Sandpoint Wrestlers Near Title

Sandpoint High School wrestling coach Dan Taylor wouldn’t claim victory just yet after the State A-1 semifinals Friday at the Kibbie Dome.

A year ago to the day, Sandpoint had locked up its first state championship, building an insurmountable 49.5-point lead going into the final day.

Sandpoint takes a 38-point lead into today’s championship and consolation finals. The Bulldogs tallied 139.5 to Capital’s 101.5 and advanced four wrestlers - three of whom are defending champions - into the state title matches.

It would take a complete collapse by the Bulldogs for Capital to catch Sandpoint. Even then, the Eagles probably couldn’t pull it off.

The Bulldogs defending champions - sophomore Shawn Garner at 112 pounds, junior Brett Lawrence at 119 and sophomore Pat Larson at 140 - join Lawrence’s freshman brother, Jared at 103, in the finals.

Also advancing for a shot at gold from North Idaho were Post Falls seniors Ben Frank (135) and Mike Booth (152), Lewiston seniors Pat Clevenger (125) and Billy Greene (130) and Coeur d’Alene’s senior heavyweight Josh Curran.

In the A-2 tournament, meanwhile, a chase is on for the team championship between defending champion Snake River and traditional power Sugar-Salem. Snake River ended Friday with 162.5 points, eight ahead of Sugar-Salem.

It’s a down year for North Idaho A-2 teams. Only two area wrestlers - Lakeland senior Kole Clauson and Bonners Ferry junior Justin Pluid - will be seeking gold tonight.

In the A-3 tournament, West Jefferson pulled away from the field with 135.5 points. Runner-up and defending champion North Fremont has 118.5.

Wallace juniors Richard Clark (125) and Michael LaBau (160) will be seeking state titles tonight.

Consolation action begins this morning at 9:30. Consolation finals will be held from 12:30 to 2:30 with championship finals scheduled for 5:15.

A-1

Sandpoint did suffer some losses Friday. Sophomore Zack Vaughan was defeated by an unseeded opponent in the semifinals and junior Trevor Walkington also fell in the semis to Lewiston’s Greene, 4-3.

Both matches were decided on last-second takedowns.

Still, Taylor had much to be pleased about.

“We’re not coming in hiding under the back door like last year,” Taylor said. “The more kids you put in the semifinals (six), the more chances of an upset. And we had two upsets (tonight). All of our kids will grind for six minutes (in each match) tomorrow.”

Jared Lawrence handled Capital’s Jason Oakes 7-1; Garner breezed past Justin Hugo of Centennial 8-1; Brett Lawrence barely broke a sweat in an 8-0 win over Kirk Landeberge of Centennial; and in one of the most exciting semifinals, Larson, who fell behind 5-0, pinned Jason Lords of Bonneville with 3 seconds left in the first period.

Lewiston’s Greene had lost to Walkington twice this season, including a 6-0 defeat last weekend at regionals.

But the Bengal worked aggressively until the final seconds when he seized the opportunity.

“I knew I had to get the takedown; that’s all that was in my mind,” said Greene. He broke in to tears seconds after the match. Bing Greene embraced his grandson then hugged Walkington, who had been undefeated in 21 matches.

Frank and Booth jumped out to early leads and rode their opponents late for wins. Frank defeated Shane Lorance of Capital 8-3 while Booth held off Myan Burton of Madison 7-2.

CdA’s Curran will face the opponent he’s dreamed of when he takes on undefeated Minico heavyweight and defending champion Tracy Vail in the final match tonight.

Curran scored a 21-6 technical fall over Kevin Longhurst of Idaho Falls while Vail needed just 40 seconds to pin Nate Eames of Madison.

A-2

Pluid clung tightly to a 2-1 lead late in his semi before he scored a pin at 4:51 over Earl Fish of Preston.

The Badger will meet Kyle Gilbert of Snake River in the title match. Gilbert upset No. 1 seeded and undefeated Chad Campbell of Vallivue 5-2.

Clauson improved to 28-0 with a win by injury default over Andy Andrews of Salmon. Clauson was leading comfortably at 7-2 when he powered Andrews to the mat forcing the end to the match.

The team title may not be decided until late in the finals. Snake River has five in the finals to Sugar- Salem’s four.

A-3

Wallace’s Clark and LaBau strolled to wins in the semis.

Clark scored a 5-1 win over Brian Berry of Teton while LaBau triumphed 12-5 over Mori Mecham of West Jefferson.