Post Falls wrestler ‘just fired on all cylinders’

The Booth clan, which has been sending wrestlers through Post Falls High School for nearly three decades, finally has a state championship to boast about.

Ryan Booth broke through at the State 5A tournament last Saturday, capturing a state title at 152 pounds.

He did so in dominating fashion. The senior, who finished with a 46-1 overall record, posted an 18-2 technical fall over Mark Hobson of Lewiston. He won by technical fall in his opening match and in the quarterfinals before advancing to the title match with a 10-3 win in the semifinals.

Booth had won by modest decisions in two earlier matches against Hobson.

It was obvious from the opening whistle, though, that Booth wasn’t going to be stopped Saturday.

“Even if I lost there wasn’t going to be any doubt in my mind that I wrestled the best that I could,” Booth said.

“He just dominated,” Post Falls coach Dennis Amende said. “You can’t say enough about Ryan Booth. He’s got so many qualities that are admirable. These are the things that make high school activities cool. He’s a kid that does the right things and works hard. He was rewarded for that.”

Booth impressed Lewiston coach Dan Maurer.

“He just fired on all cylinders,” Maurer said.

Booth opened with a takedown and a three-point near fall. Hobson escaped for a point, but Booth followed with another takedown and near fall points for a 10-1 lead after the first period.

Two more takedowns coupled with near fall points allowed Booth to end the match with one second remaining in the second period.

“We had a couple of close matches before, but this time I went out there with all I had,” Booth said.

Booth, who entered the tournament as the top seed, was seeded second at state last year. But he wrestled poorly and didn’t place.

“It means so much to me after last year,” Booth said.

Mike Booth, Ryan’s cousin and an assistant coach, was one of two cousins who had wrestled in state title matches in years past only to finish second. Mike took second at the same weight in 1995.

“He was a really determined kid,” said Mike, who had the honor of giving Ryan his state title medal. “He put in a lot of hard work and it all paid off for him.”

Tyler Booth, Ryan’s younger brother who is an eighth-grader, watched his older brother win the title.

“My little brother is coming up. It’s nice to know that he’s looking up to me,” Ryan said. “I know that he’ll do it some day. Hopefully he wins it a couple more times than I did.”

Amende sees more state titles in the future of the large Booth family.

“I don’t think Ryan’s going to be the last one,” Amende said.

Other Trojans fare well

Post Falls finished seventh with 122 points, 22.5 out of fourth and a trophy.

Ryan Booth wasn’t the only family member to do well. His cousins Seth Wright and Danny Booth also did the family proud.

Wright (42-5), a junior, took second at 119, falling to Dilly Gentry of Meridian 14-3 in the title match. Danny Booth, a senior who was seeded first at 145, took third. In his final match, he pinned Chance Requa of Twin Falls in 2 minutes, 31 seconds.

Cole Amende, the coach’s son, took third at 215. In his final match, Amende pinned Spencer Miles of Lewiston in 1:42.

It was Amende’s second win over Miles at state. After losing 7-6 to Miles in the regional final, Amende avenged the loss with a 10-8 win in the quarterfinals.

“I didn’t make any mistakes,” Amende said after the quarterfinal match. “I made bunches of mistakes (at regionals).”

The Trojans’ other medal winners were Jeremy Zabel and Mikel Buffaloe. Zabel took third at 160 and Buffaloe was fifth at 171.

First better than second

Junior Kyle McCrite of Lakeland didn’t have any fun a year ago when he finished second at state, losing to teammate Brandon Richardson in the title match at 119.

“It’s definitely something I don’t want to go through again,” McCrite said. “It’s not very enjoyable when you’re wrestling your teammate.”

So imagine his jubilation when he claimed a 4A state championship at 125.

He decided to take a cautious approach to the title match.

“I wanted to wrestle safe and not get caught in anything. I didn’t want to screw things up,” McCrite said. “Sometimes I get a little sloppy if I come out too aggressive. I just decided to keep it safe.”

Lakeland coach Rob Edelblute was a nervous wreck. But he always is when one of his athletes is in a state title match.

“I was worried more than Kyle was,” Edelblute said. “Kyle was like ‘relax coach.’ I’m a worrywart by nature.”

McCrite, who finished 38-3, had an outstanding season. He also won at the Tri-State tournament.

“I’m glad for him,” Edelblute said. “He’s kind of been in the shadows of other people the past couple of years. He showed this year how true a competitor he is. He has another year and can add a little more to his credentials.”

One other Lakeland wrestler captured a state medal. Junior Tristan Storrs (135) took fourth.