Girls wrestling wins district title
EMILY BONSANT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 8 months AGO
I have deep North Idaho roots and graduated from Eastern Washington University with an English degree with a creative writing emphasis with a minor in film. I worked at at the Bonner County Daily Bee before coming to work at the Bonners Ferry Herald in August 2021. I enjoy writing for the paper that my great-grandfather read and covering the same small town community that is still alive today. I cover all things Badger sports, local politics and government, community news, business, outdoors and appear on the 7Bee podcast for the Herald's update. When I'm not working I can be found reading a good book and sipping tea, knitting or attempting to sign opera. | February 24, 2022 1:00 AM
COEUR d'ALENE — Badger girls wrestling are the first District I-II wrestling champions.
This year for the first girls state wrestling tournament there was no class division based on school size, so the Badgers girl wrestlers faced off against all schools from Grangeville to Bonners Ferry, head coach Kevin Campbell said. The hope is to expand brackets and add classification of big school and little schools in the next few years as girls wrestling grows in Idaho.
Only the top placer of each weight class qualified for state.
Savannah Rickter (G-160) wrestled her way into first place and will be going off to state. Rickter is 27-1.
“She is tough to beat and hard to score on,” Campbell said. “She can make a lot of things happen and has put in the time. I’m excited to see what she does, especially since she was injured last year.”
Gena Kelsey (G 145) came in second. Earlier in the tournament, Kelsey beat an undefeated wrestler from Coeur d’Alene. Kelsey finished 10-13.
“She gets better and better. She beat really good girls and it is unfortunate that she did not get on the bracket,” Campbell said. “She is dangerous to wrestle right now.”
Shalynn Richards (G-120) finished in sixth. Richards injured herself when going to throw her opponent and had to be medically fortified in case of head injury.
Aubrey Wells (G 160) finished in fourth. She is in-between weight classes and was a little outsized, but fought hard, Campbell said. She has improved throughout the season.
“It was a nice surprise [to win]. We didn’t expect it, we just went out to do our best,” Campbell said. “Really cool to pull off a District 1 and 2 win. Nobody has a lot of girls, but we wrestled so well and got the points needed. The girls are so excited.”
Bonners Ferry had five girls on the roaster, but one wrestler was out sick. Campbell hopes that this shows the potential of the team and will bring more girls out to wrestle. He is excited to hall all the girls returning next season.
“Imagine what we can do with a bigger team,” Campbell said.
Girls wrestling will be at the state tournament at Idaho State University in Pocatello. The girls will begin wrestling around 1 p.m. on Friday, when the quarterfinals begins for boys wrestling.
Team Scores: 1, Bonners Ferry 59, 2, Moscow 49, 3, Potlatch 48, 4, Orifino 46, 5, Coeur D’Alene 43, 6, Lake City 43, 7, Post Falls 42, 8, Sandpoint 39, 9, Lewiston 38, 10, High Land C 24, 11, Prairie 21, 12 Lakelan 20, 12, Priest River 20, 14, Clearwater Valley 7, 15, Kootenai 5, 16, St. Maries 3.
ARTICLES BY EMILY BONSANT
Bears, cider press, family fun, oh my!
Apples were pressed, and fresh cider flowed at the second annual North Idaho Bear Fair at the Boundary County Fairgrounds on Sept. 28.
One farm, one family, 100 years
Houck Farm celebrates a centennial of farming, family
Houck Farms has hit the centennial milestone and aims to continue growing and harvesting as they keep focused on a family creed, “If you take care of the farm, it will take care of you.”
Kokanee Coffee moves to Bonners, still serving coffee and the Lord
Kokanee Coffee, a familiar regional coffee house, has moved to a stand in Bonners Ferry, offering excellent coffee, food and the love of Christ.