Dilworth Ends Career With State Title

The Idaho state wrestling championships took place last weekend at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.  Several local wrestlers qualified to participate in the state tournament with a few ending their year on the podium.

Every wrestler that qualifies for state has dreams of pulling off upsets and running the table while walking away with a state championship.  In one of the toughest sports that a high school athlete can compete in only a few can actually accomplish such a feat.  For those that do they leave a legacy and their mark on their school and sport.  For one local wrestler the dream of earning a state championship became a reality last weekend.

Elijah Dilworth’s journey to the top of the awards stand started long before he arrived at the Ford Idaho Center last Saturday.  Dilworth has dreamed of winning a state title for years and has accomplished a lot along the way.  Diworth is a four time district champion and has racked up more than one hundred and fifty high school career wins.  Those accomplishments alone would be enough to be considered among the best Soda Springs wrestlers of all time.  It was not enough for Dilworth.  Elijah wanted a state championship and was willing to put in the work and sacrifice to get there.  In fact Dilworth nearly accomplished the task a year ago.  Dilworth had made it all the way to the title match his sophomore and junior seasons but came up short in those matches and had to settle for second place.  Elijah began his season with one mission in mind.  Meet after meet and tournament after tournament Dilworth dominated his competition finishing the regular season with just one loss that came against a 6A wrestler in the Rolie Lane tournament.  As Dilworth's state tournament run began his domination continued.  Dilworth picked up wins in his first two matches by way of technical fall.  His third match was the semi final match.  In that match Dilworth earned a win by pinning his opponent in under one minute.  In his championship match Dilworth once again controlled his opponent throughout, winning by major decision and finally earning his state championship. 

Carter Kimball finished a stellar career with a fourth place finish.

 Dilworth was not the only local wrestler with dreams of a state championship going into last weekend's state tournament.  Grace’s Carter Kimball was also among the favorites to win a state title.  Kimball had already accomplished the feat early in his high school career.  Then last year disaster struck as Kimball suffered a season ending injury at districts ending his hopes of being a four time state champ.  As he returned for his senior season Carter was determined to once again make it to the top.  Kimball did have a successful season winning the district championship and reaching one hundred and fifty wins himself.  As often happens with sports not all dreams come true.  Kimball began his state tournament with a pair of wins making it to the semi finals.  Unfortunately Kimball came up short in the semi finals and was sent to the consolation side of the bracket ending his chances of a state title.  Kimball bounced back and won his next match putting him in position to secure a third place finish.  Once again however things don't always turn out the way you would hope.  Fighting a small illness Kimball fell in that third place match and would have to settle for fourth place.

Kimball’s teammate Cael Newby comes from wrestling royalty in Grace.  Both of his older siblings have earned podium spots in their high school careers.  Newby started his state tournament with a tough loss and headed straight to the consolation bracket.  Once there Newby went back to work and went on a four match tear.  At the end of those four tough matches Newby found

Cael Newby placed third in the 144 lb. weight class.

  himself wrestling for third place.  That third place match was a real battle.  As the match concluded the score was tied forcing the two combatants to go extra time.  In that extra time Newby wound up winning by way of sudden victory.

Only two other local boys wrestlers made it to the podium.  Grace’s Mack Jorgensen gave up a ton of size as he moved up to the 285 lb. weight class during the season.  The move paid off for Jorgensen as he won a district title then went on to place sixth at state.  Likewise Soda Spring’s Kellen Garbett wrestled his way to the fifth place match at state where he came up just short and finished in sixth place on the podium.

In addition to the boys wrestlers success there were also local girls competing at state.  Grace’s 

Bella Eddins grabbed fourth place at state.

 Bella Eddins has been putting up solid performances ever since she decided to take up the sport.  Eddins earned wins in her first two matches at state before losing in the semi finals.  From there Bella was able to battle back to the third place match but unfortunately she came up short in that match and finished with a fourth place finish.

Last but not least Soda Spring’s Brooklyn Dodge is another one of these wrestlers that has wrestling in her blood.  Brooklyn was the lone Lady Cardinal to qualify for state.  Brooklyn’s state tournament started with a loss but she was not finished.  Dodge won her next three matches in dominating fashion.  Those three wins advanced her far enough in the tournament to secure her a spot on the podium.  Unfortunately she did lose her final two matches and had to settle for sixth place.  While she would have liked to finish higher, Brooklyn has earned the distinction of being the first Soda Springs girls wrestler to win a state match and the first to ever place at state.  Brooklyn will have her name cemented in the record books for those accomplishments. 

Brooklyn Dodge earned the first ever state medal for a Lady Cardinal.