Flathead sneaks by Polson

Defending AA state champs pull out three-point win

KALISPELL - It's not often in wrestling duals where it all comes down to one match, where the fate of a team rides on the shoulders of one athlete.

But that's what happened to Flathead's Steel Hahn on Tuesday night.

The Braves trailed the Pirates 34-19 when Hahn stepped onto the mat against Polson's Mike Devlin at 152 pounds.

Flathead knew it would get forfeits in the final two matches at 160 and 171 pounds, but it needed at least a major decision from Hahn to win the dual.

He came through for Flathead with points to spare, getting a pin in 3:22 to help the Braves down visiting Polson, 37-34.

"If we wouldn't have got that one, we would have lost the dual. That was a big one. The kid (Hahn) was wrestling is no slouch and he took to him right from the start," said Flathead coach Matt Owen.

It was Matt Owen's first dual victory as a head coach over his uncle Bob Owen.

"It was really fun to have my dad and uncle come down and bring their team to wrestle us. Hopefully, we will be able to make this a yearly tradition. It's definitely a good thing," Matt Owen said.

The Braves, fresh off their eighth-place finish at the Tri-State Tournament in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, had some open spots in their lineup.

"It was kind of a patched together team. We had some of our JV guys step in the lienup because we had a pretty tough weekend at Tri-State. Some of them didn't make weight and there were a couple who had injuries we were trying to get healed up. But all the younger guys who jumped in the lineup did a really good job - they went out there and competed hard," Owen said.

"The best thing (about Tuesday's dual) is we get more competition. Now we don't have anything til the sixth of January. It was nice to get something over (Christmas) break to break it up a little bit and not have almost three full weeks of practice before we saw some competition again," he said.

The Pirates got a few things out of the dual as well, according to Polson coach Bob Owen.

"For one thing, I get to compete against somebody I totally respect. Going against Matt, when he asked ... I'm more than willing to dual them anytime. He's a class act. I like doing that. He'd be a little stronger if he had his full lineup tonight, but it's still great competition for us and I'm willing to do it anytime," Bob Owen said.

"I think this was probably our best effort since we started. We told (the kids) last night - we know you're going against a Class AA team but we don't want you to take the idea that it's lambs going to slaughter. You guys are going up there to compete and I really felt like they did compete well tonight," he said.

Flathead 37, Polson 34

98 - Double forfeit

105 - Dylan Moll, Polson, won by forfeit

112 - Craig Feistner, Polson, pins Easton Terry, :32

119 - Tel Motichka, Polson, won by forfeit

125 - Jake Kinkel, Flathead, defeats Drew Fouty, 11-6

130 - Coty Piasecki, Flathead, defeats Jesse Alfiero, 10-1

135 - Jose Quinones, Polson, defeats Brock Steller, 18-4

140 - Jacob Young, Polson, pins Jacob Egley, 5:36

145 - Alex Nystrom, Polson, pins Evan Eirckert, 3:20

152 - Steel Hahn, Flathead, pins Mike Devlin, 1:22

160 - Jeremiah Gaiser, Flathead, won by forfeit

171 - Larry Francis, Flathead, won by forfeit

189 - Alex Rudolph, Flathead defeats Marlin Burke, 6-0

215 - Travis Ozegovich, Flathead, pins Jereal Chiefstick, 1:17

Hwt - Connor Thomas, Flathead, defeats Josiah Clairmont, 5-3

- Dixie Knutson of the Daily Interlake