Regional rivals Coeur d’Alene, Lake City among those who could challenge Trojans in 5A

In the top classification in the state, teams are still trying to figure out how to dethrone Post Falls, which aims for a fifth 5A title in the last six seasons when the state high school wrestling tournaments unfold today and Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.

And two of those teams are right in the Trojans’ backyard.

North Idaho produced three of the top four teams in 5A last year in Post Falls (first), Coeur d’Alene (second) and Lake City (fourth).

“All 17 of our wrestlers need to contribute,” said Coeur d’Alene coach Jeff Moffat, in his 19th season. “We’ll need to put, at minimum, three into the finals, and wrestle to our ability.”

Post Falls won back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016, finished second to Columbia — now in 4A — in 2017, then won again in 2018 and 2019.

“We’ve tried to stress to the kids that they’re really, really prepared for this,” said Post Falls coach Pete Reardon, in his 11th season. “We’ve organized the season to where they’ve already been in five or six really tough tournaments, and this is going to be another tough one. Our region is a tough region, but they’re ready to go.”

Junior Roddy Romero (106 pounds), junior Lane Reardon (126), senior A.J. De La Rosa (145) and junior Ethan Miller (152) are the top seeds in their weight classes for Post Falls. Reardon, De La Rosa and junior Isaac Jessen (132) are defending state champions.

“There’s nothing really more you can say to the kids, and that’s kind of how we’ve felt all week,” Pete Reardon said. “We’ve had some different talks with our kids about what to be prepared for overall, handling the schedule and getting enough rest. These kids are ready to go.”

Sophomore Gunner Giulio won a state title at 152 for Coeur d’Alene in 2019, leading the Vikings to a runner-up finish. Sophomore Christian Paniagua (98), junior Drew Roberts (138) and Giulio (160) are the top seed in their weight classes.

Meridian High qualified a whopping 26 wrestlers to state.

“With its qualifiers, it makes them a big threat,” said Moffat, whose Vikings won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. “But the numbers don’t always equate to a trophy.”

Lake City, which beat Post Falls in a dual in December, qualified 12 wrestlers to state. The Timberwolves were one point behind Centennial (163) for third in Lake City’s best finish at state in school history.

“Most of the top teams have qualified more than our 12 guys,” said Lake City coach Corey Owen, in his 12th season. “But I think the quality we are bringing down is as good as anyone. Of our 12 guys, 10 are seeded.”

Junior Matthew Whitcomb (182) and senior Caden Hess (113) are the top seed in their weight classes for Lake City. Hess won at 106 last season.

“Both Matthew and Caden are wrestling the best they ever have,” Owen said. “I would say Post Falls is the odds-on favorite to win, but there are about five or six teams right behind who, if they have a good tournament and Post Falls stumbles, could win it.”

“I think Coeur d’Alene, Lake City, Highland and Meridian are going to be tough to beat,” Reardon said. “I think if we go out and wrestle to our potential, good things are going to happen. But it’s really hard to predict. Some team might come in and just have a great weekend and blow the doors off as well.”

Every three years, the tourney rotates to Nampa after two years at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

4A: Lakeland qualified 17 wrestlers to state this year after winning its 12th straight regional title last Saturday in Rathdrum.

Lakeland senior Colton Boettcher, fourth at state last year at 160, is the top seed at 170.

“Our key guys need to wrestle to their seed and above,” said Lakeland coach Rob Edelblute, in his 21st season. “We have a good group and it is going to take everyone contributing to bring one home.”

Kuna is the defending 4A champion. Lakeland was sixth last year.

“Kuna, who petitioned down two years ago, has a tough squad and won the Rollie Lane tournament earlier this year,” Edelblute said. “Columbia, Nampa and Century will be others that will challenge for the championship.”

3A: Timberlake senior Joey Follini, third last season, is the top seed at 182.

Timberlake tied for 11th at state last year.

“A lot of our guys are tough and seasoned,” first-year Timberlake coach Jason Jerome said. “So we know what to expect. The key for us is for our seeded guys to finish at seed or higher, and then our unseeded guys to give us points by winning a few matches. If we do that, we are in the running for a trophy.”

Sugar-Salem was won three straight team titles.

“South Fremont is loaded, and Snake River and Sugar-Salem are always tough,” Jerome said. “If we do what we have always done and compete, we can be in the hunt.”

2A: Junior Dylan Sotin returns after finishing runner-up at 113 for the Lumberjacks last season.

Sotin, freshman Ethan Kolar (120), junior Hunter Norris (126), sophomore Kyle Siebert (195) and junior Delbert Lambson (220) won district titles for St. Maries last Saturday in Potlatch, the Lumberjacks seventh district title in eight seasons.

“They’re a young group and expectations weren’t that high at the state of the season,” said St. Maries coach Dennis Humphrey, in his eighth season. “They worked hard over the season, and were just hungry to get better. Our senior leadership, with Trysten (Lockridge) and Shaun (Anderson), they really helped them develop this season.”

Ririe is going for its sixth straight 2A title.

St. Maries finished 15th at state in 2019.