Grizzlies/Cardinals Compete In Rollie Lane Invitational

The Rollie Lane Invitational is one of the premier high school wrestling tournaments in the state of Idaho.  It took place last weekend at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.  This year’s tournament included over ninety teams from several western states.  With most brackets filled with up to sixty-four participants from all sizes of high schools coming away with just a single win is impressive let alone earning a spot on the podium.  A few of our local wrestlers were skilled enough to earn a win with a couple coming away with podium appearances. While the rest may not have secured a win but did earn some valuable experience.

In the boys bracket those that fell into that category of having to settle for a good learning experience and no wins were Ryker Hemmert (Soda 138 lbs), Gabe Wiegman (Grace 132 lbs), Tate Stoddard (Grace 144 lbs), Douglas Robbins (Grace 150 lbs), and Jackson Junker (Grace 165lbs).  Picking up a single win before being eliminated was Grace’s Jayden Lunt (126 lbs).  Also picking up a pair of wins before suffering elimination was Soda Springs JT Cutler (126 lbs).

The Lady Grizzlies also had four girls compete in the tournament.  Adeline Clark (100 lbs) fell into that same category of no wins but some great experience that many others found themselves in.  Hayden Ball (115 lbs) was able to secure two wins in her bracket before falling to elimination.  Bella Eddins (125 lbs) and Skyla Cloud (140 lbs) each had longer tournaments than their teammates.  Eddins won her first match then lost her second sending her to the consolation bracket.  In the consolation bracket Eddins went on to win her next four matches including one by sudden victory before finally getting eliminated in round six.  Cloud picked up two wins before she lost and was sent to the consolation bracket.  Cloud then picked up a pair of quick pins before she too was eliminated in the sixth round.

The last two wrestlers we want to mention have been some of the best wrestlers in the county over their high school careers.  Now both in their senior year of competition both wrestlers entered last weekend with unblemished season records.  We are of course speaking about Grace’s Carter Kimball (132 lbs) and Soda Springs Elijah Dilworth (190 lbs).  A season ago both young men were primed to win state titles.  It would have been Kimball’s third and Dilworth’s first but both of their seasons would end short of that goal.  Kimball suffered an injury in the district tournament that kept him from even making it to the state tournament.  Dilworth on the other hand had everything going his way right up until the championship match which many had him picked to win.  Unfortunately he came up a little short and had to settle for second place.  This season both wrestlers are right back on track to compete for a state championship.  Some wins at last weekend’s tournament would definitely bolster their standings in the state.  As mentioned both boys entered the weekend undefeated on the season so it was no surprise to find them in the thick of things fighting for a podium spot.  

Kimball earned a first round bye then picked up three straight wins by decision earning himself an appearance in the semi finals.  Unfortunately, Kimball lost that semi final match to a wrestler from Hermiston, Oregon sending him tumbling to the consolation bracket.  In his next match Kimball suffered his second loss of the season going down to a competitor from Gonzaga Prep.  This left Kimball fighting for fifth place in his final match.  Kimball wound up being awarded the victory due to medical forfeit and he was able to claim a spot on the podium proving he is among the top wrestlers in the region.

Dilworth’s path was perhaps even more impressive.  Dilworth also earned a first round bye.  He then decimated his next three opponents winning two matches by technical fall and one by major decision.  This put Dilworth in the semi final match facing Brock Armstrong from Coeur D’ Alene.  Like Dilworth, Armstrong entered the match undefeated on the season.  These are exactly the type of matches you want at this high caliber tournament.  The match went the full distance but as time ran out Dilworth was on the short side of the points.  Armstrong would go on to win the championship.  The loss sent Dilworth to the consolation semi final.  He won that match in a close decision making his final match of the tournament the third place match.  In another hard fought match Dilworth won the close bout over his opponent from Gonzaga Prep claiming third place and cementing himself as one of the top wrestlers in the northwest.