Baker wrestlers replace stolen gear after winter slide

Andrew Sandberg’s 1995 Isuzu Rodeo slid on an icy patch while he was driving to work at Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort on Dec. 20, and when he returned a day or so later he found several personal items taken from the vehicle. The missing gear included an insulated jacket he uses while running the chairlift, a Bluetooth speaker, an air compressor/jumpstarter unit and the front floor mats — items Sandberg valued at roughly $350 to $375.

Sandberg, 19, said he locked the Rodeo after it became stuck between the national forest boundary and the Baker Valley Overlook, but believes a rear window that does not latch fully allowed entry. “I was really upset about it,” he said. “I couldn’t believe that someone would take advantage of the situation.”

The day the truck became stranded Sandberg was driven the rest of the way to work by a coworker. He and friends tried to free the vehicle that evening, and the next day another coworker brought a front end loader to pull the Rodeo back onto the highway. The relief of getting the truck out was replaced by frustration when Sandberg discovered the theft.

The response from Baker County’s wrestling community arrived within days. After Sandberg’s mother posted about the theft on Facebook, Powder Valley and Baker High School wrestling coach Jeris Stephens and his wife, Amber, mobilized families from the program. Amber Stephens posted the appeal on the Baker Bulldog Wrestling page on Dec. 23, and “within five minutes we had parents of current wrestlers offering to help,” Jeris Stephens said.

Community donors supplied most of the replacements: D&D Equipment and the Jessica Hilton family donated coats, Stephens and his wife provided a Bluetooth speaker, and Lew Brothers Les Schwab Tires stepped in to replace the air compressor/jumpstarter after Stephens spoke with co-owner Diana Brown. Stephens framed the effort as an extension of what he teaches athletes in the gym. “I’ve always preached to the kids that we’re a family,” he said. “Just because you graduate and move on with your life, it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop being your coach. You’ve been a big part of my life, and I’ve been a big part of your life.”

Sandberg said he was moved by the quick action. “I was just in awe of how quickly my parents got that response, and so grateful,” he said. Stephens recounted that when he delivered the donated items and called Sandberg shortly afterward, “I could see the smile on his face through the phone,” adding, “Andrew’s such a phenomenal young man.”

For Baker County residents the episode is both a reminder of the hazards of winter driving on mountain roads and a small study in local social capital: neighbors, school families and small businesses combined to replace roughly $350 worth of gear in short order. Sandberg continues working his first winter at Anthony Lakes, and the swift community response has restored the practical items he needs and underscored the network of support local teams can provide.