Pirate grapplers aspire to contend with state elite
Polson placed third at state last season while capturing the Western A crown with a first place finish that just edged Frenchtown by a single point.
Pirate grapplers graduated a trio of upper tier all-staters last season including State A champion Hunter Fritsch (A170), four-time all-state Bridger Wenzel (A152) and third place finisher RJ Pierre along with another half dozen among the roster. Further impacting attrition will be a football injury sustained by senior Kaleb Unger (A145) which will preclude participation.
Polson returns a pair of all-staters in Kedrick Baker (A120) and Logan Adler (A182). The Pirates also return almost half of the fifteen Western A Divisional placers they sent to State last season that include Braedon Ilipp (A103), Gavin Knutson (A113), Maysn Cowell (A120), Kellen Norman (A132), Caleb Pierre (A145) and Garrett Croft (A160).
Polson will host the annual Owen Invitational at Salish Kootenai College this weekend on December 6-7.
NWA Polson Pirates
2019-18: StateA 3rd, WesternA 1st
coach: Matt Owen
asst: Bill Owen, Bob Owen, Brett Owen, Ethan Bucarey
departures:
(A113) RJ Pierre; (A132) Jarod Farrier; (A152) Bridger Wenzel, Jonah DuCharme; (A170) Hunter Fritsch, Jarius Smith; (A182) Jeb Moderie; (A285) Jasper Drake, Adam Broussard.
other roster modifications (injury et al):
(A145) Kaleb Unger (sr.)
returnees:
(103) Braedon Iliff (so.); (113) Gavin Knutson (so.); (120) Maysn Cowell (jr.); (126) Kedrick Baker (sr.); (132) Kellen Norman (so.); (145) Caleb Pierre (jr.); (160) Garrett Croft (sr.); (152) Logan Adler (so.); (205) Aaron O’Roake (so.).
2019-18 StateA Pirate placers:
(A170) 1, Hunter Fritsch; (A152) 2, Bridger Wenzel ; (A113) 3, RJ Pierre ; (A120) 5, Kedrick Baker; (A182) 6, Logan Adler
2019-18 WesternA Divisional placers:
(A103) 6, Gavin Knutson (2-3); (A113) 2, R.J. Pierre (2-1); (A120) 3, Kedrick Baker (3-1); (A120) 8, Kellen Norman (2-3); (A126) 5, Maysn Cowell (3-2); (A126) 8, Tyren Stidham (1-3); (A132) 5, Jarod Farrier (4-2); (A145) 5, Caleb Pierre (3-2); (A152) 1, Bridger Wenzel (3-0); (A160) 7, Garrett Croft (2-2); (A160) 8, Kaleb Unger (2-3); (A170) 1, Hunter Fritsch (3-0); (A182) 3, Logan Adler (4-1); (A205) 6, Aaron O’Roake (2-3); (A285) 4, Jasper Drake (2-2).
accrued athletic accolade acknowledgements:
RJ Pierre (WR a-s: A113 3rd 2019-18, 5th 2018-17; a-d: A113 2nd 2019-18; 4th 2018-17); Kedrick Baker (WR a-s: A120 5th 2019-18, A103 4th 2017-16; a-d: A120 3rd 2019-18, A120 7th 2018-17, A103 2nd 2017-16); Maysn Cowell (WR a-d: A126 5th 2019-18, A103 3rd 2018-17); Jarod Farrier (WR a-d: A132 5th 2019-18, A138 5th 2018-17; TF 2x a-d pv t7th 2019, pv t10th 2018); Kaleb Unger (WR a-d: A160 8th 2019-18, A145 8th 2018-17); Jasper Drake (WR a-d: A285 4th 2019-18, A205 7th 2018-17, A205 6th 2017-16); Bridger Wenzel (WR: 4x all-state: 152 2nd, 132 2nd, 126 3rd, 120 3rd; 4x all-conf: 152 1st div champion, 132 1st div champion, 126 2nd, 120 1st div champion; BSC 3x all-state, 3x 1st-tm); Hunter Fritsch (WR a-s: A170 1st StateA champion 2019-18, A170 3rd 2018-17, A160 2nd 2017-16; a-d: A170 1st div champion 2019-18, 2nd 2018-17, A160 1st div champion 2017-16, 4A-145 5th OSSAA West Regional 2016-15).
Ronan wrestlers blend veteran experience with influx of youth
Last season, the Ronan Chiefs had a trio of state placers in Justin Mays (A205, 4th), Trevor Bartel (A103, 6th) and Trapper McAllister (A126, 6th). A half dozen qualified for state by placing in the Western A Divisional: Divisional champion Justin Mays (205), Divisional runnerup Trapper McAllister (126), consolation winner Trevor Bartel (103), a seventh place winner in Julian Strait (126) and a pair of eighth place finishers in Jamison Webster (170) along with Jessie LittleBoy (182).
