sentinel 12. 16, Missoula Big Sky 6.5.

103 — Andrew Duke 2-2. 113 — Kaiden Rose 1-2. 120 — 3, Ashlei Hawkins 5-1; Gavyn Billington 1-2. 126 — Forest Ambridge 0-2. 132 — Wyatt Marker 1-2. 145 — Adam Belgarde 1-2. 152 — 1, Darrian Resso 4-0. 160 — 2, Christian Troumbley-Karkoski 3-1; 4, Jorden Tyler 4-2. 170 — 4, Calvin Hinds 2-2. 182 — 3, Blake Sherrill 4-1. 205 — 1, Austin Smith 2-0. 285 — 3, Greg Belgarde 3-1.