North Idaho On Gold Quest Eight Panhandle Wrestlers Move To Finals

Eight North Idaho wrestlers will be seeking gold today in state championship matches.

Four Inland Empire League and four Intermountain League wrestlers triumphed in the semifinals Friday at Idaho state tournaments in Idaho State University’s Holt Arena.

Post Falls’ senior bookends - 103-pounder Al Mack and heavyweight Matt Smith - led an impressive showing by Panhandle athletes.

Seeking to become Post Falls’ first three-time state champ, Mack dominated Sandpoint’s Jake Macdonald, posting a 14-3 major decision.

Mack wore a new singlet for a second straight day, but he’ll don his old uniform - the one in which he’s captured two state titles - today.

About 2 hours after Mack’s match, Smith expended little energy in pinning Idaho Falls’ Justin Bird in 1:56.

Then Smith ran off the mat, grabbed his gear, accepted congratulations and sprinted to post his weight for the championship finals.

Smith didn’t stick around to watch the other semifinal.

“I’m not worried about those guys,” said Smith, who will face state runner-up Phil Colburn of Idaho Falls. “I can beat ‘em both.”

Colburn had to go the distance to beat Madison’s Lance Barber 4-3.

Post Falls coach Dennis Amende got what he expected Friday. “Both Al and Matt are wrestling really well,” Amende said. “They’re very focused. We’ll do fine (today).”

The Trojans finished the semifinals in sixth place with 67.5 points, and they have an opportunity to move into the top five.

Sandpoint, which moved Jared Lawrence (135) and Cody Crawford (125) into the finals, is in fourth with 74 points. Defending champ Idaho Falls was well in front with 207.5.

Lawrence and Crawford were impressive in their title match-qualifying victories as both scored pins.

Lawrence praised his opponent, Baden Patterson of Hillcrest, for coming out and putting up a challenge. The undefeated Bulldog got the pin in 3:04.

“He deserves a lot of credit,” said Lawrence, who actually broke a sweat. “That’s what the sport is about - competing. It takes a lot of heart to go out and do it. I applaud him.”

Lawrence needs a victory today to complete his career undefeated as a four-time champ.

“I’ve got one more. I’ll do my best,” Lawrence said, smiling.

In the A-2 tourney, Bonners Ferry pushed two into the state finals - senior Winter Braden at 135 and junior Travis Liermann at 160.

Braden fought off Luke Andrews of Salmon for a 10-3 decision.

The muscular Liermann knocked off the A-2 player of the year in football, Aaron Thomason of Weiser, in a 10-4 victory.

Semi-losers

Five Panhandle wrestlers fell in the semifinals and will be battling for consolation medals today.

Joining Macdonald and Priest River’s Josh Queen in the consolation bracket were:

St. Maries Shaun Willey, who was pinned in 3:50 at 103 by No. 1 seed Clint Wolfey of Snake River; St. Maries’ Dante Stone, who was pinned by No. 1 seed Ty Matthews of Jerome in 3:02 at 189; and Sandpoint’s Joe Tuinstra, who dropped a heartbreaking overtime decision 3-1 to Ricky David of Bonneville at 171.

Today’s matches

Consolation matches begin this morning at 8 PST. Matches for third/ fourth and fifth/sixth will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Championship finals will be held immediately following pre-final ceremonies at 1:30 p.m.

Coach speak

Sometimes coaches say the darndest things.

We culled a few gems by walking past the eight mats on the floor of Holt Arena.

Here were some of the best of the odd things coaches said to inspire their wrestlers to victory:

“You’ve got to score.” Translation: You’re not going to win with a goose egg on the scoreboard.

“Try something different, try something different.” Translation: Go to Plan B.

“Just stand up.” Translation: Get off your arse.

“Run your knee into his butt.” Translation: Catch his attention.

“Just stand up II.” Translation: Get off your belly.

“Sit up, sit up.” Translation: Similar to just stand up.

“Keep winding, keep winding.” Translation: Spin him like a top.

“Pull the heel out of your crotch.” Translation: We’re not sure and we don’t want to know.

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