State A-1, A-2, A-3 Wrestling Tournaments
When All three tournaments begin three-day runs today at the University of Idaho’s Kibbie Dome in Moscow.
Cost
$20 general admission tournament pass; $16 discount tournament pass for students with activity cards and senior citizens; $5 general admission per session; $4 discount admission per session for students and seniors. Six sessions in tournaments, two per day.
Today
First-round matches, A-1, 2-4 p.m.; A-2, 4-6; A-3, 6-8; consolation matches for all divisions, 8:45-10.
Friday
Championship quarterfinals, A-1, 9-10 a.m.; A-2, 10-11; A-3, 11-noon; championship semifinals, A-1, A-2, A-3, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Consolation finals, 12:30 p.m.; championship finals, following 4:45 pre-final ceremonies.
A-1
Defending champ: Sandpoint
Teams to watch: Sandpoint, Capital, Minico, Idaho Falls
Returning champs: Shawn Garner, sophomore, Sandpoint, 103 pounds last year, 112 this year; Brett Lawrence, junior, Sandpoint, 112, 119; Charlie Griggs, jr., Centennial, 119, 125; Pat Larson, soph., Sandpoint, 135, 140; Jess Herron, sr., Capital, 145, 160; Pat Owens, sr., Idaho Falls, 152; Dave Foster, sr., Skyline, 189; Tracy Vail, sr., heavyweight.
Top local seeds: Jared Lawrence, freshman, Sandpoint, 103, No. 1 (23-0 record); Garner, 112, No. 1 (20-1); Brett Lawrence, 119, No. 1 (26-0); Pat Clevenger, sr., Lewiston, 125, No. 1 (29-1); Trevor Walkington, jr., Sandpoint, 130, No. 1 (19-0); Ben Frank, sr., Post Falls, 135, No. 2 (32-4); Larson, 140, No. 1 (26-3); Mike Booth, sr., Post Falls, 152, No. 2 (26-5); Josh Curran, sr., Coeur d’Alene, heavyweight, No. 2 (22-3).
Locals who could win: Lawrence brothers; Garner; Zach Vaughan, soph., Sandpoint, 112; Travis Carter, soph., Sandpoint, 125; Frank; Larson; Trevor Derrick, sr., Lewiston, 171; Curran.
At a glance
Sandpoint strangled the field last year, finishing 63 points ahead of runner-up Capital.
Post Falls coach Dennis Amende predicts a similar result this weekend.
“I don’t see how anybody can beat them,” Amende said. “Capital is probably the secondstrongest team and I see them finishing 50 to 60 points behind Sandpoint.”
Sandpoint coach Dan Taylor sees a possibility of as many as seven individual champions. He expects all 15 of his qualifiers to score points.
“The kids are right where I want them,” he said. “They’re in great shape, they’re ornery, they’re technical and they’re in the right frame of mind.”
Taylor said repeating is more difficult than winning the first time.
“We won’t surprise anybody this year,” Taylor said. “I know we’ve worked harder this year than last year.”
A-2
Defending champ: Snake River
Teams to watch: Sugar-Salem, Weiser, Snake River
Returning champs: Tony Price, soph., Sugar-Salem, 103 pounds last year, 112; Jason Williams, sr., American Falls, 125, 130; Jared Scott, sr., Snake River, 135, 140; Mike Jensen, sr., Middleton, 152, 171; Tim Matthews, sr., Jerome, 171, 189; Chuck Merrill, sr., Bear Lake, heavyweight.
Top local seeds: Ben Schilling, sr., St. Maries, 140, No. 2 (27-3); Tony Matson, sr., Moscow, 152 (31-4); Kole Clauson, sr., Lakeland, 160, No. 1 (25-0); Justin Pluid, jr., Bonners Ferry, 171, No. 2 (28-1); Kyle Watts, jr., Bonners Ferry, heavyweight (25-3).
Locals who could win: Nathan Pascoe, soph., Lakeland, 145 (21-3); Matson; Clauson; Pluid; Watts.
At a glance
It’s a down year for Intermountain League wrestlers. The IML has the fewest amount of top-seeded wrestlers at state in years.
No IML team will likely finish in the top five. The IML team to score the most points in consolation matches will likely finish highest among league teams as there will be few individuals who make the finals.
A-3
Defending champ: North Fremont
Teams to watch: North Fremont, Parma, Grangeville, Soda Springs, Malad
Returning champs: 1, James Fullmer, jr., Teton, 145.
Top local seeds: Mike LaBau, jr., Wallace, 160, No. 2 (28-5).
Locals who could win: LaBau.
At a glance
LaBau cruised to a district championship. Should he advance to the final he will likely meet No. 1 seed Maikeli Cikaitoga (28-5) of North Fremont.
Interestingly, 12 of the 13 state champions last year graduated, and just 27 of the 65 other placers return making the tournament wide open. There are no returning placers at heavyweight and three other weights return just one placer.