Quick hits

Looking ahead

State wrestling berths on line

State-qualifying wrestling tournaments for the three largest classifications will be held at Post Falls High School on Saturday.

Action in the 5A Region I, 4A Region I and 3A District tournaments begins at The Arena at 8 a.m., with the championship finals on three mats beginning at about 6:30 p.m.

The top four finishers in 5A, the top two finishers in 4A and the top three finishers in 3A advance to state, which will be held Feb. 23-25 at Idaho State University’s Holt Arena. Third-place finishers in 4A also can earn at-large berths.

Coeur d’Alene is the three-time 5A regional champ, but the Vikings will be pushed by Lewiston. Sandpoint is favored in 4A, but Lakeland will be right on the Bulldogs’ heels. Bonners Ferry has won five straight 3A titles, but could be challenged by Intermountain League dual champion Timberlake.

Here are the defending regional/district champs and the weights they won at last year: 5A – Isaak Lawlor of CdA (119); Cody Ensley of Lewiston (171); Mike Vickhammer of Lake City (215); and Mark Skogrand of Lewiston (heavyweight); 4A – Danny Booth of Post Falls (103); Alec Ward of Sandpoint (112); Joey Fio of Sandpoint (119); Brandon Palaniuk of Lakeland (125); Bobby Kuber of Post Falls (135); Kyle Meschko of Sandpoint (140); Shawn Hiebert of Lakeland (145); Scott Underdahl of Lakeland (160); and Sheldon Cramer of Sandpoint (215); 3A – Jeremiah Solt of Bonners Ferry (103); Patrick Neal of Timberlake (125); David Hayes of BF (130); Richie Morales of Priest River (135); Ken Swift of BF (140); Adam Hall of BF (145); Kyle Joiner of St. Maries (160); and Ben Turner of BF (215).

Admission is $10 for an adult all-day pass and $6 for a student all-day pass. Single-session tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students. Two sessions will be held.

Boys postseason play

The 5A Region I best-of-3 series begins Friday when Lake City (10-11) goes to No. 1-seeded Lewiston (19-1). Tipoff is at 7 p.m.

The entire series will be played at Lewiston if the Bengals win the opener. The second game would be played at LC if the Timberwolves win the opener. The second game will be Tuesday.

“The 4A Region I tournament will be held Friday and Saturday at Lake City High School.

In the opener, No. 1-seeded Moscow (13-7) takes on No. 4 Lakeland (6-13) at 6 p.m., followed by No. 2 Post Falls (12-8) facing No. 3 Sandpoint (8-12) at 7:30.

The winners meet Saturday at 6 p.m. to decide the championship and automatic state berth. Friday’s losers play in a loser-out game at 4:15.

“Intermountain League teams also begin postseason play Friday. In a District I loser-out game, No. 5 seed St. Maries takes on No. 4 Timberlake at 7 p.m. at North Idaho College. The entire tourney will be played at NIC.

The St. Maries/Timberlake winner will take on league champ and No. 1 seed Bonners Ferry on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. In the opener, Kellogg and Priest River, the second and third seeds, square off at 6. The district championship game will be Tuesday at 7:45.

Looking around

Stiegemeier honored

Lakeland High senior soccer/basketball standout Kayla Stiegemeier has been named the 2005-06 Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the year in Idaho, Gatorade announced Tuesday.

Stiegemeier, along with the winners from the other 49 states and the District of Columbia, is a finalist for the national player of the year award to be announced late this month.

Stiegemeier, a four-year starter at Lakeland, has signed a letter of intent with NCAA Division II power Seattle Pacific. She scored 38 goals and had 24 assists this fall, including five goals and four assists at state, where Lakeland finished runner-up.