WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW: Sandpoint boys, girls wrestling has the makings of a state championship caliber team

SANDPOINT – Sandpoint wrestling has been on a roll the last couple of years. In 2022, the Bulldogs won their first 4A District 1-2 Championship since ’08; In 2023, the team had seven individual district titles and 10 wrestlers who advanced to the 4A state tournament. Under first-year head coach Josh Ratigan, and with a plethora of returners and newcomers, Sandpoint will look to do much of the same in 2024.

Having been some form of a volunteer or assistant coach for the last 17 years, coach Ratigan is very capable of leading the boys team towards more titles. Ratigan also happens to have graduated from SHS in 2003, a time when he and the wrestling team won back-to-back-to-back 4A state championships. Ratigan said after some uncertainties with last year’s coaching staff, he decided to put his hat in the ring for the position.

“What these boys did last year was nothing short of amazing,” Ratigan said. “They did very well, and at times, did not even know who their coach was and then had a coach step in and do what he could. I just didn’t want that to happen again – I’m here for the long haul.”

On the boys side, seniors Ashlei Hawkins and Shane Sherrill, and juniors William Bomba, Jorden Tyler, and Gavin Walters all return after winning individual district titles last year. Andrew Duke and Aidan Rork also return, both of whom qualified for the state tournament last season.

Coach Ratigan said freshman Caiden Addington and Charles Becker are some newcomers to be on the lookout for this year. As for the upperclassmen, he said there some of the most hardworking athletes he’s ever seen.

“In my opinion, he’s one of the hardest working kids around,” Ratigan said about senior Ashlei Hawkins. “He has a motor like I’ve never seen before. I can’t wait to see him in action this year.”

Fellow senior Shane Sherrill, who placed fifth last year at the 4A state tournament, said he hopes this year is "the year" for him.

“I’m looking to finally reach a goal I have had for the last 2-3 years of bringing home a state championship,” Sherrill said. “I feel as healthy as I have been in the last couple of years. This year, it’s the most numbers we’ve had in a longtime, at least since I have been in the program, and I’m excited to see where it’s going to go this year and the year’s following.”

Tyler, who placed third at the 4A state championship last year, had similar thoughts, and is working hard to get to the state championship match this year.

“Something I would like to improve upon this year is the ability to keep going under pressure and make sure I’m better conditioned than everyone else,” Tyler said. 

Both Tyler and Duke said they are excited the team is heading back down to Nampa this year to compete at the Rollie Lane Wrestling Invitational, which has both a boys and girls division where wrestlers will compete in a 64-man bracket format. 

On the girls side, coach Ratigan’s daughter, Bayah, who has been wrestling since she was six years old and competes on a national level, is one of 12 freshmen to join this year’s team.

“This has been her second sport since she was 6 years old; it’s what she loves to do,” Ratigan said. “She’s the one that pulled me back into wrestling last year by asking me if I would be the girls assistant coach, so I decided to do it and we did really really well.”

Coach Ratigan said freshman Izzy Stark, in addition to the entire freshmen team this year, is going to be electric.

“The girls are looking incredible this year,” Ratigan said. “We’re also excited about Emma (Garman). She'll be a big deciding factor and has drive. We’re excited about Slyvia (Becker) who wasn’t able to finish out the year last year … This group has a lot of push, a lot of bend not break, and I’m pretty excited. I just can’t wait.”

Girls head coach Valerie Johansen said this season will be the first that the IHSSA is adding a girls season to TrackWrestling. TrackWrestling is a website that allows teams, especially high school teams, to track real time tournament results and individual results as well as their careers, accomplishments, wins, losses, who they wrestled, and more.

“It’s pretty cool because all the other states who are sanctioned have that set up, so we’re really excited; it’s a big step for Idaho,” Johansen said. “Right now there are roughly 650 girls certified in the state of Idaho. We’re hoping that number crosses over the 700 mark.”

Since this interview, the number of girls certified to wrestle in the state of Idaho is now over 850.

Overall, Ratigan said he is all-in for both the boys and girls teams, and can’t wait for the season to begin.

“I have zero self in mind here,” Ratigan said. “This year, I want these wrestlers to see what can happen when someone comes in and cares about them … I want them to understand that their goals are what matter to me. I take it as a personal failure if they’re not able to accomplish their goals.”

Sandpoint will start the season with the Blizzard Invite which will be held Saturday, Dec. 2, at the SMS gym. Coeur d'Alene, Lake City, Bonners Ferry, Moscow, and Kellogg will make their way to Bonner County for the event.

SHS Co-ed Wrestling

12/2 vs. Blizzard Invite 8:30 a.m.

12/8-12/9 @ George Wild Invite (Kellogg)

12/12 @ Timberlake 6 p.m.

12/15 Girls @ Lakeland TBA

12/15-12/16 Boys @ Tri-State Tournament (NIC)

12/18 vs. Priest River 6 p.m.

12/20 vs. Coeur d’Alene 6 p.m.

12/21 vs. Kellogg 6 p.m.

1/5-1/6 @ Rollie Lane Tournament (Nampa)

1/12-1/13 Boys @ River City Duals (Post Falls)

1/12-1/13 Girls @ Hellgate Tournament (Missoula)

1/19 vs. Lakeland 6 p.m.

1/24 vs. Battle for the ‘B’ Cup 6 p.m.

1/26-1/27 @ North Idaho Rumble (NIC)

2/2-2/3 @ Conrad Garner Tournament (Bonners Ferry)

2/6 @ Lake City 6 p.m.

2/8 @ Moscow TBA

2/10 Girls @ Lake City TBA

2/17 vs. 3A/4A IEL District Tournament