8 wrestlers qualify for state tourney

The Mountain Home Tigers had eight wrestlers qualify for this week's State Wrestling Tournament at the Idaho Center in Nampa.

The Tigers ended up fourth at the District III 4A wrestling tourney at Kuna last week. Columbia won the meet with 463.5 points. Kuna was second with 307, Nampa was third with 240, Mountain Home fourth with 150.5, followed by Middleton, 117.5, Skyview, 104.5, Emmett, 84, and Bishop Kelly, 49.

The eight wrestlers that qualified for state are:

* Devonte McClain, who placed second at 125 pounds.

* Ty McRae, who finished third at 285 pounds.

* Jon Ryan, who was fourth at 215 pounds.

* Jeff Checketts, who placed fifth at 215 pounds.

* Austin Lisonbee, who placed fifth at 112 pounds.

* Tyler Rios, who finished fifth at 135 pounds.

* Ryan Goldsby, who was fifth at 145 pounds.

* Austin Clark, who placed fifth at 152 pounds.

"I'm happy with that (having eight going to state)," said Tigers wrestling coach Lynn Knudson. We've just doubled what we took to state last year, and that's big because six of those kids will be...returning to our program as state qualifiers from the previous year."