Sandpoint wrestling sends 11 to state tournament

Blake Sherrill, who is one of two seniors on Sandpoint’s wrestling team, had some words of encouragement after practice on Monday as it inches closer to the 4A Idaho state wrestling tournament on Friday Feb. 25 at the Holt Arena in Pocatello.

“Go down there with confidence,” Sherill said while addressing his teammates. “I didn’t wrestle with a lot of confidence until this year, we’re going down there as one of the best. Act like it.”

The Bulldogs won the 4A District I-II tournament on Saturday Feb. 19 by 80 points.

Sandpoint’s district championship win was its first since 2008.

“We’ve put in a lot of hard work,” Sandpoint’s sixth-year wrestling coach Jake Stark said. “Our expectations were really high at the start of the season, we’ve had some injuries and some things set us back, but the kids that have come in and stepped up did a really good job. We’re looking to bring home some state placers.” .

Sherrill has gone to the state tournament all four years. He’s been able to experience the development of Sandpoint’s wrestling program first-hand.

“It’s a big sigh of relief, honestly,” Sherill said. “All four years have seriously been a grind and to see it finally pay off, I feel accomplished.”

Sandpoint’s 170-pounder Calvin Hinds is elated for the Bulldogs’ recent success.

“I was overjoyed, we haven’t won that thing in forever,” He said, “I never heard of us winning it even when I was a little kid.”

According to 126-pounder Forrest Ambridge, it was nice to see Sandpoint win something as a team.

“We haven’t won anything as a team in a really long time,” Ambridge said. “Beating Lakeland and Moscow and winning a district title feels really good.”

Stark credits his team’s preparation during the offseason for its success during the season. The Bulldogs went to three major camps during the summer.

They started with their local camp, then they went to Kalispell, MT to take part in the Montana Intensive camp.

According to the camp’s website, it’s one of the longest running wrestling camps in Montana.

It goes over wrestling technique, weight training, and running. Team duals were also included.

The Bulldogs capped off their summer wrestling season at Columbia High School in Boise for the Wildcat camp.

Sandpoint spent three weeks in Boise, where each wrestler wrestled between 20-30 matches.

The Bulldogs are bringing 11 wrestlers to the state tournament. Six wrestlers received first place honors with five receiving at-large bids.

One wrestler who received an at-large bid was Hinds. Stark texted him the news that he made the tournament on Sunday.

“I was in the gym yesterday when I realized I was going,” Hinds said. “I turned around to my friend and screamed we’re going to state.”

Hinds will face off against Lakeland’s Devon Suko in the first round of the tournament.

Suko has gotten the better of Hinds in their three previous matches, but Hinds is coming in with a brighter outlook.

“I haven't beat him yet, but I’m gunning for him,” Hinds said. “I’m ready for him. I get closer and closer every time.”

The other at-large bids include 120-pounder Ashlei Hawkins, 160-pounder Christian Troumbley, 170-pounder Owen Wimmer, and 195-pounder Austin Smith.

Notably, Rylie Hancock, one of Sandpoint’s girls wrestlers, received a gold medal in the 132-pound weight class.

This is the first year that the girls have had a sanctioned district and state tournament making Hancock a piece of history.

The third-year wrestler anticipates much more competition at state as opposed to recent tournaments.

“Some of the brackets have been kind of disappointing; you’ll drive four hours just to have one match,” she said. “It’ll be more fun going down to state with a full bracket going up against girls who haven’t seen me yet.”

Some Bulldogs had to wrestle their teammates in the finals at districts. This is a tough draw because even if you win, your teammate might not go to the big dance.

Luckily, for Troumbley and Jordan Tyler, they both got the nod.

Tyler etched out Troumbley 5-3 in the championship match.

“We’ve been practice partners all season, so we knew this was going to happen,” Tyler said. “I’ve looked up to him for a long time, so the aftermath was tough.”

Tyler, who is a freshman, knocked off Moscow’s Micah Harder, who was the number one seed 8-6 in the semi-finals to get to the championship round.

Troumbley’s opponent Dylan Scott from Lakeland, had a medical forfeit, so Troumbley didn’t wrestle until his finals match with Tyler.

“He sat there all day and I think he got into his head a little bit,” Stark said. “That might’ve hurt his focus, but I already know from talking to him today that he’s going to be coming back with a vengeance; he’s ready.”

Other first-placers for Sandpoint include Darrian Resso, Andrew Duke, and Forrest Ambridge.