Badgers in trophy hunt
POCATELLO, Idaho – Bonners Ferry coach Conrad Garner only brought 10 wrestlers to the state tournament.
Fortunately for the Badgers, half of those wrestlers have made it through to the finals, and at least six will bring home individual medals.
Despite being heavily outnumbered by American Falls, Weiser, Homedale and Shelley, the Badgers have hung tough in the 3A trophy race and are clinging to second place.
American Falls leads the pack with 159.5 points, and it will be tough for anyone to catch the Beavers in today’s final round. Bonners Ferry has a slim lead over Weiser for second place, 136-129.5.
“We really want to hold on to that second-place trophy,” Garner said. “I thought the kids did an awesome job, with five out of 10 getting through to the championship round.”
Two-time defending champion Adam Hall extended his winning streak to 120 matches with a win in the semifinals. Hall, a senior, will wrestle teammate Ken Swift for the 152-pound title, and he is excited to see his comrade in the finals.
“It’s going to be fun,” Hall said. “I am happy that Kenny fought his way through. I can’t take it easy on him though.”
Garner was also pleased to see an all-Bonners Ferry final.
“It’s awesome for me, because I just get to sit back and watch,” Garner said. “I won’t be coaching either of them. I am happy for both of them.”
Three more Badgers will be grappling for gold medals, including David Hayes, Jozef Musial and Jared Stone.
Hayes, a 140-pound junior, will look to finish the job this time after a runner-up effort to Snake River’s Race Bowman last year.
Musial will wrestle for the 171-pound title, while Stone is looking for a championship in the heavyweight division.
Hall was pleased with his team’s performance, although he acknowledges there is little hope to catch American Falls.
“I thought we wrestled well,” Hall said. “Right now, I think it’s probably a race for second place, though. American Falls is a good team, and they won when they needed to tonight. But I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish with just 10 guys here.”
Hall will attempt to win his third consecutive individual title this afternoon in what will be his final match in a Badgers uniform.
In other 3A action, Kellogg’s Michael Ryan pulled a semifinal upset to get into the championship round at 119. Ryan shook off a knee injury to oust Marsh Valley’s T.J. Solomon, the No. 2 seed in the tournament.
“I am so happy with this win,” Ryan said. “My coaches gave me a lot of confidence, and I just found a way to win again tonight.”