Pirates send 10 wrestlers to state

LIBBY — Despite finishing just third as a team in the Northwest A divisional tournament, Polson will send 10 grapplers to the Class A state tournament in Billings this weekend.

The Pirates’ effort in Libby was spearheaded by sophomores Tele Seemann and Mike Corrigan, who won divisional championships at 182 pounds and 195 pounds, respectively.

Polson wrestlers Jaron Morgan, Jaben Wenzel, Carlos Quinones, Tel Motichka and Isaiah Williams all finished as runners up in their weight classes.

“They wrestled well on Saturday,” coach Bob Owen said. “I’m proud of them.”

Thunder Morales, Cody Hedeen and Skylar Knutson also placed in the top four to secure state tournament berths.

Owen likes the Pirates’ chances to finish in the top 10 in Billings if they wrestle the way they did last weekend.

“I’d really be happy to crack into the top 10,” said Owen, who estimated that six state placers would secure that goal. “I think we can do that.”

Along with Seemann and Corrigan, Quinones—a returning state placer from a year ago—should have a strong shot.

Owen said the maturation of freshman Jaron Morgan makes him a likely candidate as well.

“He had an excellent tournament at divisional,” Owen said.

Motichka, a senior, fell to Libby’s Garret Chapel in the divisional final in a close 6-5 match.

“He got a really tough call in the finals,” Owen said.

Because of seeding, Owen added, the top two wrestlers in 170 will be on Motichka’s side of the bracket.

“His path at the state tournament is going to be a little tougher,” he said. “We’ll have to beat them anyway, so we’ll go there and see what happens.”

Another senior who had prospects on the podium in Billings was Jared Young, who was ranked much of the season at 145 pounds. Young’s season came to an end when he suffered a sprained ankle at Whitefish on Jan. 31.

“He’d been coming on strong,” said Owen. “It’s pretty unfortunate that he couldn’t go.”

The good news for Polson and Owen is that youth is on their side. Eight of the Pirates’ 10 state qualifiers will have the chance to return next season.

“We are a young team, and that’s going to help us,” he said. “We’re going to be pretty salty again next year.”

But the focus for now is getting that young talent on the podium in 2014. Owen likes their chances.

Team Totals

1. Columbia Falls 237 1/2, 2. Frenchtown 182, 3. Polson 141, 4. Libby 86 1/2, 5. Whitefish 74

Championship

98 — Caleb Bagnell, Ftwn, pinned Manny Guzman, CF, 1:05. 106 — Cody Warner, Ftwn, dec. Winfield West, CF, 4-2; 113 — Mason Fetters, CF, dec. Jaron Morgan, 6-5; 120 — Kaleb Gravelin, CF, pinned Jaben Wenzel, Pol, 3:47; 126 — Shonn Roberts, CF, pinned Carlos Quinones, Pol, 2:42; 132 — Haze Bell, CF, dec. Skylar Higareda, Lib, 3-1; 138 — Zach Crace, Lib, pinned Jonathon Blanchard, Ftwn, 1:24; 145 — Cody Lemons, Ftwn, dec. Zayne Brunz, CF, 5-0; 152 — Bryan Shaffer, CF, maj. dec. Matthew Sampson, Wfsh, 11-2; 160 — Cody Walters, CF, dec. Tyler King, Ftwn, 3-2; 170 — Garret Chapel, Lib, dec. Tel Motichka, Pol, 6-5; 182 — Tele Seemann, Pol, pinned Ike Schweikert, CF, 4:34; 195 — Mike Corrigan, Pol, pinned Nathan Bennett, Ftwn, :41; 220 — Rand Pritzkau, Ftwn, maj. dec. Isaiah Williams, Pol, 20-6; Heavyweight — Spencer Ross, CF, pinned Steven Quimby, Wfsh, :44.

Third/Fourth

98 — None; 106 — Thunder Morales, Pol, pinned Dillon Thorsteinson, Wfsh, 2:43; 113 — James Buckley, Wfsh, pinned Cody Hedeen, Pol, 2:05; 120 — Preston Downard, Ftwn, pinned Dylan Roby, Lib, 3:20; 126 — Tyler Ishler, Ftwn, pinned Skylar Knutson, Pol, 4:15; 132 — Wyatt Green, CF, beat Bryce Williams, no score available; 138 — Colton Gove, CF, dec. Chase Ramberg, CF, 9-8; 145 — Judah Prestegaard, Wfsh, pinned Storm Kemppainen, CF, 4:19; 152 — Braydan Thom, Lib, tech fall Dylan Parrish, Lib, 16-1; 160 — Marcus Jackson, Whitefish, no results listed; 170 — Doug Womack, Ftwn, dec. Jason Williams, CF, 5-4; 183 — Cole Allen, Ftwn, pinned Travis Catina, Wfsh, 3:42; 195 — Matt Carr, Wfsh, def. Andrew Burgess, CF, by injury default; 220 — Mike Dennison, CF, no results listed; Heavyweight — None.