Stebbins grinds to runner up finish at state
BOISE — Competing in one of the toughest brackets in state, Sandpoint senior Owen Stebbins was the lone Bulldog wrestler to advance to the finals, finishing second at 182 pounds over the weekend as the Bulldogs finished 9th as a team at the 4A state wrestling tournament at the Ford Center in Nampa.
Stebbins (36-9) is a fundamentally sound wrestler who excels on his feet, and he used a grinding approach to notch a pair of one point decisions en route to the finals, where he was four points away from a title in a 7-3 loss to Minico.
First year Sandpoint head coach Jake Stark chalked Stebbins’ runner up finish to strong dedication and attitude under the brightest lights of the season.
“To land a spot in the state finals at the 182 pound weight class was a big feat granted it was one of the tougher divisions in the state,” claimed Stark. “He dominated his opponents by physically wearing them down with his relentless attack on his feet. I can’t be more proud of him and what he has accomplished his senior year. On and off the mat, he will be missed.”
Concluding a strong finish to his season, junior Andrew Webster (170) finished third, going 4-1 in his bracket with the lone defeat coming in a five point loss against the No. 1 seed and eventual champion from Preston.
If his wrestling down the stretch was any indication, Webster will be a prime contender for a state title next year.
“Andrew was focused and more intense that I have seen him all year. He had his sights set on placing and he shattered that goal,” praised Stark. “You could see it on his face when he was warming up for his matches he was determined to leave his mark, and did by pinning his opponent to place third. I’m happy for him and excited to have him back next year.”
Junior Hyrum Hunsaker might have been the biggest surprise in the tourney, entering with a pedestrian 4-4 record before inflicting some damage as the No. 16 seed. After a loss to the top seed in the opener, Hunsaker ran off four straight wins and was a point away from joining Webster in third. It was a nice end to an injury-shortened season for Hunsaker, who like Webster could vie for a state title as a senior if all goes well.
Stark also had high praise for senior Preston Bunty (152), the fourth and final Bulldog to earn a podium spot with a hard-fought sixth place finish, which included a couple of losses that could have gone either way.
“Preston kept fighting despite having a few tough losses. He battled back, earning his way to the podium at state,” described Stark. “I feel he had a huge role in how our team did this year and finally capping off his senior year with placing at state is special. I know he will remember all the hard work he put in and how it paid off.”
Sophomore Casey Olseon (106) and seniors Scout Nash (138) and Zack Alamillo also won a pair of matches at state.
SANDPOINT RESULTS
152 — Preston Bunty, Spt, p. Ian Booth, VV, :22; Dylan Park, MH, d. Bunty, 8-4; Bunty d. Andrew Myers, Sky, 9-6; Bunty p. Kinardo Campos, Min, 2:10; Tevin Sio, Cal, d. Bunty, 7-2; 5th Place Match - Chris Doiron, BK, d Bunty, 9-5.
132 — Monte Zufelt, Emm, p. Tucker Hall, Spt, 3:08; Hall d. Ryan Quimby, LL, 4-2; Harrison Hicks, Poc, p. Hall, 1:48.
170 — Andrew Webster, Spt, p. Jayden Paul, Poc, 2:37; Webster d. Kendall Peterson, Min, 7-5; Ben Seamons, Pres, d. Webster, 8-3; Webster p. Mehdin Siocic, CR, 3:56; 3rd Place Match - Webster p. Tommy Trumbo, TF, 1:35.
182 — Owen Stebbins, Spt, md. Joe Senn, BK, 13-1; Stebbins d Brian Jackson, Poc, 3-2; Stebbins d. Brennan Lucarelli, Mid, 7-6; 1st Place Match - Boe Boston, Min, d. Stebbins, 7-3.
195 — Tony Kissinger, Jer, d. Calum Wilcox, Spt, 8-1; Tyler Mabey, Bur, d. Wilcox , 9-7.
106 — Casey Olesen, Spt, p. Riley Reid, Pres, :39; Dustin Farnworth, MH, p. Olesen, 5:05; Olesen p. Christian Sotelo , Cal, 2:27; Craig Adams, Cal, p. Olesen, 1:35.
113 — Pierce Mederios, MH, p. Mason Bangeman, Spt, 4:42; Bangeman md. Brigid Shannon, IF, 8-0; Nick Fernandez, Cal, md. Bangeman, 8-0.
138 — Jaxon Chapman, Poc, d. Scout Nash, Spt, 11-8; Nash p. Austin Forrest, RV, 2:46; Nash md. Cory Choate, Sky, 9-0; Zack Slack, MH, d. Nash, 8-5.
160 — James Anderson, Min, md. Hyrum Hunsaker, Spt, 9-1; Hunsaker d. Colton Mowrey, Poc, 7-0; Hunsaker p. Seth Vaughn, Jer, 1:56; Hunsaker p. Merritt Howell, TF, 2:17; Hunsaker d. Kyle McClure, CR, 5-4; 3rd Place Match - Tanner Tinsley, Poc, d. Hunsaker, 3-2.
160 — Tanner Tinsley, Poc, d. Isaiah Fleck, Spt, 5-0; Fleck d. Benjamin Ditton, Cent, 13-6; Alex Castro, MH, d. Fleck, 10-3.
220 — Trident Mitchell, Cal, p. Zack Alamillo, Spt, 5:14; Alamillo, Inj. forfeit over Nathan Maxfield, CR; Alamillo p. Asher Galbraith, LL, :37; Adam Wallace, Mos, p. Alamillo, 1:58.