Dale Grummert
Their coach calls them "The Gangbusters," but James Standerfer, Michael McPeak and Colt Heger have done as much unifying as busting. They started as freshmen on Clarkston High's ambitious 2001 wrestling team, and they served as linchpins when several seniors left the program that season.

All three of them decisively won titles in the Clearwater Classic on Saturday night as Clarkston repeated as champion in the 16th annual tournament at the Nez Perce County Fairgrounds.

The Bantams put nearly 100 points between them and the rest of the 15-team field, outscoring second-place Kamiakin 262 1/2 to 167 1/2. Post Falls placed third and Lewiston used a 215-pound title by Matt Sayler to vault into fourth.

Albert Starrett of Colfax handed Josh Manes of Coeur d'Alene his first loss of the season in the 130-pound title match, and Kamiah freshman Clayton Foster stunned Clarkston's Ty Aiken in a controversial 160-pound final.

After Clarkston placed seventh in the Washington 3A state tournament in 2001, coach Dan Randles said he built his team around Standerfer, McPeak and Heger. They lent consistency to the program, which produced another seventh-place finish last year and now believes it can climb higher.

"We came through a lot together, and I'm just glad we're still here together," Standerfer said. "It's good to have people with you the whole way, knowing they're behind you."

The second-seeded McPeak (23-1) furnished the most dynamic win, pinning No. 1 seed Chazz Johnson of Kamiah in 4 minutes, 37 seconds of the 135-pound final.

"Mike looked incredibly tough in the finals," Randles said. "It was nice to see him wrestle that well."

McPeak missed most of his sophomore year with a broken leg, but he and Heger both placed third at State last year. "I've just kept pushing myself," McPeak said. "I've wanted it more and more, to win State."

Standerfer (119) controlled David Lanpher of Lewiston from start to finish in a 10-0 major decision in the finals, and Heger (140) stung Dusty Brown of St. Maries 16-6.

Starrett gutted out a 6-5 decision over Manes, who lost for the first time in 28 matches. The Colfax senior had placed second in the Washington 1A tournament last year, but rated Manes at the top of his list of opponents.

"He's the best this year and the best in all the years," he said.

Foster, the freshman son of Kamiah coach Cary Foster, pulled out a 3-2 defeat of the top-seeded Aiken. Officials ruled a late illegal move by Foster occurred after time had expired, eliciting a wave of protests from Clarkston fans.

Foster took things in stride, before and after the match.

"I'm a freshman," he said. "I have nothing to lose."

Sayler was left carrying the weight for Lewiston, the host team. After going 2-2 in the Idaho 5A tournament last year at 171 pounds, he chose to bulk up and take his chances as a light 215-pounder, about 10 pounds below the limit.

A couple of weeks ago, he was battling teammate Kyle Watkins for a spot on the varsity. But their fates diverged sharply Saturday when Watkins suffered a knee injury that will sideline him at least two weeks, and an improving Sayler crafted a 5:02 pin over Kyle Neal of Post Falls in the finals.

The Bengals may have also lost Joe Kershisnik (152) to a leg fracture.

"The last few weeks," Lewiston coach Dan Maurer said of Sayler, "he's really taken control. He's more confident and he's kind of got an attitude in what he's doing. He's enjoying it and becoming more of a leader."

Team scores -- Clarkston 262 1/2, Kamiakin 167 1/2, Post Falls 146, Lewiston 136, Coeur d'Alene 129, Walla Walla 116 1/2, Borah 108 1/2, Colfax 99 1/2, Gonzaga Prep 88, Kamiah 85 1/2, Southridge 82, St. Maries 60, Enterprise 20, Moscow 5, Potlatch 1.

103 pounds

Championship -- Matty Davis, GP, p. Kody DesJardin, Clk, 0:38.

Third place -- Craig Byers, PF, p. James Hug, Lew, 4:46.

Fifth place -- Matt Babino, unat, dec. Bruce Pierson, Kmk, 8-1.

