BONNERS FERRY — The Badgers are the league champs going 3-0 at the Intermountain League wrestling duals on Jan. 20.

Before the meet, head coach Kevin Campbell said it could go either way since not all the teams were at their strongest. He said there would be forfeits for many teams and that duals would come down to a few key matches.

The Badgers faced Timberlake first. Heavyweight Donald Reiss started the Badgers out strong with a quick pin of his Tiger opponent. After two forfeits and a defeat by Shaylynn Richards, the score was 12-all.

The Badgers fought to pass Timberlake. After another loss, the Badgers were down six points. After two successful pins by Dakoda Heller and Marcus Regehr, the meet was tied at 30-all. Daniel Zech received a forfeit and Eli Richards won his match, sending the Badgers in the lead with 42-30. Joshua Pinkerton was pinned as Timberlake inched toward the Badgers but the Badgers were too far ahead. With a sweep of the leg Jackson Richter pinned his opponent, cementing the Badgers win 54-36.

Against Kellogg, the Badgers had three forfeits before the first match. The score was 18-6 against the Badgers when Porter Blackmore went to wrestle. Blackmore fell to his Kellogg opponent. Tully Reinhart was close to a pin, but with a quick move his opponent pinned him instead.

With the score 27-6, Badgers down, Regehr went several rounds against his Kellogg opponent. He slipped out from multiple holds before going on the attack and beating his match. Heller went on to pin his opponent. The next three weight classes forfeited. Kellogg received two and the Badgers received one. Richter had another fast round ending with a pin for the Badgers and Reiss received a forfeit giving the Badgers the win 39-37.

“Kellogg gave us a scare for sure,” Campbell said. “Before a dual, it's all about the matchups.”

The Badgers went on to dual Priest River which was 1-1 in the duals. Shaylynn Richards and Porter Blackmore were pinned. Reinhardt accepted a forfeit. Then the next matches by Regehr, Heller, Zech, Henslee and Richards were all decided by pins for the Badgers. Bonners Ferry led 35-26.

Joshua Pinkerton was pinned by Matyus McLain of Priest River. Richter and Reiss pinned their opponents and Brandon Williams received a forfeit, finishing the dual 53-32.

“The goal was to win and we did,” Campbell said. “The other teams beat each other and figuring out who is in second is kind of a mess. It could have been anyone’s night.”

Campbell said the crucial matches against Priest River were at 160 with Zech and Bennett. Against Timberlake was the 220 matchup of Richter and Trevor Cady both placed in state last year. Richter was fifth in state at 195 and Cady was fourth in state at 220.

At the point in the dual when Richter was up, the Badgers had already won, Campbell said, but it was still a big win for Richter. He is the No. 1 seed for the district.

Marcus Regehr’s return from an injury rallied the team, Campbell said.

“Having him back is huge for our team,” he said. “Being able to put him at 145 or 152 matchups is crucial.”

Campbell said that the key to winning is being healthy which makes all the difference in the scores in the long run. Having three matches in three duals back-to-back is tiring.

“I think we showed we are going in the right direction,” Campbell said.

He said Porter Blackmore at 132 is athletic and strong. He is a first-year wrestler competing against kids who have done club wrestling for years. The goal is to give wrestlers like Blackmore more mat time because that is the only way they are going to get better.

“We look forward to him improving going towards districts and over the next couple of years,” he said.

Other wrestlers have been stepping it up. Donnie [Donald] Reiss is coming around to be one of those guys that the program can count on, Campbell said.

The Badgers have been the IML champions three out of the past four years and won last year. Campbell said that this is one of those special wins since Priest River and Kellogg will be dropping to 2A next year. Bonners Ferry and Timberlake are already planning for next year.

Bonners Ferry players in bold.

Bonners Ferry v. Timberlake 54-36

285 Donald Riess over Matt Soito (fall 0:30). 98 Brandon Williams accepted fort. 106 Paull Sundstrom accepted fort. 113 Ayden Meehan over Shaylynn Richards (fall 1:16). 120 Stryker Huston accepted fort. 126 James Moore accepted fort. 132 Porter Blackmore over Callum Micke (fall 1:59). 138 Tristyn Frank over Tully Reinhardt (fall 2:47). 145 Dakoda Heller over Jonathan Hansen (fall 3:32). 152 Marcus Regehr over Ashton Peightal (fall 0:59). 160 Daniel Zech accepted fort. 170 Eli Richards over Paul Shaner (2:49). 182 Cleo Henslee accepts fort. 195 James Billingsley over Joshua Pinkerton (fall 3:05). 220 Jackson Richter over Trevor Cady (fall 0:43).

Bonners Ferry v. Kellogg 39-37

98 Brandon William accepted fort. 106 double fort. 113 Wyatt Hei accepted fort. 120 Kolter Wood accepted fort. 126 Jaeger Hall accepted fort. 132 Tanner Williams over Porter Blackmore (dec. 13-8). 138 Ethan Guy over Tully Reinhardt (fall 0:52). 145 Marcus Regehr over Raymond Heely (dec. 13-8). 152 Brady Vergobbi over Dakoda Heller (fall 1:07). 160 Daniel Zech accepted fort. 170 Eli Leyden accepted fort. 182 Eli Richards accepter fort. 195 Austin Miller over Joshua Pinkerton (MD 11-2). 220 Jackson Richter over Kyle VanVleet (fall 0:11). 285 Donald Riess accepted fort.

Bonners Ferry v. Priest River 53-32

106 Colm McLaimtaig fort. 113 Hayden Sorbel fort. 120 Colin Magers over Shaylynn Richards (dec. 9-5). 126 Keith Poirier fort. 132 Caeden MacLaimtaig over Porter Blackmore (fall 2:27). 138 Tully Reinhardt fort. 125 Marcus Regehr over Charles Bennett (TF 15-0 2:49). 152 Dakoda Heller over Dalton Brown (fall 2:28). 160 Daniel Zech over Bradley Bennett (fall 3:05). 170 Cleo Henslee over Hunter Rose (fall 0:18). 182 Eli Richards over Gunnar Eversole (fall 1:14). 195 Matyus McLain over Joshua Pinkerton (fall 1:31). 220 Jackson Richter over Gabriel Grow (fall 0:09). 285 Donald Riess over Caleb Grow (fall 1:42). 98 Brandon Williams fort.