NWA Ronan Chiefs
2019-18: StateA 18th, WesternA 10th
coach: Dylan Kramer
asst: Hap Cheff, Cole McArthur, Boss Clark
departures:
(A205) Justin Mays, (A132) Zane Walchuk, (A205) Persephone Sandoval, (Hwt) Ethan Christopher.
returnees:
(A113) Trevor Bartel (jr.), (A138) Julian Strait (so.), (A152) Manny Rowan (jr.), (A160) Daniel Bishop (jr.), (A205) Jessie LittleBoy (jr.); newcomers: (A145) Kolby Reum (sr.), (Hwt) Max Morency (so.), eight freshmen.
2019-18 Ronan Chief StateA wrestling placers:
(A205) 4, Justin Mays; (A103) 6, Trevor Bartel; (A126) 6, Trapper McAllister
2019-18 Ronan Chief WesternA Divisional placers:
(A205) 1, Justin Mays (WesternA champion); (A126) 2, Trapper McAllister (3-1); (A103) 3, Trevor Bartel (2-2); (A170) 8, Jamison Webster; (A182) 8, Jessie LittleBoy.
accrued wrestling accomplishments:
Justin Mays (WR a-s: A205 4th 2019-18, A182 5th 2018-17; a-d: WesternA champion A205 1st 2019-18, A182 2nd 2018-17, BC182 6th 2017-16); Trapper McAllister (WR a-s: 126 6th 2019-18, 103 3rd 2018-17, a-d: 103 2nd 2018-17);
Trevor Bartel (WR A103 a-s 6th 2019-18; 2x a-d: A103 3rd 2019-18, 8th 2018-17); Daniel Bishop (WR a-d: A160 7th 2018-17); Zane Walchuk (WR a-s: BC103 4th 2017-16; a-d: A120 5th 2018-17; BC103 3rd 2017-16, 4th 2016-15).
may not be comprehensive
Dawgs prepping to pounce into season
Mission-Charlo wrestling coop reaped a trio of all-staters last season in Isaiah Allik, Darwin Adams and Isaac DuMontier. The Bulldog grapplers also return another quintet who placed at the Western BC Divisional in (103) Kody Dillard, (126/132) Walker Murphy, (160) Ethan Diaz, (170) Troy Matt and (205) Miles Anderson. Also returning is (152) Kaden Carter
The Mission-Charlo Bulldogs will compete at the Owen Invitational held at Salish Kootenai College on December 6-7.
Western BC
Mission-Charlo
2019-18: StateB 12th, WesternBC 3rd
coach: Lyle Cronk
asst: Jake Bosley, Jacen Peterson
departures:
Cole Gilleard
Shayden Friedlander, transfer
returnees:
(103) Kody Dillard, (126/132) Walker Murphy, (152) Kaden Carter, (152/160) Isaac Dumontier
(160) Ethan Diaz, (170) Troy Matt, (170/182) Isaiah Allik; (205) Miles Anderson
State BC placers:
Mission/Charlo
4, Isaiah Allik (BC170); 6, Darwin Adams (BC145); 6, Isaac DuMontier (BC152)
Western BC Divisional placers:
(BC152) 1, Isaac Dumontier; (BC170) 1, Isaiah Allik; (BC145) 2, Darwin Adams; (BC205) 2, Miles Anderson; (BC170) 3, Troy Matt; (BC103) 4, Kody Dillard; (BC120) 4, Walker Murphy; (BC160) 4, Ethan Diaz
accrued wrestling accomplishments:
Jace Samsel (WR a-d BC103 2nd 2018-17); Walker Murphy (WR a-s: BC113 6th 2018-17; a-d: BC120 4th 2019-18, BC113 2nd 2018-17, 103 5th 2017-16); Darwin Adams (WR 2x a-s; BC145 6th 2019-18, BC138 5th 2018-17; 2x a-d: BC145 2nd 2019-18, BC138 2nd 2018-17); Miles Anderson (WR 2x a-d: BC205 2nd 2019-18, BC170 4th 2018-17)
Warriors foresee good things coming from small package
Arlee graduated a quintet of seniors last season. Warrior wrestling had a half dozen divisional placers last season that included a pair of second placer finishers in Colt Crawford (138) as well as Darwin Adams (145), a pair of thirds in Tyrel Thomas (103) along with Skyler Titsworth (152) and another tandem of fourths in R.J. Knoll (126) along with James CrazyBoy (205). Although Gage Sanchez ending up sixth, only the top four advanced to the state tournament.
None of the Warrior contingent placed at the State C tournament, although Colt Crawford won his middle match.
The Warriors will have a half dozen seasoned returnees in seniors Jace Samsel (126) along with Kanoa Palazollo (145), juniors Colt Crawford (138) as well as Demetrix Austin (160) and sophomores Tyrel Thomas and R.J. Knoll. Coach Ken Hill anticipates , “we will perform at a much better level than last season, as we have quite a bit of experience coming back.” Arlee will open their season at the Cascade Tournament.
Western BC Arlee
2019-18: StateC t9th, WesternBC 7th
coach: Ken Hill
departures:
(BC152) Skyler Titsworth, (132) Frankie Wright, (160) Ashley Potts, five grads total.
returnees:
(BC126) sr. Jace Samsel, (BC145) sr. Kanoa Palazollo, (BC160) jr. Demitrix Austin, (BC138) jr. Colt Crawford, (BC ) so. Tyrel Thomas, (BC ) so. RJ Knoll