Bulldogs bring home medals from state tourney

The Bulldogs are coming home with five medals and an eleventh-place showing from the Idaho state wrestling tournament.

Sandpoint coach Doug Fry said he was pleased with how the Bulldogs did at state, with a young team and only taking nine wrestlers on the boys team and two on the girls.

"We had a great tournament and a great year," Fox said. "I feel really feel blessed to have been the coach this year."

Leading the Bulldogs with a third-place finish is Jorden Tyler (195). Also placing were Ashlei Hawkins (126), sixth; Shane Sherrill (138), fifth; and Calvin Hinds (182), fifth; for the Bulldogs. Grace Balch (235) of the Sandpoint Girls team finished with a fifth-place medal.

Tyler, 41-11, won by fall over George Valenzuela (Skyline) to reach the third-place match. The Sandpoint wrestler then won by fall over Wesley Hodges (Mountain Home) to claim third place.

Ashlei Hawkins (126) lost by major decision to Clark Peterson (Shelley) in the consolation semifinals. In the fifth-place match, Hawkins lost by fall to Brayden Cosens (Blackfoot) to end the tournament in sixth place.

After losing a tough match by decision in the consolation semifinals to Cole Barendregt (Minico), Sherrill came back strong in the fifth-place match, Fry said.

"He came out and dominated and pinned the kid he almost lost to before," the Sandpoint coach added. "It was a good test for him."

Hinds lost by technical fall to James Noorlander (Twin Falls), sending him to the fifth-place match where he faced Do Sawn Liam (Canyon Ridge). Hinds won by major decision 18-9 to claim the fifth-place medal.

In the girls tournament, Grace Balch lost by fall to Emry Woods (Eagle Girls), sending her to the fifth-place match. There, Balch won by fall over Kihnamy Walter (Canyon Ridge Girls) to claim fifth place.

Sandpoint coach Doug Fry said he was pleased with how the Bulldogs did at state, with a young team and only taking nine wrestlers on the boys team and two on the girls.

"We had a great tournament and a great year," Fox said. "I feel really feel blessed to have been the coach this year."

The year got off to a great start at Tri-State with a half-dozen wrestlers bringing home medals, Fry said. The team continued to do well, building in each tournament.

"Every tournament, there was never a letdown," he added. "The team always came out and exceeded my expectations."

The year started off chaotic with a coaching change shortly after the season began. But Fox said the Sandpoint wrestlers kept battling and really bonded over the course of the season.

"I'm excited about next year," he added. "They are young with only two seniors. And the team is excited and they want to keep going."

Adding to the bright future are a number of eighth-grade wrestlers poised to add to the program on both the boys and girls teams, Fry said.

"There are some good kids coming up," he added.