112 pounds

Championship -- Spencer Oldemeyer, Bor, dec. Nate Bushman, Wal, 2-1.

Third place -- Andrew Tally, Kmk, p. Lee Wright, Lew, 2:29.

Fifth place -- Justin Moncrief, Ent. Dec. Bryce Line, Clk, 11-7.

119 pounds

Championship -- James Standerfer, Clk, maj. dec. David Lanpher, Lew, 10-0.

Third place -- Phillip Ludecke, CdA, p. Ben Robles, Sou, 4:14.

Fifth place -- Kyle Payne, StM, p. Justin Marshall, Col, 2:09.

125 pounds

Championship -- Mike Rodriguez, Kmk, maj. dec. Jason Fairley, Clk, 18-6.

Third place -- Nolan Atchley, Sou, dec. Derek Hall, Col, 7-2.

Fifth place -- Danny Baker, CdA, maj. dec. Jacob West, Bor, 14-4.

130 pounds

Championship -- Albert Starrett, Col, dec. Josh Manes, CdA, 6-5.

Third place -- Joe Holland, Clk, dec. Trae Turner, Lew, 3-2.

Fifth place -- Tyler Jackson, Kam, p. Jared Waltari, unat, 3:45.

135 pounds

Championship -- Michael McPeak, Clk, p. Chazz Johnson, Kam, 4:37.

Third place -- Paul Bates, unat, dec. Bobby Kuber,PF, 6-0.

Fifth place -- Austin Springer, Sou, p. Charles Campbell, Col, 2:14.

140 pounds

Championship -- Colt Heger, Clk, maj. dec. Dusty Brown, StM, 16-6.

Third place -- Jordan Anderson, Kmk, default over Jacob Buttenhoff, Wal.

Fifth place -- Nick Reimer, unat, p. Collin Washburn, Bor, 4:07.

145 pounds

Championship -- Tyler Sherfey, Kmk, p. Jeremiah Bunch, Kam, 2:26.

Third place -- Thomas Whittum, Clk, dec. Derek Waldo, PF, 6-2.

Fifth place -- Matt Doorflinger, CdA, default over John Stapleton, Wal.

152 pounds

Championship -- Kris Davis, Bor, dec. Matt Noble, Clk, 6-2.

Third place -- Ryan Trump, Col, default over Cameron Myers, CdA.

Fifth place -- Jonah Hocum, unat, maj. dec. Dan Riener, Wal, 15-4.

160 pounds

Championship -- Clayton Foster, Kam, dec. Ty Aiken, Clk, 3-2.

Third place -- Dallin Davis, PF, dec. Cody Reece, unat, 13-11.

Fifth place -- Eric Prestegaard, unat, default over Jared Reynolds, CdA.

171 pounds

Championship -- Trevor Nix, Wal, maj. dec. Scott Gerken, Kmk, 11-2.

Third place -- Enoch Willey, Bor, dec. Evan White, Sou, 6-3.

Fifth place -- Mike Kuber, PF, default over Jeremiah Lawson, StM.

189 pounds

Championship -- Ryan Allen, CdA, dec. Jon Schmitz, GP, 4-3, double OT.

Third place -- Jim Beck PF, p. Andy Elvin,Lew, 3:41.

Fifth place -- Travis Hagen, Clk, maj. Dec. Brad Price, Bor, 11-3.

215 pounds

Championship -- Matt Sayler, Lew, p. Kyle Neal, PF, 5:02.

Third place -- Brad Phillips, Clk, p. Peter Lampert, GP, 1:51.

Fifth place -- Nick Puzycki, Kmk, p. Brandon Darnell, unat, 2:41.

275 pounds

Championship -- Brent Rushin, Kmk, dec. Juan Rodriguez, Wal, 1-0.

Third place -- R.J. Moss, PF, dec. Justin Luvaas,Col, 3-1.

Fifth place -- Alex Purcell, Clk, p. Stu Polson, unat, 2:10.