28 wrestlers make state tournament

This past weekend, teams from across the county started their postseason run, all hoping to make the state tournament. Twenty-eight local athletes did just that, including seven who were divisional champs.

Polson

The Polson Pirates had a great tournament. As a team, they took second place behind Columbia Falls. Coach Bob Owen said their large number served the team well in the tournament. They will be taking 12 wrestlers to the state tournament. Individually, Polson had three divisional champions. Mateo Quinones defeated his teammate, RJ Pierre, to claim the title in the 103 weight class. Bridger Wenzel dominated his weight class, pinning all four of his opponents to win the 120 weight class. He also won the Jug Beck trophy for the most pins in the least amount of time. Cameron Brown was the third champion, dominating the 132 weight class.

Three other Pirates, not including RJ Pierre, made it to the finals. Thunder Morales upset a second seeded wrestler from Columbia Falls in the semifinals of the 126 wight class, then lost in the championship. Parker Adler pinned his opponents all the way to the championship round, but was pinned in the chipper and will go to state as the second seed in the 145 weight class. Mike Corrigan also made the championship round, but lost to a common rival in Jason Hinson from Hamilton. He lost in a 6-4 decision.

Other Polson wrestlers headed to state include Koby Garcia, who took third in the 160 division, Colton Cote, who took fourth in the 152 division, Jaben Wenzel, who took fifth in the 138 division, Noah Humphrey, who took eighth in the 182 division, and Nick Marquardt, who finished fourth in the 285 division. The top eight finishers from each weight class continue on to state.

Ronan

As a team, the Chiefs took third place at the Class BC Western Divisional meet. Coach Jaime Muir said the team wrestled well, but that they weren’t satisfied with third place. The team had two individual champions in Hunter Peterson and Jared Neiss. Peterson defeated his Thompson Falls opponent 15-2 to take first in the 113 weight class, and Neiss pinned his Eureka opponent to take first place in the 145 weight class. Six other wrestlers will head to the state tournament in Billings for the Chiefs. Gavin Martin took third place in the 113 weight class to seal his trip to state. Also placing third were wrestlers Jesse Herrera in the 160 division and Ray Little Boy in the 285 division.  Zane Walchuk took fourth place in the 103 class, as did Steven Michal in the 170 class, and Gray Cook in the 205 class. The top four wrestlers from each weight class qualified for the state tournament in Billings this weekend.

Mission/Charlo

The Mission/Charlo team is sending five wrestlers to state, including two champions. Gus Bosley took first place in the 182 weight class, defeating Alex Bertollt of Arlee in a 13-6 decision. Heavyweight Ethan Goss-Dickie also won his division, defeating Kaelan Yanak of Eureka 4-1. Trent Dennison lost in the championship of the 152 weight class for a second place finish, as did Bailey Weible in the 120 weight class. Cole Gilleard rounds out the state team for Mission/Charlo. He took third place in the 120 weight class.

Arlee

The Arlee wrestling team will send three wrestlers to the state tournament. Alex Bertollt was the team’s highest placer. He took second in the 182 weight class, losing to Mission/Charlo’s Gus Bosley. Skyler Titsworth will join Bertollt, as will TJ Knoll. Titsworth took fourth in the 126 weight class, and Knoll took fourth in the 145 weight class.

Fans can follow along at the state tournament through the brackets on the MHSA website.

Class BC

Florence

Team scores – 1, Eureka 199.5; 2, Thompson Falls 182.5; 3, Ronan 159; 4, Mission-Charlo 112; 5, Florence 109; 6, Libby-Troy 101.5; 7, Bigfork 74; 8, Plains-Hot Springs 73; 9, Arlee 63; 10, Superior 58.

Championship

103 – David Crowe, TF, p. Buddy Doolin, LIB, 3:59.

113 – Hunter Peterson, RON, md. Kaleb Frank, TF, 15-2.

120 – Kahden Bekila, EUR, p. Bailey Weible, M-C, 5:12.

