Wrapping Up A Banner Year Sandpoint’s Lawrence Headlines All-North Idaho Wrestlers

It was another memorable year for a handful of North Idaho high school wrestlers.

They had the misfortune, though, of competing in the same year as Jared Lawrence of Sandpoint.

Yes, four other wrestlers captured state championships. But those accomplishments were overshadowed by the end of an amazing career as Lawrence collected his fourth state championship.

And he finished undefeated at 133-0. It’s the most wins by an unbeaten wrestler in state history and the most wins in school history.

An undefeated career has been accomplished before, as has four state championships. But Lawrence’s marks could stand for some time to come.

As one coach said, going undefeated for four years requires considerable talent and a nearly equal amount of luck.

“You have to consider that kids get sick and injured,” Meridian coach Kelly Bartlett said.

But then there’s Lawrence, who needed no luck in his career. If he was going to lose it would have been in his first prep match.

He went to a season-opening tournament in Ronan, Mont., his freshman year where he was pitted against the top seed at 103 pounds. All Lawrence did was fashion a 9-2 victory.

It culminated at state this year when he scored a technical fall in his final match.

Lawrence headlines the annual Spokesman-Review All-North Idaho Wrestling Team.

An abbreviated list of accomplishments includes Lawrence becoming the first four-time Tri-State champ. He also won two titles at the prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions.

Lawrence may have been the story this season. But he wasn’t the only story.

A look at the list of state champions reveals that no current wrestlers are on pace to join Lawrence in the undefeated spotlight.

Sandpoint and Post Falls each had two state champions.

Joining Lawrence was teammate Cody Crawford (33-4), who rallied late in his final to capture gold at 125.

Post Falls’ bookends - Al Mack (34-0) at 103 pounds and Matt Smith (35-1) at heavyweight - earned state titles.

Mack became the school’s first three-time champ. Smith’s win may have been considered an upset by folks in Southern Idaho, but he believed he was going to win a state title from the start of the season.

Trojans coach Dennis Amende was a runaway selection as Coach of the Year by his peers. His team won its first Region I title in school history.

The other North Idaho state champ was the surprise story of the year.

Junior Travis Liermann (33-3) of Bonners Ferry had a modest goal at the start of the season. He wanted to place.

Just after Christmas, though, Liermann began to show signs of contending for a title. It culminated with a state championship at 160.

St. Maries placed two on the first team, both state qualifiers. But freshman Vern Malensky’s season was cut short three days before state when he was in a serious auto accident.

Malensky (29-4) had to withdraw from state, where he easily could have finished in the top three and perhaps challenged for a title.

Dante Stone (34-6) placed fifth for St. Maries at 189.

Priest River had three named to the first team, including two finalists.

The Spartans’ Jake Stark (22-3) was out to defend his title at 145, but fell short in the finals. Teammate Lucas Blaine (30-2) advanced to the title match at 140 before losing.

Zach Wood (23-12) of Priest River took fourth at 152.

Others named to the first team were: Pete Larson (25-12) of Lewiston at 119; Brian Adkisson (35-12) of Lewiston at 130; freshman Jake Rosholt (33-7) of Sandpoint at 140; and Joe Tuinstra of Sandpoint (33-4), who took third at 171.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: All-North Idaho wrestling team First team Name School Weight Year Al Mack Post Falls 103 pounds Senior Vern Malensky St. Maries 112 pounds Freshman Pete Larson Lewiston 119 pounds Senior Cody Crawford Sandpoint 125 pounds Senior Brian Adkisson Lewiston 130 pounds Senior Jared Lawrence Sandpoint 135 pounds Senior Lucas Blaine Priest River 140 pounds Junior Jake Rosholt Sandpoint 140 pounds Freshman Jake Stark Priest River 145 pounds Senior Zach Wood Priest River 152 pounds Senior Travis Liermann Bonners Ferry 160 pounds Junior Joe Tuinstra Sandpoint 171 pounds Senior Dante Stone St. Maries 189 pounds Senior Matt Smith Post Falls Heavyweight Senior Coach of the year: Dennis Amende, Post Falls Second team: Shaun Willey, St. Maries; Travis Duffey, St. Maries; Nathan Dawson, Kellogg; Billy Elliston, Bonners Ferry; Casey Holbrook, Priest River; Winter Braden, Bonners Ferry; Willie Wicks, Lewiston; Rocky Gray, St. Maries; Jesse Falke, Moscow; Josh Day, Post Falls; Chris Hughes, Priest River; Josh Buell, St. Maries; Mike Frei, Lewiston; Josh Queen, Priest River.