LHS Wrestling competed in the Conrad Gardner Invitational in Bonners Ferry on Feb. 3. The team was able to get a second-place finish behind the powerhouse Post Falls Trojans. The Hawks were able to obtain 167 points, while Post Falls had 287 points.
This is an annual tournament for the Hawks, and the night before, the team gets pizza and goes bowling and then stays the night in the Bonners Ferry mat room before the tournament the next day.
The Hawks had several places, including freshman Carson Leonard, who won the 113-pound weight class. Leonard is also ranked second in the state for his weight class.
There were three fourth-place finishes in this tournament: Austin Howell, Ernie Steele, and Peyton Sardinha.
Zach Teal, Griffin Tamangai and Thayer Sabatke all placed fourth in their respective weight classes.
Kross O’Brien and Jaren Knopp were close to winning, but both lost by a technical pinfall in the championship match.
With districts coming up later in the month, the Hawks are looking to capture the district championship once again.
The Hawks had the trophy for 14 years before losing it in 2022 to the Sandpoint Bulldogs but regained it last year at Moscow High School.
The Hawks compete next in a dual on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m., against the Post Falls Trojans at Post Falls High School.