Wrestling team brings home hardware, ready for nationals
TWIN FALLS — State Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling tournament held May 8 and 9, Bonners Ferry’s wrestling team brought home plenty of hardware.
The tournaments do not recognize classification, so athletes are wrestling against each other from all school sizes. This tournament is a qualifier to represent team Idaho at Fargo Nationals this summer.
Leading the team is Eli Richards, Junior 170, who completed the triple crown with state championships for high school wrestling in February.
According to head coach Kevin Campbell, Richards is the “second wrestler from Bonners Ferry to win the triple crown in high school. Richards Will be competing at Fargo Nationals this summer.
Jackson Rickter, junior 220, took third place in the freestyle and Greco categories and will compete at Fargo Nationals this summer.
KJ Johansen, Junior Girls 122, took home hardware for being Greco state champ and second place in freestyle; Johansen will be wrestling at Fargo Nationals.
Marcus Regehr, 16U 152, became the freestyle and Greco state champion and will compete at Fargo Nationals for team Idaho.
Naveah Therrian, girls 12U/14U, won second place in Greco and freestyle, while Damen Therrian, 10U 67, tool fifth in freestyle and third in Greco.
Dalton Regehr, 10U 67, became freestyle and Greco state Champion, while also earlier in the year won the folkstyle state tournament.
Campbell stated the team practices two days every week with wrestlers like Richards, who have competed since adolescence and continue to train year-round.
According to Campbell, although expectations are high for the teams’ success, they continue to exceed all expectations.
When preparing for Fargo Nationals in Indiana, Campbell said, “Fargo is kind of a big deal, it's the toughest [tournament] in the country.”
Many wrestling enthusiasts consider Fargo’s national tournament as the premier national high school wrestling tournament.
The tournaments cost money for travel and other expenses, which Campbell pointed out is helped by generous supporters in the community.
Although Campbell did not want to mention names, he stated the wrestlers help those donors with odd jobs who help fund their expenses to compete in the tournaments and represent Bonners Ferry.
