BF wrestlers compete at national competition

SPOKANE — Bonners Ferry Wrestling Club’s Savannah Rickter, Nevaeh Therrien and Aubree Graves competed in the Women’s USA Freestyle National Championship in Spokane on April 14-17, facing off against other elite wrestlers from across the country.

At the championship, girls and women from all over the country competed to earn the right to represent Team USA at worlds championships and/or the Pan-American championships games later this year. Athletes placing in the top eight earned all-American honors in the USA/UWW divisions of U23, U20, U17 and U15. Other USA divisions wrestling at the tournament were girls 14U, 12U,10U and 8U.

“Our girls did an outstanding job wrestling over the weekend as they faced the best in the country and in the world. Just to step out on the mat and battle as they did [and] scoring points is a huge accomplishment. Our girls definitely got notice at the national level this weekend,” BFWC coaches said in social media posts.

Nevaeh Therrerien, (49 kg) 3A Idaho girls 2023 state champion at 107 pounds, started off the action on Friday, April 14 in the upper age group of U17 wrestling and in U15 on Sunday, April 15.

“She double bracketed the tournament to gain more matches and experience,” BFWC coach Corey Ricards said.

She fought her opponents and ended up in consolation round, or blood round and nearly took all-American honors finally falling to Olivia Bezdicek of Idaho who took fifth and became the 14U-110 national champion the day before. Therrien finished with a 3-3 record.

Aubree Graves, (58g) the only BFWC middle schooler to attend the event, started competition on Sunday, April 16, in the U15.

She faced Abigail Gamm of Team Washington, who just became an 14U-127 All-American the day before.

“However, it did not bother Aubree a bit as she quickly attacked and led the match 4-0,” Richards said. “She attempted a leg lace in to finish [Gamm] off but ran out of time and they both were up on their feet again and after a hard-fought scramble.

Graves ended up losing by fall to Gamm.

Her next match she faced Brooklyn Perez of Team Arizona.

It was a back-and-forth battle until Graves got caught in a leg lace. Perez won by technical fall. Graves finished with a 0-2 record

Savannah Rickter took to the mat on Saturday afternoon in the U20 68k division. Her first match came up against No. 3 seed Kaiulani Garcia of California, who was on the Team USA U17 2022 world team. Garcia took fifth at the world championships and third at the 2022 Pan-American Championships.

“Savannah went out and fell behind 2-0. They were brought back to their feet and Savannah dumped Garcia to her back with a fireman’s and taking the lead 4-2 holding her there looking for a fall,” Richards said.

Rickter lost by fall then went on to pin a familiar opponent from last year's nationals. She then fell to a Team USA world team member who took silver in the Pan-American Championship 2021 and was named national champ in 2022.

Rickter finished with a 1-2 record.

Having ties to Bonners Ferry, Ali Plato 10U-75 Team Idaho placed 3rd All-American honors in her division Ali’s Father JB Plato former standout wrestler for the Bonners Ferry wrestling Club and the Badgers. JB Plato is also Pocatello High head wrestling coach and has helped lead the move to establish girls wrestling in Idaho.

Full break downs of Therrien's and Rickers matches are available online in addition to this story.

Therrien’s performance

Nevaeh’s first came up against Deandra Meza of Team California. It was a back-and-forth match, however Nevaeh fell to Meza in a hard-fought match. Meza went on to take seventh place.

Nevaeh’s second match came against Lacatia Mason of Team Oregon.

Nevaeh came out on a mission and quickly took care of Mason with technical fall 10-0, Richards said. Nevaeh next match was against Aspen Blasko of Minnesota, who also doubled with a fifth-place 16U and second in18U All-American at Fargo Nationals last year.

“However, it didn’t matter to Nevaeh, she went right after Blasko and had her worried a few different times of the match. The more Blasko experienced ended up winning 11-1, the match was definitely much closer than the score, Richards said.

Nevaeh’s second day of competition was at the U15 50kg division. After receiving a bye the first round, Nevaeh faced Raenah Smith of Washington, an extremely high-paced match by both, Smith came away with a 10-0 by technical fall. Smith went on to finish seventh. Her next match came up against Jayden Sherry of Alaska.

Nevaeh came out quick and took the lead with a double leg take down and had a demanding lead and won by fall, Richards said.

Nevaeh came up against Teyah Cabinian of Team Hawaii next. Cabinian came out and took the lead 6-0 but Neveah battled back and regained the lead 10-8 and finished her off with the fall at the end of the second period, Richards said.

By winning the last match Nevaeh entered the blood round and was one match away from placing in the top eight and earning All-American Honors against Olivia Bezdicek of Idaho who just became the 14U-110 national champion the day before.

Nevaeh came out hard and aggressive but fell to Bezdicek by technical fall, Bezdicek went on to place fifth, Richards said.

Rickter’s performance

Her first match came up against No. 3 seed Kaiulani Garcia of California, who was on Team USA U17 2022 world team and took fifth at the world championships and third at the 2022 Pan-American Championships.

“Savannah went out and fell behind 2-0. They were brought back to their feet and Savannah dumped Garcia to her back with a fireman’s and taking the lead 4-2 holding her there looking for a fall,” Richards said.

Garcia fought hard not to get pinned by Rickter and was able to finally squirm off her back and after a wild scramble, Garcia came out on top and Rickter lost by fall.

Rickter then found herself facing Frances Porteous of Team Washington, an opponent she had lost to before at Fargo Nationals last year and during the girls high school season.

Porteous quickly took the lead, however Rickter battled back and took the lead and kept the lead until the end of the second. Rickter put Porteous on her back and won by fall.

Rickter’s next match of the day came up against Magge Graham of Team Tennessee, another Team USA world team member that won the silver at the 2021 Pan-American Championships and is a 2022 national champion.

“Savanna came out hard and attacked well, but fell by tech-fall in the second period,” Richards said.