Taylor Resigns At Sandpoint

Denied a request for a one-year leave of absence, Dan Taylor has resigned as head wrestling coach at Sandpoint High School.

Taylor, who built the powerhouse program at Sandpoint, requested the leave so he could watch his son, Zac, in his final season at the University of Minnesota. Zac was a three-time state champ at Sandpoint.

Taylor’s request was denied because he’s a “walk-on” coach and not a teacher. Taylor owns an insurance business in Sandpoint.

Although Taylor is largely considered one of the top coaches if not the top coach in Idaho, he had a strained working relationship with Sandpoint athletic director Jack Dyck and wasn’t well liked in the coaching ranks because of his brash style.

“I haven’t been able to partake much in (Zac’s) college career because of (coaching), which I don’t regret,” Taylor said. “It’s hard to let go after 13 years.”

Taylor started coaching at Sandpoint as a volunteer assistant in 1984. He started the Top Dogs youth program, which has fed several state champions to his high school team, in 1985.

He took over as head coach in 1992. His teams won three straight State A-1 championships before being dethroned last winter. The Bulldogs finished second last year.

Sandpoint has won 32 straight dual matches. Taylor’s absence means he won’t be able to finish coaching senior-to-be Jared Lawrence, ranked No. 1 in the nation last year at 119 pounds. Lawrence will be seeking a fourth straight state championship and will likely finish his career undefeated.

NIC signs shortstop

A Polson High School shortstop has signed a letter of intent to play fastpitch softball for North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene.

Darci Amundson was a three-year varsity shortstop for Polson. She was named first-team all-state as a senior.

Indians lose to Boise again

J.C. Childs homered in consecutive innings to rally the Boise Hawks to a come-from-behind 10-8 win over the Spokane Indians in Boise.

The loss leaves the Indians seven games behind the front-running Hawks.

Spokane jumped out to a 3-0 in the top of the first inning on Dermal Brown’s two-run double and Doug Blosser’s RBI single.

Boise came back with a pair of runs off of Spokane starter Kris Wilson in the bottom of first.

Spokane stretched the lead to 7-3 in the fourth inning, but couldn’t make it hold up.

Boise cut it to 7-4, scoring a run on a double play grounder, in the bottom of the fourth.

Childs put Boise on top for good with a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the sixth.

, DataTimes