Local Little Guys compete at state

COLUMBIA FALLS — The Little Guy wrestlers went up to state last weekend in Columbia Falls. Now the Mission Valley has to figure out how to transport all of that hardware back down here.

Team-wise, Ronan did the most damage among local programs, finishing in third place among medium-sized schools with 31 points. Polson took fourth among the large teams with 47 points, not far behind Eagle, which finished with 58 points for third.

Arlee took third with 13 points in the small team division, just behind Thompson Falls and Darby, which split the silver medal with 18 points each.

Mission-Charlo finished fifth in the medium group with 23 points, but only narrowly - Frenchtown and Dillon shared the fourth place honors with 24 points each.

All of Lake County’s programs finished with individual feats to be proud of.

Beginner

At 55 pounds, Ronan’s Noah Cheff bested Evergreen’s Hank Dunn to win the state championship. Teammates Parker Adler and Bridger Wenzel took first and fourth at 65 pounds.

More Chiefs made a mark at each of the next four weight classes. Dylan Moran took third at 70 pounds, and Justin Mays outwrestled teammate Brandon Blood to secure a third place finish at 75 pounds.

Ronan’s Landers Smith took third at 85 pounds and another Chief, Kesean Burke, took silver at 108 pounds.

The Chief dominance stopped there and rival Polson Pirates finished the class off, with Anthony Camel and Hunter Fritsch taking the gold and silver at 130 pounds, and Noah Humphrey and Preston Folch taking second and fourth at 95 pounds.

It was quite the showing for the Valley’s top rivals.

Novice

Speaking of the rivalry, Polson’s Shayne Pierre got a real taste of it when Ronan’s Spencer Stagg beat him out for the third place spot at 55 pounds.

It was all Ronan at 65 pounds, with Jaben Wenzel and Kohltin Starkel taking third and fourth place. At 100 pounds, Polson’s Matt Rensvold pulled out a silver medal finish and teammate Wyatt Ducharme took third at 85 pounds. Another Pirate, Tanner Wilson, took second at 95 pounds.

Arlee’s Bill Adams grappled his way to a second place finish at 140 pounds, the first placer for the Warriors.

Not to get overshadowed by the cross valley rivals, Mission/Charlo’s Emilio Bravo snagged a bronze medal at 158 pounds to give his team its first state honors.

Middle

Mission-Charlo didn’t stop scoring points in the older divisions. At 75 pounds, Bulldog Dante McDougall claimed the fourth place title to get things rolling.

Ronan’s Austin Hakes finished second at 120 pounds and fellow Chiefs Ronny Collis and Kellen Couture surrounded the competition for first and fourth place finishes.

There were more Chief champions on the way. At 105 pounds it was Brandon Dumont who took the gold and Chase Rhine in fourth.

Arlee Warrior Calvin Anderson took down Libby’s Michael Denison to finish third at 166 pounds.

Junior

Ronan’s Levi Polk took first at 85 pounds and Polson lightweights Carlos Quinones, Dillon Moll and Taylor Martin snagged up first, third and fourth at 90 pounds. The other boys in that class won’t soon forget the color purple.

Fellow Pirate wrestler Craig Feistner beat Corvallis’ Chace Malone to secure another first place title for his team at 95 pounds.

Of the three placers from the valley at the 119C class, it was Arlee’s Cameron Dominick who went home with gold. Mission-Charlo’s Kyle Lawson took second after the championship loss, but it would be no surprise if he gets another shot at Dominick down the road.

Polson’s Jared Young took fourth at the weight.

In the 125A class, Polson’s Nate Brooks went No. 1 and Mission-Charlo’s Jacen Peterson took third.

Ronan’s Shelby Grant beat teammate Carston Baertsch for the championship at the 125B, a very strong overall showing for the Chiefs at the weight.

Polson’s Michael Devlin took silver at 135 pounds and Ronan’s Andrew Tiegan took third at 105 pounds.  

At the 119A class, Mission-Charlo’s Tra Ludeman took second.

Bulldog teammate Dylan Evans also took second at 152 pounds.

Yet another Bulldog, Barrett Sargent took another silver medal at 160 pounds.

One more Bulldog? That’s right. Joseph Hawkins finished fourth at 171 pounds.

Last but not least, Arlee’s Justin Adams and Polson’s Marlin Burke finished second and third at 189 pounds.

That wraps up another year of Little Guy Wrestling. Fans can watch for them to hit the mats again when winter swings around.