Walkington Part Of Success Formula Senior Has Helped Town Go To The Bulldogs

Dan Taylor remembers the days when Sandpoint High School wrestling attracted 25 fans to Bulldog Gym.

Senior Trevor Walkington also hasn’t forgotten, which made Friday night’s spirited senior tribute seem more like a hero’s celebration.

A record Sandpoint wrestling crowd, estimated at 1,000, cheered the two-time defending State A-1 champions to a 60-12 thrashing of Coeur d’Alene.

“Wrestling has come full circle now,” Taylor said. “We are to the standard now to where we can load the gym. I look at that as being a big deal, especially in this community.”

The reality of the Bulldogs’ accomplishments hit Walkington in mid-January when Sandpoint placed 12th in the Reno Tournament of Champions. The 32-team invitational included 24 of the nation’s top 25 teams as ranked by USA Today.

“It was like we couldn’t believe we were there,” explained Walkington of the Nevada trip. “Three years ago, we weren’t very much of a power; we placed 13th at state. All of a sudden, we’re a top-30 team in the nation.”

Walkington knew Sandpoint had the nucleus for a strong team simply because many started wrestling as grade-schoolers in Taylor’s age-division program.

“After the first time we won state when I was a sophomore (1994), we thought we had a good tournament,” the 135-pounder added. “Last year, we took state and took regional. We started realizing it wasn’t just a good tournament, we really did have a bunch of talent.”

Walkington, senior Brett Lawrence (125) and sophomore Jared Lawrence (112) reinforced that fact at Reno by placing fifth, second and first, respectively. Top six placers were named All-Americans.

The Bulldogs close the regular season tonight in a non-league dual at Bonners Ferry.

Inland Empire League coaches meet Monday to determine seeding for the A-1 Region I Tournament in Sandpoint next weekend. The 135-pound bracket features defending state champion Billy Greene of Lewiston, Walkington’s rival.

Walkington (20-5) won last year’s regional, but fell to Greene in the last 10 seconds of the 1995 state semifinal.

“(Greene) waits and he waits; he’s a defender and I’m an offender,” Walkington said. “It evens things out when you’re trying to shoot.”

Walkington, a three-time state placer, knows he can’t set up Greene. Walkington beat Greene 5-3 in overtime to win the Clearwater Classic in Lewiston last month. Less than two weeks ago, Greene rallied for a 4-3 win over Walkington in a dual.

“Trevor is very, very coachable; very smooth, too, with change-ups,” Taylor said. “The change-up might be a counter, it might be something on offense; he can do it on defense or offense. It could be on bottom or it could be on the feet.

“One thing about Trevor, he’s got a lot of faith in what I’m saying,” Taylor added. “I’ve dealt with him a long time. Out on the mat, I make direct eye-to-eye contact. He knows he can change up. I demand it, because when something is not working, you can’t continue to go to it.”

Though an individual state title has eluded Walkington, it’s not for a lack of effort or desire.

“I’ve just got to relax,” Walkington said. “I get really nervous. I can’t even think. I get really tired before the whistle blows. After the first period, I calm down.

“I like to push around, snap them down and go real hard,” Walkington added. “I don’t like to stay in one spot. I like to move them around and shake them up.” Walkington and Brett Lawrence, a three-time state champ, are regular practice partners.

“I can take (Lawrence) down, but I’ve got to get him a little messed up first,” Walkington said. “Definitely, we have some good matches. He beats on me. That helps me. It’s fun to see who’s going to get the takedown, it takes so long. Sometimes, we’ve got to break it up and go wrestle someone else.”

Walkington’s natural ability awes teammate Shawn Garner. “He’s just one of those kids that’s good,” the junior said. “Even if he didn’t work hard, he would win. He listens, and he does all the moves right. He doesn’t have to learn it.

“We never take Brett down,” Garner added. “And Trevor, if he didn’t want us to take him down, we wouldn’t. If he wanted to go hard, we wouldn’t get away with it.”

IEL football coaches honored Walkington last fall with all-league honors at defensive back. The 3.0-student also plays forward for the Bulldogs soccer team.

“During football, sometimes you just wanted to quit (wrestling) before the season starts,” Walkington said. “Then you remember how good it feels to be on a state-championship team.

“It’s the challenge, I guess, (wrestling) gets you ready for life, especially with a coach like Dan,” Walkington added. “He knows what it takes to be a champion. It’s hard work. That’s all it is, real discipline.”

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