126 – Jonathan Schmidt, EUR, p. Peyton Irvine, TF, 2:22.

132 – Cody Garrison, TF, p. Connor Meyer, Big, 3:07.

138 – Dean Klakken, FLO, p. Laine Young, LIB, 2:42.

145 – Jared Neiss, RON, p. Cannan Smith, EUR, 3:05.

152 – Jase Sorenson, TF, d. Trent Dennison, M-C, 8-6.

160 – Bridger LaPierre, SUP, d. Matt Fairrier, BIG, 

170 – Garrett Graves, EUR, p. Kyle Milner, TF, 5:15.

182 – Gus Bosley, M-C, d. Alex Bertollt, ARL, 13-6.

205 – Joe Fehr, EUR, p. Clancy Gout, LIB, 1:15.

285 – Ethan Goss-Dickie, M-C, d. Kaelan Yanak, EUR, 4-1.

Third place

103 – Garrett Jones, TF, p. Zane Walchuk, RON, 3:34.

113 – Gavin Martin, RON, p. Daniel Uli, P-HS, 1:44.

120 – Cole Gilleard, M-C, d. Jack Mitchell, SUP, 8-3.

126 – Castor Conley, BIG, d. Skyler Titsworth, ARL, 9-8.

132 – Reed Christensen, LIB, d. Jethro Thorne, FLO, 10-7.

138 – Josh Schmidt, EUR, tf. Kyler Pancake, FLO, 4:35 (15-0).

145 – Jake Lile, P-HS, p. TJ Knoll, ARL, 2:02.

152 – James Detienne, P-HS, p. Jarrett Pecora, EUR, 4:05.

160 – Jesse Herrera, RON, p. Levi Garcia, EUR, :23.

170 – Spencer Jones, FLO, p. Steven Michal, RON, 1:40.

182 – Jace Pancake, FLO, d. Austin Sherwood, EUR, 12-7.

205 – Drayson Hengertner, BIG, p. Gray Cook, RON, 3:35.

285 – Ray Little Boy, RON, p. Braden Melland, TF, 2:57.

Fifth place

103 – Colten Clemons, LIB, by forfeit.

113 – Mason Sams, LIB, d. Noah Brown, FLO, 11-7.

120 – Kane McAllister, RON, p. Josiah Vanderwall, P-HS, 2:23.

126 – Anthony Dulac, FLO, def. Blaine Parkin, SUP, by forfeit.

132 – Kaleb Ververis, SUP, p. James Fehr, EUR, 1:18.

138 – Shade Youso, BIG, p. Tristian Fountain, TF, 1:56.

145 – Sam Ostwald, TF, p. Tucker McLees, SUP, 1:00.

152 – Tim Carvey, LIB, md. Tanner Wood, LIB, 12-1.

160 – Colby Hammack, EUR, def. Kane Lawson, P-HS, injury.

170 – George Shick, ARL, p. Austin Cooper, TF, :58.

182 – Sean Carroll, TF, by forfeit.

205 – Sam Johnson, EUR, def. Austyn Meinzen, FLO, injury.

285 – Ethan Christopher, RON, p. Chris Anderson, M-C, :31.

Class A

Whitefish

Team Scores—Columbia Falls 275.5, Polson 226, Hamilton 208.5, Stevensville 146.5, Dillon 144.5, Corvallis 143.5, Frenchtown 126, Whitefish 100, Butte Central 24.

Championship

103— Mateo Quinones, Pol, dec. Rene Pierre, Pol, 6-2.

113— Michael Golden, Ham, dec. Winfield West, CF, 4-2 (SV-1).

120— Bridger Wenzel, Pol, p. Owen Indreland, Ftown, 3:00.

126— Koltin Starkel, Dill, p. Thunder Morales, Pol, 3:54.

132— Cameron Brown, Pol, dec. Hunter Peterson, CF, 7-1.

138— Brent Tezak, Dill, dec. Kaleb Gravelin, CF, 5-2.

