Polson grapplers have strong weekend

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — The Polson wrestling team split ways this past weekend, the top five going to the Tri-State tourney in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, and the rest going to the Eureka JV tournament.

At the Tri-State tourney, Polson wrestlers had an opportunity to take a shot at some of the best and compete at a much higher level.

“That competition is so much better than our state tournament it is not even funny,” Polson head coach Bob Owen said.

Of the five who attended, two placed, junior wrestler and former state champ Brock Picard and junior Ty Fouty.

Picard had a rough draw, losing in the qualifier for the finals by a score of 4-3. Owen said the score was counted incorrectly and Picard would have won if it was disputed.

Though Polson coaches tried to contest the call they were unable to because they had left the mat. Tournament rules state calls cannot be disputed once a team leaves the mat.

Even though Picard was disappointed he didn’t get a shot at the title, Owen said the consolation match – during which Picard won third place – was one for the books.

It wasn’t until the fourth overtime that Picard finally won over the tough competitor.

Fouty had a rocky weekend, winning all of his matches the first day and advancing with a quarterfinal win and the next day, losing all of his matches and went home placing sixth.

Fouty’s brother, Trae, was unable to compete due to a dislocated elbow from the Mining City tourney in Butte.

“We don’t know when or if we’re going to get him back but we’re hoping,” Owen said.

In Eureka, the remaining Pirates took fourth place as a team and placed six wrestlers including junior Kaden Thomas, who took second at heavyweight, and five wrestlers who finished in fifth place.

The fifth place finishers were sophomore Dakotah Jensen for 98 lbs., sophomore Jesse Alfiero for 105 lbs., freshman Brock Bleazard for 135 lbs., junior Logan Clay for 160 lbs., and freshman Josiah Clairmont for 215 lbs.

Thomas was wrestling his first match after a shoulder separation in football.

“I’m just glad he’s back,” Owen said. “He was a little rusty, because that was his first competition … he’s going to help us out a lot.”

The Pirates wrestle next on Jan. 2 and 3 at the Bozeman Invitational.