PREP BOYS WRESTLING: McLaimtaig pins his way to fourth straight district title

by MAX OSWALD
Sports Reporter | February 22, 2025 9:15 PM

Extended Recap from Sunday's paper

ST. MARIES — Priest River High seniors Colm McLaimtaig (144) and Caleb Grow (285) both claimed gold as the Spartans wrestled to a third-place finish at the 3A District 1-2 Championship Saturday at St. Maries High.

McLaimtaig, who now holds the record for most wins, pins and takedowns in Priest River High history, was crowned a district championship for the fourth straight year. In true Colm fashion, he pinned all three of his opponents in the first round to grab this year's title.

He'll ride a 25-match winning streak into the 3A state tournament, set to be held this upcoming Friday and Saturday at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello.

Grow, who placed second, second and fourth in three previous years, broke through for this year's 285-pound title, winning by a second period pin in the semifinals and by a narrow 9-7 decision in a match that came down to the wire against Kellogg's Kyle Van Vleet.

Senior Orion Grimes (126) won three matches, two by pin and another by a 6-4 decision in the semifinals and placed second for the Spartans. Levi Holbrook (98) also picked up a second-place finish.

Sophomore Liam Pettit (120), senior Gunnar Eversole (190) and junior Darien Ratzlaff (215) all placed third for Priest River. Pettit and Eversole had three pins on the day while Ratzlaff won by first period pin in the quarterfinals and by a 15-4 major decision in the third-place match.

Rounding out the automatic state qualifiers for the Spartans was freshman Bill Rapier (132), who went 2-2 on the day.

Kellogg had four individual champions and 10 finalists and won the team title for the fourth straight year with 423 points.

TEAM SCORES — 1, Kellogg 423; 2, St. Maries 236; 3, Priest River 190.5; 4, Potlatch 158; 5, Clearwater Valley 126; 6, Grangeville 104; 7, Lakeside 88; 8, Orofino 44; 9, Kamiah 30; 10, Kendrick 28.5; 11, Kootenai 27; 12, Lapwai 25.5; 13, Prairie 13. No score — Nezperce, Troy.

(Top four to state, wildcards available)

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

98 — Liam Koehler, Grangeville, md. Levi Holbrook, Priest River, 16-2. 106 — Johnny Stovern, Kellogg, d. Kevin Watson, Kellogg, 6-0. 113 — Colton Storey, Kellogg, p. Aiden Figueroa, Kellogg, 1:35. 120 — Carsun Hinkelmann, Kellogg, p. Ashton Lewis, Kootenai, 4:36. 126 — Eian Schwecke, Kendrick, md. Orion Grimes, Priest River, 16-4. 132 — Kelby Harvey, St. Maries, d. Treven Bush, Kellogg, 15-11. 138 — Hunter Gamble, Orofino, md. Tanner Labrum, Kamiah, 25-14. 144 — Colm McLaimtaig, Priest River, p. Jerrett Brebner, St. Maries, 1:34. 150 — Brady Vergobbi, Kellogg, p. Jacob Fabbi, Clearwater Valley, 1:18. 157 — Zach David, St. Maries, tf. William Yearout, Potlatch, 26-10. 165 — Aiden Yearout, St. Maries, md. Estuardo Puderbaugh, Clearwater Valley, 11-1. 175 — Zack Sotin, St. Maries, p. Andrew Lewis, Kellogg, 1:39. 190 — Parker Farmer, Grangeville, p. A.J. Peak, Kellogg, 5:16. 215 — Layne Morris, Lakeside, d. Rustle Brusseau, St. Maries, 6-4. 285 — Caleb Grow, Priest River, d. Kyle VanVleet, Kellogg, 9-7.

THIRD-PLACE MATCHES

98 — No match. 106 — Kason Heitstuman, Potlatch, p. Jayden Wilson, Lakeside, 0:26. 113 — Peter Fabbi, Clearwater Valley, p. Luke Stark, Grangeville, 0:47. 120 — Liam Pettit, Priest River, p. Lowden White, Kellogg, 4:29. 126 — Ricky Haralson, Kellogg, tf. Ryker Wilkins, Clearwater Valley, 18-3. 132 — Wyatt Storey, Kellogg, tf. Bill Rapier, Priest River, 16-0. 138 — Chase Scribner, Kellogg, p. Magnus Bryngelson, Potlatch, 3:45. 144 — Tanner Williams, Kellogg, p. Benjamin Johnson, Potlatch, 1:44. 150 — Amado Stewart, St. Maries, d. Jayce Haynes, Kellogg, 10-4. 157 — Conner Christensen, Clearwater Valley, p. Hollis Elliott, Grangeville, 2:04. 165 — Carson Yearout, Potlatch, d. Zach Eneas, Lapwai, 11-9. 175 — Keltan Allmen, St. Maries, p. Logan Poesy, Potlatch, 2:26. 190 — Gunnar Eversole, Priest River, p. Julian Moffitt, Lakeside, 0:54. 215 — Darien Ratzlaff, Priest River, md. Kristoffer Brusseau, St. Maries, 15-4. 285 — Russell Fields, Kellogg, p. Lander Mitzkus, Clearwater Valley, 3:37.

FOURTH-PLACE MATCHES

98 — no match. 106 — Jayden Wilson, Lakeside, no contest. 113 — Luke Stark, Grangeville, d. Jack Zalewski, Priest River, no challenge. 120 — Lowden White, Kellogg, d. Brody McGreal, Potlatch, no challenge. 126 — Gabe Halloran, St. Maries, p. Tomas Gonzalez, Kamiah, 4:27. 132 — Bill Rapier, Priest River, d. Liam Walle, Clearwater Valley, no challenge. 138 — Magnus Bryngelson, Potlatch, d. Jackson Spry, Kellogg, no challenge. 144 — Benjamin Johnson, Potlatch, tf. Dylan Hansen, St. Maries, 16-0. 150 — Jayce Haynes, Kellogg, d. Josiah Dole, Lakeside, no challenge. 157 — Hollis Elliott, Grangeville, d. John Brownfield, Kellogg, no challenge. 165 — Zach Eneas, Lapwai, d. Oliver Daniels, Lakeside, no challenge. 175 — Logan Poesy, d. Jacob Arthur, Lapwai, no challenge. 195 — Julian Moffitt, Lakeside, d. Jonah Berger, Potlatch, no challenge. 215 — Kristoffer Brusseau, St. Maries, d. Tyler Gacek, Lakeside, no challenge. 285 — Lander Mitzkus, Clearwater Valley, d. Dante Davis, Lapwai, no challenge.