PREP BOYS WRESTLING: Tyler, Holman repeat as district champions

RATHDRUM — Jorden Tyler set a goal for himself during his freshman year at Sandpoint High — win an individual district championship four years in a row.

On Saturday at Lakeland High during the 5A District 1-2 190-pound championship match, that dream came true. 

Tyler, who now has 147 varsity wins — believed to be the most in Sandpoint history — won his first match by first round pin, by a 12-4 major decision in the semifinals, and by an 11-6 decision in the championship match, taking down a familiar face in Lewiston's Brice Cuthbert.

Tyler beat Cuthbert by an 8-0 decision in the 190-pound third-place match at the North Idaho Rumble earlier this year.

He credits the North Idaho Rumble tournament for giving him the motivation he needed to come out on top during Saturday's championship match. It was there that he fell to Asa Knutson of Hanford by a second period pin; Knutson won the Washington 4A State Championship Saturday at 190 pounds.

"I got too complacent there," Tyler said of his semifinals match against Knutson at the North Idaho Rumble. "It opened my eyes, especially after winning Rollie... everyone has a chance to slip up and I really took it to heart. I had some deep conversations with my coaches after that loss and it helped motivate me to get back into things and get to where I'm at today. Winning four district titles has always been a dream of mine."

Tyler is projected to be the first-seed of the 190-pound bracket at the 5A state tournament, which will be held this upcoming Friday and Saturday at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello. He's looking to bring home gold for the first time in his storied career.

In addition to Tyler, Sandpoint High junior Jackson Holman won the 215-pound district title, making him a two-time district champion having won at 182 pounds last year.

"I was very happy to be able to come here," Holman said. "I was sick for a month and it really set me back. Very happy to finish the tournament out with a really good, quick win. Last year at state, I wasn't at my peak, but this year I feel like I am and I'm ready to see where it goes."

Holman won all three of his matches on the day, all by pin.

Receiving silver medals for Sandpoint were freshman Ty Wood (98), freshman Zak Wood (120), freshman Daniel Holman (165) and junior Charlie Becker (175). They'll all automatically advance to the state championship next week.

Freshman Jason Symons (120), senior Ashlei Hawkins (132), freshman Gage Martin (138), junior Jeramiah Palmer (190) and Gavin Walters (285) all wrestled to third-place finishes and have the potential to qualify for the state tournament based on available wildcards, which will be determined after the conclusion of all the district tournaments statewide.

Lakeland had eight individual champions and won the overall team title with 422 points. Sandpoint placed third with 249 points.

TEAM SCORES — 1, Lakeland 422; 2, Lewiston 357.5; 3, Sandpoint 249; 4, Moscow 180.

(Top two to state, wildcards available) 

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

98 — Zach Teal, Lakeland, md. Ty Wood, Sandpoint, 12-2. 106 — Caleb Adams, Lakeland, p. James Sams, Lewiston, 2:33. 113 — Kade Knopp, Lakeland, p. Brody Lynch, Lewiston, 1:13. 120 — Carson Leonard, Lakeland, tf. Zak Wood, Sandpoint, 15-0. 126 — Jaren Knopp, Lakeland, p. Riley Johnson, Lewiston, 2:37. 132 — Coen Roberts, Lewiston, md. Jase Hendren, Lewiston, 10-1. 138 — Wyatt Laney, Lewiston, p. Gage Martin, Sandpoint, 2:56. 144 — Cole Cooper, Lakeland, f. Gunnar Whitlock, Lewiston. 150 — Mason Faling, Lewiston, p. Austin Howell, Lakeland, 3:45. 157 — Kalab Hammer, Lakeland, tf. Gage McWatters, Lakeland, 18-3. 165 — Thayer Sabatke, Lakeland, md. Daniel Holman, Sandpoint, 24-15. 175 — James Greene, Moscow, md. Charlie Becker, Sandpoint, 12-2. 190 — Jorden Tyler, Sandpoint, d. Brice Cuthbert, Lewiston, 11-6. 215 — Jackson Holman, Sandpoint, p. Ernie Steele, Lakeland, 0:25. 285 — Paul Dixon, Moscow, p. Gavin Walters, Sandpoint, 0:19.

SECOND-PLACE MATCHES

98 — Ty Wood, Sandpoint, def. Joziah Koonce, Lakeland, no contest. 106 — James Sams, Lewiston, p. Nathan Fiorillo, Moscow, 2:17. 113 — Brody Lynch, Lewiston, def. Brock Fairley, Lewiston, no contest. 120 — Zak Wood, Sandpoint, def. Jason Symons, Sandpoint, no contest. 126 — Riley Johnson, Lewiston, def. Kutter O'Brien, Lakeland, no contest. 132 — Jase Hendren, Lewiston, def. Ashlei Hawkins, Sandpoint, no contest. 138 —Cash Lund, Lakeland, p. Gage Martin, Sandpoint, 4:17. 144 — Gunnar Whitlock, Lewiston, def. Ekahi Hamilton, Lakeland, no contest. 150 — Aidan Prakash, Moscow, d. Austin Howell, Lakeland, 8-1. 157 — Gage McWatters, Lakeland, def. Cedar Betzold, Lewiston, no contest. 165 — Daniel Holman, Sandpoint, p. Joe Markuson, Moscow, 1:41. 175 — Charlie Becker, Sandpoint, def. Tate Cuthbert, Lewiston, no contest. 190 — Brice Cuthbert, Lewiston, d. Jeramiah Palmer, Sandpoint, 6-5. 215 — Ernie Steele, Lakeland, p. Landynn Lynch, Lewiston, 0:45. 285 — Parker Bagley, Lewiston, d. Gavin Walters, Sandpoint, 1-0.

THIRD-PLACE MATCHES

98 — Joziah Koonce, Lakeland, by default. 106 — Nathan Fiorillo, Moscow, p. Michael Helein, Lakeland, 1:47. 113 — Brock Fairley, Lewiston, by default. 120 — Jason Symons, Sandpoint, p. Christian Spruell, Lewiston, 2:50. 126 — Kutter O'Brien, Lakeland, p. Jackson Ogden, Moscow, 3:10. 132 — Ashlei Hawkins, Sandpoint, md. Justin Baxter, Lakeland, 8-0. 138 — Cash Lund, Lakeland, d. Marcus Swift, Moscow, 1-0. 144 — Ekahi Hamilton, Lakeland, p. Sam Drake-Weiss, Moscow, 0:00. 150 — Aidan Prakash, Moscow, d. Kenneth Winn, Lakeland, 6-5. 157 — Cedar Betzold, Lewiston, p. Jensen Sheetz, Sandpoint, 3:55. 165 — Joe Markuson, Moscow, p. Michael Moody, Lewiston, 4:25. 175 — Tate Cuthbert, Lewiston, p. Bradley Waits, Lewiston, 2:28. 190 — Jeramiah Palmer, Sandpoint, md. Erik Gulbrandsen, Moscow, 16-5. 215 — Landynn Lynch, Lewiston, p. Daemon Huddleston, Lakeland, 2:57. 285 — Parker Bagley, Lewiston, p. Zane Gray, Lakeland, 0:00.

    Sandpoint High junior Jackson Holman has his hand raised after pinning Lakeland's Ernie Steele in 25 seconds during the 215-pound district championship match Saturday.
  

    Sandpoint High freshman Zak Wood battles Lakeland's Carson Leonard during the 120-pound district championship match.

    From left, Jackson Holman and Jorden Tyler show off the trophies they received for winning their respective weight classes at the 5A District 1-2 Championship held Saturday at Lakeland High.