With the lights dimmed and a spotlight on the center of the basketball court, hundreds of people gathered to watch Bonners Ferry at home against the Timberlake Tigers as wrestling kicked off the first event of the Backwoods Brawl at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17. 

It was the first home event for the Badger wrestlers this season, who were serenaded with screams and chants from Bonners Ferry high school students.  

The Badgers started behind, partially due to having to forfeit certain weights. However, Ethan Matthews won his match by a fall before Colt Barras also won his match, which gave the Bonners Ferry faithful a reason to scream “He’s a freshman.” 

Rocky Monroe won by forfeit before junior Taylor Dodd came up last and comprehensively defeated his opponent. However, it was not enough as the Badgers lost by a score of 45-24. 

Aubree Graves and Kylie Calderone, Bonners Ferry’s female wrestlers, went to Missoula, Montana for the Hellgate Invitational, the first time this season the boys and girls have been separated. 

Graves went 4-2 over the six matches she participated in, finishing in fifth place out of 25 wrestlers. She won her matches 6-2, 10-7, 6-1 and 3-0.  

Calderone finished 2-2, though her wins were by a combined score of 35-2.  

Also occurring over the weekend, the Bonners Ferry wrestling club had a few members participate at the Helltown throw down in Helena, Montana. Dalton Regehr finished second in Folkstyle wrestling and first in freestyle. Brody Swift placed fourth in Folkstyle.  

    Gaige Johnson gets on top of his Timberlake opponent in their wrestling match.
  

    A Bonners Ferry wrestler attempts to pin his opponent.