Breaking records, taking medals

Spartans take to the podium at wrestling championships

POCATELLO — With his second state championship win two years in a row, Colm McLaimtaig takes his place in Priest River history as one of the greatest Lamanna High wrestlers of alltime.

The 144-pound homeschooled senior made his mark at the Idaho State High School Wrestling Championship in Pocatello last weekend, having won the 138-pound State Championship in 2024.

“He did a fantastic job,” Priest River wrestling coach Quinton Holbrook said. “Just amazing. That kid broke records all over the place this year. He’s just a pleasure to coach, he listens, works hard and then goes out on to the mat and makes it his own.”

Down 3-2 going into the third period, McLaimtaig was able to turn into a 2-point reversal and held on for a 4-3 win by decision. His opponent Stellar Tew, who won against McLaimtaig Kooskia Duals on Jan. 24, held a 50-3 record coming into the match and was on a 24-match winning streak. McLaimtaig ended the season with a 52-5 record, closing with 27 straight wins. McLaimtaig’s record includes career 179 wins, 139 pins and 253 takedowns.

Senior Caleb Grow, 285 pounds, capped off his career with an all-time best third-place finish.

Grow, coming off a fifthplace finish at 220 pounds at last year’s state championship, finished with a season record of 31-12. At this year’s championship Grow fell in the semifinals but came back with a win by a 16-2 major decision in the consolation semifinals and a win by second-round pin in the third-place match to secure bronze.

“Caleb had a fantastic year, and I’m not surprised he placed,” Holbrook said.

One surprise was Darien Ratzlaff, the 215-pound junior who won a bronze medal having never medaled at state before last Saturday. Ratzlaff finished the season with a 25-16 record after winning three straight matches on day two, all by pin and wrapping up with a 5-1 tournament record.

“Darien wasn’t even seeded, and he was on fire,” Holbrook said. “I knew he was capable, but it was unexpected. He turned it on, and it was really thrilling to watch.”

Freshman Hailey Cook won a match and lost one, then was ahead 7-0 in the fifth-place match before getting pinned.

“She put up a heck of a fight and was so close to getting on the podium,” Holbrook says.

The Spartans placed an 11th out of 42 teams with 76.5 points, two spots higher than in 2024.

Priest River wrestlers had to deal with a lot of illness this season, mostly a particularly nasty norovirus that closed the junior/senior high school for a day.

“When you have kids and staff out sick it makes it hard to reach that peak as a team you’re trying to get to during the season,” Holbrook said.

Despite these setbacks, Holbrook said he is proud of the Spartan wrestlers and thankful for the community’s support.

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