Wrestling poised for districts

BONNERS FERRY — For senior night, Badger boys wrestling was victorious in a wrestling dual against the 2A Priest River Spartans on Feb. 9, winning 53-30.

The Badgers are looking forward to districts, with the boys competing against Timberlake tonight at Spirit Lake at 5 and the girls competing at the District I and II competition in Moscow on Friday.

For the boys, the top two wrestlers in each weight class advance to state. For the girls, the top wrestlers in each weight class also advances from state. Last year, only the top girl made it to the state competition.

Bonners Ferry coach Travis Stolley said many wrestlers have improved throughout the season, such as Andrew Erhardt and Stryder Liermann. At the Priest River dual he said it was fun to see techniques and moves that the wrestlers had worked on at practice transfer to the mat and competition.

“It’s not stuff everyone sees all the time, but we see these kids put time in every day, going out trying and improving,” he said.

“It is fun to see the progress of first-year wrestlers and seeing success even if it isn’t yet transferring to wins,” Stolley said, highlighting several wrestlers for their strong matches and improved technique.

“It's a great group of kids and they’ve been through a lot this year,” he said.

At the dual on Feb. 9 many upcoming Badger wrestlers performed well, showing significant improvement from the season.

The Badgers started strong with pins by Brandon Williams (113). Hunter Pope (120) fell to Colm McLaimtaig of Priest River.

Stryder Liermann (126) with 30 seconds left against Priest River’s Collin Magers made a big move, scoring three points. In the second round, Liermann struck fast and won by pin.

James Graves (132) had an explosive fast-paced match against Priest River’s Elijah Blaine fending him off and attacking, but in the end Graves fell. Israel Johnson came out and won by pin, giving the Badgers a 25-12 lead in the dual.

Senior Porter Blackmore (145) got caught in a scissor takedown, but broke through and out and moved to pin Caeden McLaimtaig. In the third term, Blackmore pinned McLaimtaig with 25 seconds left in the match to the delight and roar of the Badger stands.

Senior Marcus Regehr (160) made quick work of Darien Ratzlaff of Priest River, winning by pin in 37 seconds.

Eli Leyden (170) quickly pinned his opponent, making it 48-12 for the Badgers.

Andrew Erhardt (182) fought for nearly three minutes against Spartan Gunnar Eversole, but fell in the end.

Senior Donald “Donnie” Riess (285) faced off against 2022 wrestling state placer Matyus McLain (42-15) and lost by pin in 14 seconds.

Stolley said he wanted to thank the seniors for coming out to wrestle the past few years. He added the team needs their leadership looking to districts and the state competition.

“Tonight was all about them, nice to see the families and the support (tonight),” he said.

Bonners Ferry 53, Priest River 30.

98: Double Forfeit. 106: Saber Blackmore (Bonners Ferry) received forfeit. 113: Brandon Williams (Bonners Ferry) over Bayden Lamanna (Priest River) (Fall 3:51). 120: Colm McLaimtaig (Priest River) over Hunter Pope (Bonners Ferry) (Fall 1:53). 126: Stryder Liermann (Bonners Ferry) over Collin Magers (Priest River) (Fall 3:12). 132: Elijah Blaine (Priest River) over James Graves (Bonners Ferry) (Fall 1:33). 138: Israel Johnson (Bonners Ferry) over Gage Ehrmantrout (Priest River) (Fall 0:40). 145: Porter Blackmore (Bonners Ferry) over Caeden McLaimtaig (Priest River) (Fall 5:35). 152: Alexander Taylor (Bonners Ferry) over Unknown (For.). 160: Marcus Regehr (Bonners Ferry) over Darien Ratzlaff (Priest River) (Fall 0:37). 170: Eli Leyden (Bonners Ferry) over Hunter Rose (Priest River) (Fall 0:22). 182: Gunnar Eversole (Priest River) over Andrew Erhardt (Bonners Ferry) (Fall 2:56). 195: Jackson Holman (Bonners Ferry) over Unknown (For.). 220: Caleb Grow (Priest River) over Unknown (For.). 285: Matyus McLain (Priest River) over Donald Riess (Bonners Ferry) (Fall 0:14)

SPIRIT LAKE — Badger boys wrestling fell to the Timberlake Tigers 54-36, with five Badgers winning their matches on Feb. 7.

The Badgers fortified the 98, 132 and 220 weight classes and the Tigers forfeited on the heavier weights of 195 and 285.

Brandon Williams (113), Porter Blackmore (145) Eli Leyden (160) and Marcus Regehr (170) won their matches. Jackson Holman (195) and Donald Riess (285) received a forfeit.

In exhibition matches Badger girl wrestlers Neveah Therrien (106) and Aubrey Wells (138) won their matches by fall.

Bonners Ferry coach Travis Stolley said the dual gave the Badgers an idea of what to expect at districts against Timberlake on Feb. 16. Due to Priest River and Kellogg moving down to 2A, Bonners Ferry and Timberlake will battle it out alone for districts.

Stolley said Timberlake is facing similar issues as Bonners Ferry, such as struggling to fill some weight classes, keeping up stamina in the long season and fighting injuries. He said the Badger line up might be switching due to strategy and looking at results from the past duel.

“We are looking to put our kids in the best spot to get to state,” he said.

At districts, the top two wrestlers per weight class qualify for the 3A State Championship.

Stolley is also looking to grow the wrestling program. This year, there are three seniors finishing the season. Senior Tully Reinhardt is recovering from a prior injury and has remained out since about mid-season.

He added that about 20 kids are in the wrestling room every day, and coaching staff is trying to keep athletes and get them needed experience, which will be valuable for the program in years to come.

Badger girls wrestling did not compete at the Timberlake dual, Stolley said, due to both girl teams not having the numbers for a full dual.

“Girls' numbers just aren't there yet in Idaho. We hope to grow it,” he said.

With the recognition of a girls state championship in 2022, Stolley hopes Idaho takes after Washington and splits boys and girls wrestling in hopes that more girls will come out. He said seeing the interest for girls wrestling at the middle school level is encouraging and he hopes the girls come out as freshmen.

At the Bonners Ferry Conrad Gardner Wrestling Tournament on Feb. 3 and 4, Stolley said some of the girls weight classes had to be combined in order to have brackets.

In January, the girls traveled to Othello, Wash., and participated in an all-girl tournament touting 64 women brackets, which was larger than the girls Idaho state championship tournament. Badger Neveah Therrien and Savannah Rickter placed at the tournament.

Stolley said he hopes to make traveling to girl tournaments a priority, so girls can wrestle in their weight class in competition. He added that was the biggest competition Badger girls wrestling has competed in.