WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW: Sandpoint girls wrestling has eyes on All-Class district title

LAST SEASON: All-Class District 1-2 runner-ups, five state qualifiers, 19th at All-Class State Championship.

COACHES: Josh Ratigan (head coach, second year), Valerie Johansen (assistant coach).

WRESTLERS TO WATCH: Emma Garman, sr.; Mackenzee Donenfeld, so. Izzy Stark, so.; Sylvia Becker, sr.; Lilli Marti, jr.; Hunter Edmondson, so.; Summer Birch, fr.; Bayah Ratigan, so.; Teagan Newsom, so; Vanessa Hood, fr.

With 25-plus girls on their roster this year, the Sandpoint High girls wrestling team is not only making history with one of the largest teams to ever exist in Idaho, they're slated as favorites to bring home the All-Class District 1-2 title and make some serious noise at the All-Class State Championship.

Senior captain Emma Garman returns, having been one of the most dominant wrestlers in the state last season. At 120 pounds, she won four different invitationals and was second at four others, eventually wrestling to a sixth-place finish at the state championship.

"Emma's what you want in a leader," Sandpoint High second-year head coach Josh Ratigan said. "She puts in work on the mat, holds people accountable, and really is the voice of this girls wrestling team. I have relied on her for the last few years, because I know what she's capable of, and I expect big things from her."

If the cards fall they way they're supposed too, Ratigan says Garman has a real shot at bringing home an individual state title.

Sophomore Hunter Edmondson, who wrestles at 107/114 pounds, beat a ranked wrestler in Tommy Stone of Eagle last season at the state championship; she also returns for the Lady Bulldogs.

"She's beat ranked opponents; she's going to have one heck of a season and prove everyone wrong, I believe," coach Ratigan said.

Edmondson is just one of many stars of the Sandpoint sophomore class, which also includes Mackenzee Donenfeld, Izzy Stark, Teagan Newsom and Bayah Ratigan.

Donenfeld is faster, quicker, and stronger this year, and according to coach Ratigan, a traditional "100" and someone to watch out for. Stark, who won two invites at 126 pounds but missed state after a fourth-place finish at districts, was also highly praised.

"I don't know if I'd want to be on the mat with her this season; she's going to score a lot of points," coach Ratigan said of Stark.

As for Ratigan, her season was cut short due to injury. Coach Ratigan, her father, said she's been tearing up the room while Newsom, who wrestles at 138/145 pounds, has been doing much of the same.

"I really believe our girls will win districts and have a top five team in the state," coach Ratigan said. "These girls look really tough and are in the spots they need to be in."

With Sandpoint returning Stark, who also had some injuries last season, and Ratigan, along with returning every single wrestler from last season and adding a double-digit freshman class, it would be hard to not believe what Ratigan said about districts and state.

"These girls have been wrestling since they were six years old — they have changed the way that the room looks at each other," coach Ratigan said of Stark and Bayah Ratigan. "Having those two push the room, even though they're not girls I want to lead yet, they're helping with attitude and pushing themselves and others to be better."

Three freshman that are going to be key to Sandpoint's 2024-2025 journey are Avery Inge, Vanessa Hood and Summer Birch.

"I believe Summer had an undefeated season last year, something around 28-0 in club and she wrestled up and down weight classes," coach Ratigan said. "I believe Summer, Avery and Vanessa are all going to make a big splash."

The girls will start off the season at home for the Blizzard Invite, and during Christmas break, will head to a new meet this year, the Lakeland Duals. The duals will be between a handful of North and South Idaho teams, including Thunder Ridge, last year's All-Class State Champions. The Lady Titans have 30 girls registered for the meet so far.

"Anytime you're able to face the defending champions in the middle of the season, that's a big deal," coach Ratigan said. "I can't wait to see the girls take them on."

The Lady Bulldogs while then head to tournaments like the River City Duals, which is planning on having an all-girls bracket this year, the Hellgate Tournament in Missoula, which they won last season, and to semi-local meets like Coeur d'Alene's North Idaho Rumble and Bonners Ferry's Conrad Garner Invite... all before heading to Moscow for the district championship on Feb. 20, where they'll look to bring their first ever district title back to Sandpoint High.

Wrestling Schedule

12/7 — Girls @ Blizzard Tourney/Home 

12/13-14 — Tri-State Tournament @ NIC 

12/14 — Girls @ Lakeland, TBA 

12/17 — @ Priest River, TBA 

12/20-21 — George Wild Tournament @ Kellogg 

12/27-28 — @ Lakeland Duals 

1/2-4 — Rollie Lane Tournament @ Nampa 

1/10-11 — River City Duals @ Post Falls 

1/10-11 — Hellgate Tournament @ Missoula 

1/15 — @ Coeur d’Alene, TBA 

1/17 — Battle for the Paddle @ Home 

1/18 — Ted Keto Tournament @ Thompson Falls 

1/22 — @ Kellogg, TBA 

1/23 — @ B-Cup/Bonners Ferry, TBA 

1/31-2/1 — North Idaho Rumble @ Coeur d’Alene 

2/5 — vs. Lake City, 5 p.m. 

2/7-8 — Conrad Garner Tournament @ Bonners Ferry 

2/12 — @ Lewiston, TBA 

2/14 — vs. Moscow, TBA 

2/15 — Girls @ Lake City, TBA 

    Sandpoint High senior Emma Garman gets ready to make a move on an opponent from Lake City during last year's district championship.