3A: Malad holds off Ririe for team title while 7 area wrestlers earn individual titles
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POCATELLO — Malad and Ririe each had expectations of chasing the 3A state title, but when it was finally over Saturday evening, it was the Dragons celebrating with the blue championship trophy.
Malad had three individual state champions while Ririe crowned one and that was a factor in the Dragons’ 211.5 to 194 edge for the team title.
Overall, District 5 and 6 celebrated seven individual championships as West Side’s Jake Barzee won the 98-pound title, Malad’s Jack Willie won at 106, Carter Brittain of Firth won at 132, Drake Morrison of Malad won the 150 title, Ririe’s James Hansen won at 157, Cole Garbett of Soda Springs won at 215 and Malad’s Orrin Miller capped the night with a title at 285.
Miller may have had the most poignant storyline. He was emotional following the award ceremony talking about his father Jack, who recently had a heart transplant and has been recovering.
“Seeing my dad fight for his life,” Miller said of his motivation.
On the mat, Miller’s motivation was a loss in last year’s finals. He also needed to add vital team points as the Dragons and perennial power Ririe were locked in at first and second place.
Teammate Jack Willie got Malad on the board early with a first-round pin of Kellogg’s Johnny Stovern.
Willie had medaled in his previous two trips to the state meet, placing fifth as a freshman and finishing runner-up last year.
“I don’t want to be in that spot and lose again,” Willie said. “I just wanted to get out there and secure it as soon as possible.”
One of the most entertaining 3A matches of the day was at 157, where James Hansen of Ririe and Zach David of St. Maries put on an offensive display that saw Hansen fall behind early but battle back to tie the match at 10-10 entering the third.
David had a one-point lead before Hansen finished with a takedown and near fall as the clock ticked down and came away with a 17-14 decision.
Hansen finished the season 52-3 while David dropped to 52-3.
It was Hansen’s second straight title.
“Last year I was down and I worked my way back,” Hansen said.
He also noted David beat him earlier this season by five points.
“It was good to get that one back,” he said.
98
1st Place – Jake Barzee of West Side
2nd Place – Jack Jones of Ririe
3rd Place – Jaxon Hansen of Ririe
4th Place – Taylor Izzard of Marsing
5th Place – Jaxon Mills of Malad
6th Place – Ryker Spencer of Challis
106
1st Place – Jack Willie of Malad
2nd Place – Johnny Stovern of Kellogg
3rd Place – Kevin Watson of Kellogg
4th Place – Camden Worthington of Declo
5th Place – Riggins Peterson of Declo
6th Place – Simon Krupp of Soda Springs
113
1st Place – Colton Storey of Kellogg
2nd Place – Peter Fabbi of Clearwater Valley
3rd Place – Teran Tracy of Raft River
4th Place – Ben Reinke of North Fremont
5th Place – Ayden Potter of Malad
6th Place – Kevin Munoz of West Jefferson
120
1st Place – Henry Thomas of Glenns Ferry
2nd Place – Carsun Hinkelmann of Kellogg
3rd Place – Ches Lee Webb of Ririe
4th Place – Bill Avery of Tri-Valley
5th Place – Wade Clark of Malad
6th Place – Hector Silvas of Firth
126
1st Place – Gabe Muilenburg of Glenns Ferry
2nd Place – Bryce Jensen of North Fremont
3rd Place – Eian Schwecke of Kendrick
4th Place – Breylon Moon of Ririe
5th Place – Tayven Kunz of Ririe
6th Place – Blake Tracy of Raft River
132
1st Place – Carter Brittain of Firth
2nd Place – Jack Schwendiman of Ririe
3rd Place – Eston Beck of Aberdeen
4th Place – Kelby Harvey of St. Maries
5th Place – Wyatt Storey of Kellogg
6th Place – Porter Mills of Malad
138
1st Place – Wallace Durfee of Declo
2nd Place – Carson Hill of North Fremont
3rd Place – Gavin Peterson of West Side
4th Place – Parker Wangsgard of West Side
5th Place – Hunter Gamble of Orofino
6th Place – Tanner Labrum of Kamiah
144
1st Place – Colm McLaimtaig of Priest River
2nd Place – Stellar Tew of West Side
3rd Place – Jack Eddins of Grace
4th Place – Jerrett Brebner of St. Maries
5th Place – Payton Martindale of North Fremont
6th Place – Malakai Narte of Nampa Christian
150
1st Place – Drake Morrison of Malad
2nd Place – Brady Vergobbi of Kellogg
3rd Place – Jacob Fabbi of Clearwater Valley
4th Place – Jace Waggoner of Tri-Valley
5th Place – Jayce Haynes of Kellogg
6th Place – Roper Higley of Malad
157
1st Place – James Hansen of Ririe
2nd Place – Zach David of St. Maries
3rd Place – Oakley Maddox of Malad
4th Place – Kaiser Henne of Nampa Christian
5th Place – William Yearout of Potlatch
6th Place – Conner Christensen of Clearwater Valley
165
1st Place – Aiden Yearout of St. Maries
2nd Place – Mac Hall of West Jefferson
3rd Place – Jacob Shaw of New Plymouth
4th Place – Treagan Harris of Ririe
5th Place – Ashton Allen of Firth
6th Place – Carson Yearout of Potlatch
175
1st Place – Eli Noah of Tri-Valley
2nd Place – Beau Ringel of Firth
3rd Place – Tannon Nelson of Aberdeen
4th Place – Gabe Hooste of Malad
5th Place – Zander Yearsley of Ririe
6th Place – Wyatt Moura of Tri-Valley
190
1st Place – Gabriel Cox of New Plymouth
2nd Place – Elijah Dilworth of Soda Springs
3rd Place – Kenyon Adams of Declo
4th Place – Elias DeVries of Tri-Valley
5th Place – Rydon Montgomery of Malad
6th Place – Parker Farmer of Grangeville
215
1st Place – Cole Garbett of Soda Springs
2nd Place – Rigin Dixon of Challis
3rd Place – Darien Ratzlaff of Priest River
4th Place – Layne Morris of Lakeside
5th Place – Nolan Darrough of New Plymouth
6th Place – Rawley Babcock of West Jefferson
285
1st Place – Orrin Miller of Malad
2nd Place – Marcus Garcia of New Plymouth
3rd Place – Caleb Grow of Priest River
4th Place – Michael Lizarraga of Firth
5th Place – Robert Fuentes of Declo
6th Place – Will Whittier of Challis
TEAMS
Top 10
1. Malad, 211.5
2. Ririe, 194.0
3. Kellogg, 160.5
4. Declo, 104.5
5. New Plymouth, 99.5
6. Firth, 92.0
6. Tri-Valley, 92.0
8. St. Maries, 91.5
8. West Side, 91.5
10. North Fremont, 85.0
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