Taylor Dodd said midway through the season that his favorite match had come against a Timberlake opponent. Now, he may want to reconsider that answer. 

Bonners Ferry High School officially has a new state champion. Dodd did not concede a single point on his way to capturing the 285-pound title at the Idaho 4A state championship. After fourth- and second-place finishes as a freshman and sophomore, he now stands atop the podium. 

Dodd won his first three matches by scores of 3-0, 5-0 and 3-0, with all ending in a pin. In the final, he won with a score of 5-0 by decision.

In addition, six out of eight members of the Bonners Ferry wrestling team won at least one match at the Idaho state wrestling championships in Nampa on Feb. 27 and 28. 

Colt Barras performed well in his first trip to state, finishing with two wins with a combined score of 13-6. He finished the season with 17 total wins. 

Robert Kelsey won a match by a score of 9-0. It finished off the best season of his wrestling career and he accumulated 18 wins. 

Ethan Matthews ended the season with a record of 25-14, for a win percentage of 64%. He won one match at state, by a score of 6-1. 

Gaige Johnson, in his last tournament for the high school, won a match by a mammoth score of 18-3, the largest margin of victory for any Badger at the tournament.

Aiden Dodd also won one of his matches, by a score of 7-4. 

Eivind Falck was unlucky to not pick up a win, falling to his opponent 9-8 by referee decision and Rocky Monroe had two close losses as well.   

It was Monroe’s first and last high school wrestling season. He managed to pick up four wins with his best result a third-placed finish at Priest River. 

Championship Match: 

Taylor Dodd dec. Caleb Carpenter, Buhl, 5-0.   

All wins by Bonners Ferry in state tournament: 

138 — Ethan Matthews f. Mauro Christiansen, Snake Valley, 6-1. 144 — Robert Kelsey f. Simon Eddins, South Fremont, 9-0. 150 — Colt Barras f. Bridger Bangerter, Snake River, 5-3. Colt Barras dec. Mat Byrne, Sugar-Salem, 8-3. 157 — Aiden Dodd f. Aidan Hoyer, Filer, 17-4. 175 — Gaige Johnson f. Jayten Malson, Fruitland, 18-3. 285 — Taylor Dodd f. Malachi Egbert, Snake River, 3-0. Taylor Dodd f. Archer Higgins, Timberlake, 5-0. Taylor Dodd f. Isaias Torres, Fruitland, 3-0.  

    Dodd stands on the top step of the podium.