Seven wrestlers qualify for state tournament

Four out of seven state qualifying Bonners Ferry High School wrestlers are ranked among the top eight in their  weight classes for this weekend’s 3A state tournament in Pocatello.

Senior 140-pound defending champion Dayne Swisher is top-seeded. Other seeded wrestlers are Trevor Hampton, third in 135-pound; Brandon Schmitz, eighth in 135-pound; and Ben Watt, fifth in 119-pound.

Other Badgers headed to the state tournament are Isaiah Grey in 145, David Willems in 215 and first-year wrestler Beau Cowley in 285.

Swisher, Schmitz and Watt each took district titles last weekend in Lakeland. Grey, Hampton and Willems took second and Cowley took fourth.

The Badgers placed four out of six teams at the district championships, with Priest River taking the title. The top four wrestlers in each weight class advances to the state tourney.

“I kind of anticipated five to eight kids (would qualify),” said coach Conrad Garner.

Badgers Reid Boorman, Joe Neumeyer and Zack Heigel placed fifth in their respective classes, just missing a trip to states.

All of the seven boys have a shot at a state title.

“You have to have a little luck, and you have to have the best tournament of the year,” Garner said. “All of those things come into play when you want to win a state title. It’s gotta be your day.”

Swisher, who wrestled for the first time in a month after fracturing his shoulder blade, defeated Derek Charles from St. Maries 1:42 during the finals. Swisher was seeded No. 1 because he is the returning champion, Garner said.

At districts, Schmitz decisioned Hampton 11-4 in the finals. Hampton was seeded higher than Schmitz because Hampton “beat some key kids”  who Schmitz did not wrestle.

“Brandon has the better record, but Trevor is a state place from last year,” Garner said.