PREP WRESTLING: Sandpoint girls win Hellgate Invitational

MISSOULA – The final match of the day ended up deciding the winner of the Hellgate Girls Invitational held at Hellgate High Friday and Saturday. In a classic ‘North Idaho Showdown’, Lilli Marti of Sandpoint pinned Hallie Hartman of Bonners Ferry in the third round of the third-fourth place heavyweight match to help the Bulldogs capture the championship trophy.

“Sandpoint came into this morning in third place and just rose to the occasion,” head coach Valerie Johansen said. “They each battled physically and mentally today. I continue to be amazed by this group of young women and how well they represent womens wrestling.”

Mackenzee Donenfeld (100) and Emma Garman (120) both notched second place finishes in their respective weight divisions. Izzy Stark (126) finished in third place. All three wrestlers went 2-1 on the weekend. Sylvia Becker (165) took home gold after defeating the only other wrestler in her weight class via pin.

Bonners Ferry, who came in second place, made a class act move after the tournament ended. The team offered Sandpoint a ride home with them after hearing the Sandpoint bus had broken down.

“It was pretty amazing to be on a bus with the top two teams of the tournament, both of which are from North Idaho,” Johansen said.

Sandpoint will dual Lakeland as part of the ‘Battle for the Paddle’ annual spirit competition on Friday. This year’s event will be held at Lakeland High.

TEAM SCORES

1, Sandpoint 130; 2, Bonners Ferry 121; 3, Ronan 118.5; 4, Missoula Big Sky/Loyola Sacred Heart 100; 5, Havre 91; 6, Columbia Falls 72; 7, Frenchtown 63; 8, Lake City 61; 9, Coeur d'Alene 50; 10, University 39; 11, Missoula Hellgate 36; 12, Missoula Sentinel 18

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

100 – River Cote, Ronan, 19-0, p. Mackenzee Donenfeld, Sandpoint, 8-8, 0:45. 114 – Libby Roberts, University, 3-0, p. Nevaeh Therrien, Bonners Ferry, 16-2,1:39. 120 – Alexxis Johnson, Lake City, 15-1, d. Emma Garman, Sandpoint, 12-3, 6-3. 126 – Lucia Schlapfer, Missoula Big Sky/Loyola Sacred Heart, 3-0, p. Katie Dolence, Ronan, 25-3, 3:47. 132 – Madi Cook, Lake City, 21-2, p. Rebel Montanez, Frenchtown, 15-7, 3:02. 138 – Cara Brown, Coeur d'Alene, 10-2, inj. Brynn Courville, Ronan, 18-2, 0:00. 145 – Hattie Morrow, Missoula Big Sky/Loyola Sacred Heart, 3-0, p. Aubrey Wells, Bonners Ferry, 8-4, 3:48. 152 – Brooklyn Anderson, Coeur d'Alene, 12-0, d. Leona Dodson Howe, Ronan, 20-10, 3-2. 165 – Sylvia Becker, Sandpoint, 7-4, p. Kinsey Ward, Columbia Falls, 0-1, 1:14. 185 – Elizabeth Henkins, Missoula Big Sky/Loyola Sacred Heart, 2-0, p. Angelina Siebanaller, Havre, 1-1, 3:26. HWT – Tirza TwoTeeth, Ronan, 12-0, p. Aliyah Stiffarm, Havre, 1-1, 2:51.

THIRD-FOURTH PLACE

100 – Jaelynn Nace, Columbia Falls, 22-9, p. Vanessa Nace, Columbia Falls, 12-13, 4:25. 114 – McKenna Caplette, Havre, 3-1, p. Adeline Stewart, Frenchtown, 16-6, 0:19. 120 – Nicole Martens, Missoula Sentinel, 19-24, d. Brooklyn Wilting, Havre, 3-2, 10-4. 126 – Izzy Stark, Sandpoint, 15-3, p. Justa Curtiss, Missoula Big Sky/Loyola Sacred Heart, 3-2, 0:44. 132 – Sofia Brown, Bonners Ferry, 15-3, p. Aspen Murphy, Missoula Hellgate, 12-15, 2:18. 138 – Sage Machado, Frenchtown, 9-6, md. Emily Zuetrong, Lake City, 3-10, 14-6. 145 – Jaici Watt-Duran, Columbia Falls, 13-10, p. Brylee Rees, Frenchtown, 7-6, 1:52. 152 – Samantha Larsen, Columbia Falls, 12-12, p. Emma Roberts, Bonners Ferry, 9-6, 1:17. 165 – No match. 185 – Eva Willis, Bonners Ferry, 6-2, p. Emma Hilton, Sandpoint, 0-8, 0:40. HWT – Lilli Marti, Sandpoint, 7-4, p. Hallie Hartman, Bonners Ferry, 6-6, 4:44.