145— Mason Fetters, CF, p. Parker Adler, Pol, 1:04.

152— Jon Blanchard, Ftown, dec. Steven Scheffer, Ham, 5-3.

160— Patrick Griffin, Dill, dec. Manny Rivera, Ham, 7-1.

170— Ben Crews, Stevi, dec. Storm Kemppainen, CF, 10-6 (SV-1).

182— Jerry Cassidy, Stevi, dec. Griffin Mason, Stevi, 6-4 (SV-1).

205— Justin Hinson, Ham, dec. Mike Corrigan, Pol, 6-4.

285— Steven Quimby, WF, dec. Luke Channer, Corv, 10-7.

Third Place

103— Austin Nelson, CF, p. Carter Brown, Corv, 0:39.

113— Dante Venema, Corv, p. Elliot Vanosdell, Stevi, 4:18.

120— Adrian Garcia, Ham, m.dec. Aden Role, CF, 9-0.

126— Ben Windauer, CF, p. Clay Fisher, BtC, 0:44.

132— Kwin Stoddard, Dill, m.dec. Brandon Thomas, CF, 13-3.

138— Cody Warner, Ftown, dec. James Buckley, WF, 9-3.

145— Bridger Nelson, Dill, dec. Bryce Williams, Ftown, 3-2.

152— Kye McCollaum, Corv, dec. Colton Cote, Pol, 10-7.

160— Koby Garcia, Pol, dec. Colten McPhee, CF, 10-6.

170— Konrad Zinke, WF, p. Cole Jones, Ftown, 1:39.

182— Kyle Anderson, Ham, p. Miguel Garate, CF, 2:28.

205— Cassidy Shawn, Stevi, p. Travis Catina, WF, 5:00.

285— Garret Hunt, Corv, p. Nick Marquardt, Pol, 1:39.

Fifth Place

103— Benji Opat, Corv, p. Luke Huffaker, Dill, 4:14.

113— Taisuke Matsuo, WF, p. Kelson Bauman, Ftown, 4:49.

120— Jesse Welling, Ftown, p. Joe Kidd, Dill, 0:37.

126— Dillon Thorsteinson, WF, p. Caden Brown, Ham, 1:27.

132— Steven Banks, Ham, p. Will Wissenbach, Corv, 2:04.

138— Jaben Wenzel, Pol, p. Drew Schmitt, Corv, 4:01.

145— Kris Anderson, Ham, m.dec. Dustin Copeland, Ham, 17-5.

152— Colton Sweeney, CF, p. Braden Loveless, Stevi, 3:49.

160— Troy Meyer, CF, dec. Caleb Edens, Stevi, 4-2.

170— Aaron Swafford, Ham, dec. Colter Stillwagon, BtC, 12-5.

182— Hunter Barron, Corv, p. Dale Meyer, CF, 0:28.

205— Jakob Freeman, CF, p. Behner Kordale, Stevi, 0:20.

285— Kyler Koski, CF, p. Justin Murray, Ham, 4:40.

Seventh Place

103— Roy Russell, BtC, dec. Zach Blanchard, Ftown, 9-2.

120— Eli Taylor, WF, p. Sidney Cooke, WF, 4:17.

126— Aaron Christensen, Corv, p. Jesse Shaske, Ftown, 2:37.

132— Sam Peterson, Dill, m.dec. Robert Bertelsen, WF, 16-8.

138— Nathan Hader, CF, p. James Bess, Ham, 2:46.

145— Jackson Stephens, Corv, m.dec. Daylon Moore, Corv, 14-5.

152— Hyme Anderson, Ham, p. Hunter Allen, Ftown, 2:17.

160— Christian Ellis, Ham, p. Malik Heydon, WF, 4:07.

170— Chase Krone, Stevi, dec. Michael Edwards, Ftown, 5-2.

182— Levi Downard, Ftown, p. Noah Humphrey, Pol, 1:26.

205— Matt Stafford, Dill, p. Harley Wise, Corv, 0:12.