Post Falls battles to third straight trophy

NAMPA, Idaho – Boise-area teams ruled the day at the state wrestling championships, but Post Falls did enough to earn a trophy for the third consecutive year.

Sophomore Alius Delarosa defended his title at 120 pounds, leading the Trojans to a third-place finish Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center.

“We’re really happy to be coming home with a trophy,” Post Falls coach Pete Reardon said. “It wasn’t the finals we wanted – we lost some really close matches – but that’s the way it goes in the state finals. It was great to see Alius win his second title and overall, I’m really happy with the team.”

Delarosa wrestled a tough, tactical title match to defeat Borah’s Devaughn Sapien 4-1.

“I wrestled him twice this season – we went 1-1 – and I knew there were things I needed to work on against him,” Delarosa said. “I practiced those, and I think that’s what kept me in control of the match.”

Delarosa was the only one of Post Falls’ five finalists to win a title. Drake Foster, TJ Wolf, Seth McLeod and Justin Farnsworth finished as runners-up, while 106-pound freshman Cierra Foster made history by placing third – the highest state finish ever by a female wrestler.

Centennial rolled to the team title with 320.5 points, followed by Borah (200) and Post Falls (194.5).

Lewiston junior Ryan Klemp and Coeur d’Alene senior Matt James also won individual titles for the Inland Empire League. Klemp, now a three-time champ, controlled Borah’s Taylor Owens to win 5-1 in the 152-pound final.

“When it comes to a big match like this, it’s not about flare,” Klemp said. “Sometimes you just have to wrestle solid and stay in good position. It’s fun (to be a three-time champ).”

Lewiston’s Bryce Parson had Centennial’s Hayden Tuma on the ropes in the 145-pound final, but Tuma escaped with a 4-3 decision to capture his fourth state championship.

In the 285-pound final, James defeated district rival Farnsworth by 10-3 decision for his first state title.

4A

Kuna dominated the competition, winning six individual titles while racking up 318 points. Columbia was a distant second and Bonneville was third.

Kuna’s Michael Cook (132 pounds) and Columbia’s Tristian Jarboe (145 pounds) both wrapped up their prep careers as four-time state champions.

Lakeland’s Killian Estes (182 pounds) and Sandpoint’s Josh Travers (220 pounds) were 4A runners-up.

3A

Kellogg junior Blake Ivie successfully defended his title, earning a 14-7 decision over Marsh Valley’s Braxton James in the 132-pound final.

“Wrestling is what I love to do, and to be the best at it, it’s just a great feeling,” Ivie said.

Timberlake senior Preston Rhodes won his first state championship at 160 pounds, cruising to a 7-1 decision over Dustin Kistenmacher of Weiser.

Fruitland easily won the team title with 264 points, followed by Snake River and Teton.

2A

St. Maries senior Aaron Kolar placed second, losing a 3-2 decision to Rainier Montes of McCall-Donnelly in the 138-pound title match.

Malad won a tightly-contested team race with 147 points, followed by Firth and Challis.