Never leave a teammate behind could be the motto of the Bonners Ferry boys wrestling team. Eight Badger wrestlers went to the district tournament against Timberlake and all eight have qualified for the state tournament at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa on Feb. 27 and 28. 

Four Badgers placed first at the tournament held at Lakeland high school on Feb. 21, but finishing in the top two in each weight class was all that was needed for state qualification. 

For Gaige Johnson and Rocky Monroe, there will be extra motivation heading to Nampa. As seniors, this will be the last time they wrestle for the high school.  

Colt Barras placed first in his weight class, winning his only match in just under a minute and a half. Ethan Matthews also placed first, despite recently suffering an injury.  

Taylor Dodd won 3-0 in less than a minute, defeating his opponent comprehensively. Gaige Johnson placed second in his group, falling 10-1 in his only match. 

Robert Kelsey was the only wrestler in a group with two others, meaning if he finished last, he would not qualify to state. Kelsey took his first match, beating his opponent in 50 seconds. While he lost his next match, Kelsey placed second, which booked his ticket to Nampa. 

Rocky Monroe did not wrestle, effectively earning a bye to the tournament. Eivind Falck lost his only match, as did Aiden Dodd. 

The state tournament in Nampa will be with 16 wrestlers in each bracket. 

Falck, seeded 13, will start against an opponent from Marsh Valley High School in Arimo. Matthews will face off against a wrestler from the same high school. He is the second-highest seeded Badger, ranked 4 in the 138-pound bracket. 

Kelsey, seeded 14, will battle against an opponent from Snake River High School, as will Colt Barras, who is ranked seventh. 

Aiden Dodd is ranked 10 in his bracket. In a coincidence, his opponent is named Aidan and is from Filer High School. 

Gaige Johnson has seed number 14 and will wrestle against an opponent from South Fremont High School, while Rocky Monroe’s opponent hails from Payette High School. Monroe is seeded fifth in his bracket. 

Taylor Dodd will be the third Bonners Ferry wrestler to face off against a Snake River opponent. He is seeded second in his bracket.

MATCHES 

132 — Gaige Haines, Timberlake md. Eivind Falck, Bonners Ferry, 14-0. 138 — Ethan Matthews, Bonners Ferry f. Logan Handlen, Timberlake, 3-0. 144 — Robert Kelsey, Bonners Ferry f. Wyatt Greenwood, Timberlake, 3-0. 150 — Colt Barras, Bonners Ferry f. Niklas Lee, Timberlake, 2-3. 157 — Chris Schmidt, Timberlake f. Aiden Dodd, Bonners Ferry, 6-0.    175 — Carter Loutzenhiser, Timberlake f. Gaige Johnson, Bonners Ferry, 10-1. 190 — Rocky Monroe, Bonners Ferry, received a bye. 285 — Taylor Dodd, Bonners Ferry f. Archer Higgins, Timberlake, 3-0.