These Two Still On Track Crawford, Tuinstra Win Openers At State Wrestling

Two Sandpoint High wrestlers couldn’t wait to return here this week. Seniors Cody Crawford (125 pounds) and Joe Tuinstra (171) are seeking redemption. One was knocked out of the State A-1 tournament early last year and the other was knocked out - literally.

Last year, Crawford suffered a defeat that derailed his dream of winning a state championship.

He was tied with Justin Hugo of Eagle at 2-2 near the end of the second period when the lights went out.

Actually, Crawford’s lights went out. He shot an outside single. As he went to trip Hugo the wrestlers tumbled. During the scramble, Hugo grabbed Crawford’s head and neck.

As they rolled to the mat, Hugo had his arm pressed against Crawford’s windpipe. Crawford passed out. Hugo posted the easiest pin of his career against no resistance.

Crawford regained consciousness, but didn’t know what happened. He was crushed.

“It was weird. I woke up and looked at my coach and he said I got pinned,” Crawford said.

Hugo went on to win the state title and Crawford placed fourth.

Crawford opened state Thursday against a tough opponent, but he prevailed 8-3 over Chet Garner of Centennial at Idaho State University’s Holt Arena.

“The guy Cody wrestled could have been seeded second or third,” Sandpoint coach Eric Langley said. “And Cody could have been seeded first instead of second. So it was a tough match.”

Crawford, who improved to 30-4, controlled from the outset, posting an 8-1 lead before Garner scored a late takedown.

He won with a cracked left toenail on his big toe. He injured it earlier in the day drilling against teammate Jared Lawrence.

“I don’t know what it was but I felt a little out of shape in the third period,” Crawford said.

Several North Idaho wrestlers and coaches complained of sluggishness. Some attributed it to the higher altitude.

Crawford was especially pumped up because grandparents from San Jose, Calif., and Grand Junction, Colo., surprised him by attending the tournament.

For the second straight year, Crawford’s sister, Kaylene, a freshman, sang the National Anthem to open the tourney.

Tuinstra, meanwhile, reversed his first-round fortunes from last year.

Seeded No. 1 at 171 last year, Tuinstra is the first to admit he overlooked his first-round opponent and subsequently left his heart on the mat after losing an 18-16 overtime decision to the eventual state champ.

“After the loss, I gave up,” Tuinstra said. “Nothing was there. I had no mental power and strength.

Nothing will satisfy me now except a state championship.”

Tuinstra opened in state-title form Thursday, pinning Lewiston’s Chad Yochum in 3:33. It was Tuinstra’s third pin in as many matches against Yochum.

“I was much more focused today,” Tuinstra said, smiling. “I want to make up for last year.”

Langley has pushed Tuinstra hard this season.

“Last year has been grating on him all year, and I haven’t let him forget it either,” Langley said. The victory raised Tuinstra’s record to 30-3. He finished third in the prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions, his first matches of the year. He has yet to lose to an Idaho wrestler this season. “And I’m not going to,” Tuinstra said.

Langley expects Tuinstra’s most difficult test to come before the state finals.

“It’ll be in the semifinals,” Langley said. “If he wins there, he’ll win in the finals.”

So it was one down for both Bulldogs and three more to go. They return to action this morning in the quarterfinals. The semifinals are in the evening.

They need two more victories to wrestle for their dreams.

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