WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW: Badger wrestling returns a ton of talent on both sides

LAST SEASON: Girls — All-Class District 1-2 Champions, six state qualifers. Boys — 3A Intermountain League district runner-ups, 13 state qualifiers.

COACHES: Michael Puckett (head coach, first year)

WRESTLERS TO WATCH: BOYS — Saber Blackmore, jr.; Taylor Dodd, so.; Stryder Liermann, jr.; Alex Stolley, so.; Kai Aitken, jr.; Jake Solt, so. GIRLS — Neveah Therrien, jr.; Ireland Grady, so.; Sofia Brown, sr.; Hallie Hartman, jr.; Emma Roberts, jr.

The history of Bonners Ferry High wrestling is a rich one — one with many collegiate and coaching success stories. Under first-year head coach Michael Puckett, a former coach for Sandpoint, the Badgers look towards another season of success.

On the girls side, their coming off an All-Class District 1-2 Championship. Junior Neveah Therrien (107 pounds) and junior Hallie Hartman (235 pounds) are two returning district champions. Therrien won an impressive seven tournaments last year, some of which she even wrestled up a weight class in, and placed second at three others. Hartman won one invitational, was second at four, and among the top five at three others. Junior Emma Roberts (145 pounds) was also a force to be reckoned with last year, placing fourth at districts and amongst the top five at eight other invitationals... even wrestling two weight classes up in some.

A handful of Lady Badgers will need to step up as Savannah Rickter, Aubrey Wells, and Eva Willis, all district champions last year, are not on this year's roster. Sophomore Ireland Grady (120 pounds), and senior Sofia Brown (132) both won third-place matches at district's last year, so they'll certainly be looking to fill in with their eyes set on championships.

On the boys side, watch out for junior Saber Blackmore and sophomore Taylor Dodd, both 3A Intermountain League district champions. Blackmore wrestled to a 38-13 record last season, posting a perfect 7-win stand at the River City Duals, placing fifth at the Western Montana Invite, fourth at Conrad Garner, third at the M2 Mallet Invite and second at George Wild. Dodd wrestled to a record of 35-13 and placed among the top five at four different varsity invitationals.

Some other Badgers that are set to excel this year are juniors Kai Aitken and Stryder Liermann and sophomores Alex Stolley and Jake Solt, all of whom qualified for the 3A State Championship last year.

Both the Badgers' wrestling teams will both kick off the season on Dec. 7 — the girls at Sandpoint High's Blizzard Invite and the boys at the Van Tuinstra duals hosted by Timberlake High. Some tournaments to keep an eye on this year are the Tri-State Tournament hosted by North Idaho College, the George Wild Tournament hosted by Kellogg, the River City Duals hosted by Post Falls, the North Idaho Rumble hosted by Coeur d'Alene, and of course, Bonners Ferry's home invitational, the Conrad Garner Invite set to be held Feb. 7 and 8.

Wrestling Schedule 

12/7 — Boys @ Van Tuinstra Duals/Timberlake

12/7 — Girls @ Blizzard Tournament/Sandpoint

12/10 — vs. Lincoln County, 6 p.m. 

12/13-14 — @ Tri-States Tournament 

12/20-21 — George Wild Tournament @ Kellogg

12/27 — @ Lakeland Duals

12/28 — @ St. Maries, TBA

1/9 — Multiple Duals @ Coeur d’Alene 

1/10-11 — River City Duals @ Post Falls 

1/18 — @ Timberlake, 10 a.m. 

1/23 — vs. Sandpoint, 7 p.m. 

1/24-25 — Girls @ Othello Tourney/Othello HS

1/29 — vs. Kellogg, 6:30 p.m. 

1/31-2/1 — North Idaho Rumble @ Coeur d’Alene 

2/5 — @ St. Maries,. 7 p.m. 

2/7-8 — Conrad Garner Invite @ HOME 

2/13 — vs. Post Falls, 7 p.m. 

    Bonners Ferry High junior Stryder Liermann faces off against a Priest River wrestler during a home dual last season.