Badgers win pair of IML duals

The Bonners Ferry High School wrestling team was successful in its first two Intermountain League dual meets of the season, topping visiting Kellogg 55-30 on Tuesday, Jan. 21, then winning at Priest River 61-12 on Thursday, Jan. 23.

“The team is 2-0 in league and it puts them at the top of the Intermountain League, with the league championship dual coming up in February against Timberlake,” BFHS assistant coach Corey Richards said. “It was nice last week to have a few more of the kids in the lineup ... a full lineup just makes us stronger as a team.”

Earning pins against Kellogg were Eli Richards (170 pounds), Jackson Richter (182), Nathan Varelman (195) and Andrew Sandelin (220). Jake Summerfield (106) won by major decision, and Grant Merrit (160) won a 5-3 decision. Several other Badgers won by forfeit.

Against the Spartans, Evan Barajas (126), Manuel Naccarato (145), Richards and Sandelin won by pin. Spencer Eby (132) earned a 9-1 major-decision win, and several other BFHS wrestlers won by forfeit.

“Our kids wrestled well and did what we expected,” assistant coach Kevin Campbell said.

“Andrew Sandelin had the biggest win of the night at 195, beating a highly-ranked kid he has never beaten before. Sets him up for a great finish to the season.”

The Badgers return to action tonight to face American Falls and St. Maries in dual meets at Kellogg High School, then compete in the North Idaho Rumble tournament this weekend at Coeur d’Alene High School.

“We’re heading to Kellogg on Thursday to dual American Falls, a tough 3A team from down south who is ranked second in the state, along with a matchup against St. Maries,” coach Richards said. “On Friday the wrestlers head to Coeur d’Alene to wrestle in the tough North Idaho Rumble tournament with teams from the Boise area, Mountain Home, American Falls, all the 5A and 4A schools from Lewistown on up, and a few teams from the Spokane Valley. Placing in the top 6 is a huge accomplishment for this tournament.”

Kellogg at Bonners Ferry, Jan. 21

Bonners Ferry (BOFE) 55.0, Kellogg (KELL) 36.0

98: Taylor DeFalco (BOFE) over (KELL) (For.) 106: Jake Summerfield (BOFE) over Raymond Heely (KELL) (MD 15-4) 113: Dakota Eixenberger (KELL) over Ravi Neumeyer (BOFE) (Fall 0:27) 120: Takami Matsuoka (KELL) over Lily Morgan (BOFE) (Fall 3:41) 120: Ethan Guy (KELL) over Lily Morgan (BOFE) (Fall 0:34) 126: Travis Lohr (KELL) over Seth Fisher Fodge (BOFE) (Fall 1:20) 132: Evan Barajas (BOFE) over (KELL) (For.) 138: Judson Hall (KELL) over Chad Maas (BOFE) (Fall 5:04) 145: Manuel Naccarato (BOFE) over (KELL) (For.) 152: Kyle Smith (BOFE) over (KELL) (For.) 160: Grant Merritt (BOFE) over Michael Sentenay (KELL) (Dec 5-3) 170: Eli Richards (BOFE) over Austin Stepro (KELL) (Fall 3:27) 182: Jackson Richter (BOFE) over Brody Hoffman (KELL) (Fall 4:57) 195: Nathaniel Varelman (BOFE) over Carson Hudson (KELL) (Fall 2:58) 220: Andrew Sandelin-Macintosh (BOFE) over Otto Sharp (KELL) (Fall 0:59) 285: Bublitz Robbie (KELL) over (BOFE) (For.)

Bonners Ferry at Priest River, Jan. 23

Bonners Ferry (BOFE) 61.0, Priest River (PRRI) 12.0

98: Hayden Sorbel (PRRI) over Taylor DeFalco (BOFE) (Fall 5:01) 106: Jake Summerfield (BOFE) over (PRRI) (For.) 113: Ravi Neumeyer (BOFE) over (PRRI) (For.) 120: Keith Poirier (PRRI) over Lily Morgan (BOFE) (Fall 3:18) 126: Evan Barajas (BOFE) over Aidan Troumbley (PRRI) (Fall 0:20) 132: Spencer Eby (BOFE) over Devin Nessel (PRRI) (MD 9-1) 138: Sky Reinhardt (BOFE) over (PRRI) (For.) 145: Manuel Naccarato (BOFE) over Charles Bennett (PRRI) (Fall 1:03) 152: Bryan Durette (BOFE) over (PRRI) (For.) 160: Eli Richards (BOFE) over Bradley Bennett (PRRI) (Fall 2:49) 170: Jackson Richter (BOFE) over (PRRI) (For.) 182: Nathaniel Varelman (BOFE) over (PRRI) (For.) 195: Andrew Sandelin-Macintosh (BOFE) over Truxton Wilson (PRRI) (Dec 12-8) 220: Double Forfeit 285: Double Forfeit