Polson Invitational kicks off winter season

POLSON - Let the games begin. Lake County will see its first major snowfall of winter sports with wrestling when the Polson Invitational kicks off this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Wrestlers from Polson and Mission-Charlo will represent Lake County in the 13-team tournament.

"I think we'll be doing pretty good," Polson sophomore grappler Craig Feistner said of the upcoming season that is just around the corner. "We've been having hard practices."

There will be lots of youth on display as the Pirates look for someone to fill in the big shoes of Brock Picard, who graduated as only the second Polson wrestler to win three individual state titles.

While lighter than Picard, who wrestled at the 171-pound classification, Feistner has promise with the way he finished in third place in the 98-pound class at the state tournament in his first season of high school wrestling.

"It was cool going in as a freshman and competing with the wrestlers at the state tournament," Fesitner said.

However, before he steps onto the mat to face someone from a different school, he had to get ready for the season just like the rest of the Polson wrestling team, which placed fifth last season in state and broke Ronan's two-year stranglehold on the divisional championship.

The Pirates will be looking for the fresh new faces to get it done against the competition.

"We have several freshmen coming into the program that have much experience in the Little Guy Wrestling Program," head coach Bob Owens said. "Many of these guys will be in varsity positions, so they will have to grow up in a hurry."

Feistner has grown up in a hurry. Less than one year after his state tournament run, and with the hard work he's put in, coupled with natural growth, the sophomore has bumped up to the 119-pound classification.

"I think I'll do well," Feistner said. "I'm wrestling against a little heavier kids this season."

He hopes to stay at the weight for the season as well.

"I've just got to stay in shape and continue my diet," Feistner said.

Feistner and the rest of the Pirates have been working hard, and one trip up to the wrestling room can give someone a first-hand view of the work being done down in the trenches.

You've heard about getting into football or basketball shape. Getting into wrestling shape is a whole different monster.

"At first, it's pretty hard to get back in shape," Feistner said. "I feel good so far, I've been trying to train hard."

Circled around their coach, 27 Polson wrestlers were getting instruction from their head coach last Monday afternoon.

Breaking the sport down move-by-move and having them repeat it to the point where it sticks in their mind.

"Alright, let's get to work on it," Owen said after showing his team another move.

Owen is no stranger to young teams either. Last year's team also had a youthful look to it with just six seniors on the roster, and they still finished 15-7 in the regular season.

"We had a very young team last year and I thought we made huge gains in competitiveness through the season," Owen said. "It was great to win the Divisional Tournament again."

Hopefully those gains will happen this season as well, and the Pirates will once again be on the podium at state.

However, there has to be a beginning to everything. And that beginning is this Saturday in the Polson Middle School gym.

Game on.