Shelley wrestlers bring home first and second-place championship titles
NAMPA — Shelley High School sent six wrestlers to the 2021 State Championships with two wrestlers bringing home first and second-place trophies.
The Idaho 4A State Championship Tournament took place on Friday, Feb. 26, at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. Unlike previous years, the tournament took place entirely over just one day. Shelley High School’s qualifying wrestlers were:
- Carter Balmforth, a freshman in the 106-pound weight class (34-11). Balmforth was the No. 2 seed.
- Kolten Stacey, a senior in the 120-pound weight class (40-3). Stacey was the No. 1 seed.
- Seth Jacobson, a freshman in the 160-pound weight class (23-17).
- Hayden Hokanson, a senior in the 170-pound weight class (31-11).
- Anthony Hackman, a sophomore also in the 170-pound weight class (9-5).
- Orrin Hill, a junior in the 182-pound weight class (18-21).
The Shelley team had a good showing. They placed 13 out of 25 teams.
Carter Balmforth had some hard-fought battles in the 106-pound weight class to reach the championship round. In Carter’s first two matches, he won with pins, 2:48 minutes and 4:17 minutes respectfully. In Carter’s third round, he wrestled Kaiden Rubash of Jerome High School. It was a long, low-scoring match with Carter pulling out a win with a score of 2-1 decision.
In his Championship match, Carter wrestled Carson Exferd, a freshman from Nampa High school, who had a record of 34-0. It was a hard-fought battle that Balmforth lost with a score of 13-4. This was the only match that Exferd did not win by pinning his opponent. Balmforth did well this tournament and he will be a force to contend with over the next three years at Shelley High School.
Kolten Stacey wrestled four matches in his quest for the 120-pound weight class championship. In his first 2 matches, he won with pins, 1:43 minutes and 0:40 seconds respectfully. His third match, he won with an 11-2 major decision over Gabe Blessinger from Pocatello High School to advance to the championship round. In the championship round he wrestled Simon Graeber from Columbia high.
It was a hard fought battle, but Kolten pulled it out with a 5-4 decision over Graeber.
The top ten team scores for the 4A division are as follows:
- Jerome 197.0 points
- Nampa 193.0 points
- Minico 171.5 points
- Lakeview 165.5 points
- Columbia 148.0 points
- Century 146.0 points
- Blackfoot 139.5 points
- Caldwell 108.5 points
- Middleton 74.5 points
- Twin Falls 71.5 points
Overall, the Shelley men’s wrestling team was impressive and they are looking strong for the coming future. Coach Cox is working on some programs to help build up the wrestling program in the future. He is going to start working with the Balmforth brothers in building up the youth wrestling program that will strengthen the wrestling program through the middle school and up to the high school level.
Congratulation to the Shelley wresting team.
