They Set The Standard Several State Champs On All-N. Idaho Team

Zac Taylor has been the standard by which wrestlers at Sandpoint High School have been measured in recent years.

For that matter, Taylor has been the measuring stick for wrestlers throughout North Idaho.

Taylor’s place in Sandpoint history found company this year.

Brett Lawrence, who looks up to Taylor as a role model, surpassed his hero in the school record book - and the state record book - this season. Lawrence became the second A-1 wrestler to win four state championships in the 37-year history of the sport.

Lawrence won state titles at 103, 112, 119 and 125 pounds. Taylor won three straight state crowns after finishing third as a freshman. Lawrence went 32-1 this season and finished his career with a 119-5 record.

Although he captured one more state title than his idol, Lawrence would be the first to tell anyone that he’s honored that his name is mentioned in the same breath as Taylor’s.

Appropriately, Lawrence leads a star-studded list of wrestlers named to The Spokesman-Review’s annual All-North Idaho Team. All 15 athletes named to the team earned state medals, as did the majority of second-team picks.

The All-North Idaho Team is selected by the region’s coaches.

Lawrence is joined on the All-North Idaho team by five teammates: his brother, Jared (112), Zach Vaughan (119), Brandon Larson (130), Trevor Walkington (135) and Isaac Maurer (145). Those are five good reasons why Sandpoint captured a third consecutive state crown.

Bonners Ferry, which finished fifth in the State A-2 Tournament, placed four wrestlers on the All-North Idaho Team. State champions Justin Pluid (189) and Dennis Liermann (140) were joined by heavyweight Kyle Watts and Todd Van Gundy (160).

Rounding out the team are Post Falls’ Al Mack (103), Coeur d’Alene’s Paul Weseman (140), Lakeland’s Nathan Pascoe (152) and Priest River’s Adam Lamb (171).

Bonners Ferry coach Conrad Garner, who guided the Badgers to their highest state finish, was chosen by his peers as coach of the year. He edged Sandpoint’s Dan Taylor.

Brett Lawrence, Liermann and Pluid weren’t the only state champions. Mack, Jared Lawrence, Weseman and Pascoe each struck gold.

Another state champion, Mark Stephens of Kootenai, was a second-team pick at 103.

Brett Lawrence’s place in school and state history could be shared in two years if his younger brother has anything to say about it.

Jared, a sophomore, had the best record of all wrestlers in the Panhandle at 31-0 as he collected a second consecutive state title.

Bonners Ferry’s charge to fifth in state was led by Pluid (34-1) and Liermann (36-3). Pluid added a second consecutive state title to his collection of medals.

Walkington finally broke through at state, beating nemesis and defending champion Billy Greene of Lewiston.

Lamb became the first wrestler from Priest River to be named to the first team. He posted a 34-5 mark and took third at state.

Mack went 30-3 and cruised to a state title, while Weseman helped a rebuilding CdA program by going 33-2 and and taking gold.

Here’s how the other first teamers fared: Vaughan (28-4, fifth at state); Larson (26-6, second); Maurer (26-8, fifth); Van Gundy (32-6, fifth); Watts (35-3, fourth).

Joining Stephens on second team were: 112 - Bill Elliston (Bonners Ferry); 119 - Brad Haney (Lakeland); 125 - Quinton Holbrook (Priest River); 130 - tie, Jake Stark (PR) and Shawn Garner (Sandpoint); 135 - Billy Greene (Lewiston); 140 - none; 145 - Pat Slusher (Kellogg); 152 - Pat Larson (Sandpoint); 160 - Mike LaBau (Wallace); 171 - none; 189 - Laki Ah Hi (Lewiston); heavyweight - tie, Esteban Arana (Post Falls) and Josh Queen (PR).

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ALL-NORTH IDAHO WRESTLING TEAM First team Name Weight Year School Al Mack 103 Sophomore Post Falls Jared Lawrence 112 Sophomore Sandpoint Zach Vaughan 119 Junior Sandpoint Brett Lawrence 125 Senior Sandpoint Brandon Larson 130 Junior Sandpoint Trevor Walkington 135 Senior Sandpoint Paul Weseman 140 Senior Coeur d’Alene Dennis Liermann 140 Senior Bonners Ferry Isaac Maurer 145 Senior Sandpoint Nathan Pascoe 152 Junior Lakeland Todd Van Gundy 160 Junior Bonners Ferry Adam Lamb 171 Senior Priest River Justin Pluid 189 Senior Bonners Ferry Kyle Watts Hvy Senior Bonners Ferry

Coach of the year: Conrad Garner, Bonners Ferry