Lewiston, Post Falls send strong group to state wrestling

No matter how you figure it, the Idaho 5A state wrestling champion is likely to come out of the panhandle.

After Saturday’s championship round of the District I and II tournament at Lakeland High School in Rathdrum, Lewiston and Post Falls, who finished 1-2 for the 5A district title, combined to send 36 entrants directly into next weekend’s tournament at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

“We came in here and won this tournament a year ago and I think we peaked here,” Lewiston coach Dan Maurer said. “We went to state and didn’t wrestle all that well while Coeur d’Alene won their second straight state title. We’re going to go back home and get in some good workouts and see if we can do better this time around.”

Host Lakeland ran away with the 4A district title, sent 16 wrestlers into the championship round and had at least one wrestler in all but one final match, easily outpointing second-place Sandpoint 313-186 1/2.

Kellogg crowned five champions and had five second-place finishers to win the 3A district crown, posting 302 points, 51 points ahead of runner-up Timberlake.

5A

The championship round was a showcase for Lewiston and Post Falls.

Post Falls had 13 wrestlers in the finals and had both finalists at two weight classes. Lewiston sent 11 out to wrestle for the district crown.

“By the time we get to this tournament, these kids have wrestled each other three or four times already,” Maurer said. “I don’t care how great you are. It’s tough to beat someone four times, because they eventually figure you out.

“Take 170 pounds, for example. Cole Jesienouski is one of the very best wrestlers in the state and the first time we wrestled him, he beat our kid by 12 points. This time, he won by one point. Does that mean next time we beat him? Good question.”

PF coach Pete Reardon will take six district champions into next weekend’s state championship tournament: Lucas Bolster (98 pounds), Mitch Crain (120), James Ost (145), Austin Wilson (160), Cole Jesienouski (170), and Nathan McLeod (182.

Maurer takes six district champs to Pocatello: Drake Randall (106), A. J. Konda (113), Josh Carlton (126), Bryce Parsons (132), Ryan Klemp (138) and Ryan Rigney (220).

“I think the state champion will come from either Lewiston or us, and maybe Centennial,” Reardon predicted. “Lewiston came in here and wrestled really well. But as well as their kids wrestled, I think our kids wrestled great, too. I think we’re both going to be pretty strong at state.”

Lewiston’s season has been on a roller coaster the past month and a half. Maurer abruptly resigned Jan. 13 as the Bengals head wrestling coach, then rescinded his resignation and sat out a three-week suspension before being reinstated Feb. 4.

“During my suspension there were a lot of tears and a lot of anger,” the coach said. “But I think it may have helped this team to gel. I hope so.”

Klemp was a particular bright-spot for the Bengals. The freshman won for the 31st time in 35 matches this season and is the No. l-ranked Schoolboy Division wrestler in the nation, Maurer said.

4A

It was almost impossible to keep the Hawks off the mat in their own gym.

Lakeland missed placing a wrestler in the championship match only at 182 pounds, and crowned eight district champions.

Tyler Hendricks posted one of the shortest championship matches, pinning A.J. Bruce of Moscow in just 31 seconds at 113 pounds.

Sandpoint had a half-dozen district champions and Moscow’s Jayden Vassell earned the Bears lone district crown by pinning Skylar Hatch of Lakeland in just 32 seconds.

3A

Kellogg and Timberlake each crowned five individual district champions. Kellogg heads off to Pocatello with 19 wrestlers entered in the state tournament. Timberlake books 11 into state.

Bryson Vergobbi (106), Blake Ivie (113), Cole Jerome (138), Cody Stewart (145) and Cory Squires (152) all won district titles to lead Kellogg.