SANDPOINT — After a series of defeats at the hand of Lakeland High School, the Sandpoint Bulldogs are eager to even the score — and recollect a trophy oar from their rivals south of Lake Pend Oreille. 

The Battle for the Paddle is a friendly high school competition of spirit, sports and community service that culminates Friday at Sandpoint High, starting with girls basketball at 4 p.m., wrestling at 6 p.m. and boys basketball at 8 p.m.

"We’re feeling pretty good," Lakeland senior and ASB President Micah Bretveld said Tuesday. "We're getting a lot of stuff done and we’re making a lot of progress toward having another successful year." 

For the service portion of the event, Lakeland students hold events such as its Frozen 5K to collect funds and generate awareness for the Lakeland Strong Foundation and for the Rathdrum Lions Club’s backpack program. The foundation supports Lakeland’s high school students and families who have encountered tragedy, difficult circumstances or otherwise are in need of support. The backpack program ensures students who normally receive their meals at school will have food at home for the weekend.  

Cascadia Pizza Co. will help out with a “give back night” from 4 to 8 p.m. tonight. Proceeds from customers who show up and say they’re with Lakeland High will go toward the cause. Tickets for the Battle for the Paddle Raffle are $10 and due Thursday. 

In the past three years, Lakeland has raised $85,950 for these causes, and that’s not including this year. The 2025 amount will be announced during Friday’s festivities.  

Lakeland’s theme this year is “FBI” while Sandpoint has taken on the mantle of “Firefighters.”  

Spirited contests will take place as cheerleaders, bands and dance teams give it all they’ve got. Themed arts competitions will be held. A rap battle will ensue as each school performs its original works and a lip sync will showcase students' lyrical prowess. The paddles — and plungers — will be put to the test as students from each school will rally from one side of the gym to the other in makeshift cars and boats.  

Whichever school is truly the loudest will be decided by a decibel reader.  

“Everyone gets silent and each school takes a turn to be as loud as can be,” Lakeland’s leadership adviser Allison Knoll said. "We measure which one wins.”  

Micah said Battle for the Paddle is special because everyone really loves this event. 

"It's a really good way to go to a wrestling tournament or a basketball tournament without having to take a whole lot of time out of your day because all of your friends are going to go," she said. "It's just a really good opportunity to give back to our community through all the fundraising we do. It's a really good spirited event.” 

In Sandpoint, the Bulldogs come into the contest as the underdogs with an appetite for redemption. 

“They’ve gotten the best of us the last few years,” said TJ Clary, Sandpoint High School activities and athletic director. “You have to say they’re the favorites.”  

Still, strong fundraising numbers toward Sandpoint Lions Club’s Toys for Tots — the school’s charity of choice — are giving Sandpoint hope, and the five-year title drought is offering the Bulldogs more than enough motivation for a shot to bring the trophy to the north side of the lake.  

“Our staff, our kids and our community — they want it,” Clary said. “There’s a hunger this year. You can feel the buzz.”  

Sandpoint Assistant Principal Derek Dickinson said that regardless of the battle’s outcome, he hopes students will develop camaraderie and learn how to express school pride in a healthy way.  

“Watching them be able to partner with outside community members goes a long way,” he said of the battle’s charity aspect. “We are trying to teach these students to think outside of themselves.”  

Clary added that the event allows students in the schools’ many groups and organizations to showcase their athletic, artistic and musical skills and aligns them toward a common goal.  

“It’s a way that all these groups can unite,” he said. 

One way or another, the fate of the paddle will be determined Friday night before an estimated crowd of 1,500 raucous students, staff and North Idaho sports fans.  

“It’s loud — bring your earplugs,” Clary said. “Once they’re there in that gym, they’re fired up. They want to win.”  

Sandpoint High is at 410 S. Division Ave., Sandpoint. Tickets to Battle for the Paddle are $10 and must be bought ahead of time from either high school. No tickets will be sold at the door.