Fritsch 2nd at Bozeman; Pirates 4th at Ronan Duals

Polson split its high school wrestling squad last week, sending four of their matmen to the Tom LaProwse Invitational in Bozeman and the other team members to the Dave Edington Western Montana Duals in Ronan.

The Pirates swept Florence-Carlton, Libby and Hamilton in “pool dual” matches in the Ronan Duals, earning a top seed in the eight-team championship bracket.

Polson edged Broadwater (Townsend) 39-33 in the quarterfinals, but was doubled by eventual tournament champion Frenchtown 48-24 in the semifinals. In the battle for third and fourth places, the Pirates fell to Columbia Falls, 45-27. Frenchtown slipped by Glacier 34-30 in the championship dual.

Hunter Fritsch led the Pirates at Bozeman, earning second place in the 170-pound class. He pinned Noah Kovick of Helena Capital in 5:33 in the semifinals. Jace Rhodes of Billings West was up to the task in the finals, working his way to an 8-0 major decision over Fritsch in the battle for the gold medal.

“Hunter had a fantastic tournament. He lost to a really tough kid, a double A state champ,” Polson head coach Matt Owen said. “He scrapped pretty well with him (Rhodes). He’s had a lot of time on the mat.”

Owen said Fritsch “turned one around” in the quarterfinals. He came from behind to earn a 3-2 decision over Peyton Morton of Billings Senior.

Bridger Wenzel finished fifth at 152 pounds, and RJ Pierre was sixth at 113. Kedrick Baker went 2-2 at 120 pounds and did not place.

“Amost all the double A schools were there,” Owen said. “All four of them (the Pirates) wrestled well.”

He added that Wenzel and Pierre had opportunities to place a little higher than they did, but it was not to be for either. Owen said Wenzel had an “off-match” in the consolation semifinals. “He needs to work on the bottom position,” the coach said. “Once he picks that up he’ll be tought to beat.”

While Matt Owen was in Bozeman with the four Pirate wrestlers, his brother Brett Owen and uncle Bob Owen took care of the coaching in Ronan.

Caleb Pierre and Masyn Cowell led the way for Polson.

“From what my brother (coach Brett Owen) said, they were all out there competing hard,” Matt Owen said. “For us to take four of our better kids to Bozemen and still come up fourth was pretty awesome.”

Owen had words of praise for Tyron Stidham, who wrestled well at the Ronan Duals.

“He’s a tough little freshman. He’s going to be in the mix (in the postseason),” the coach said.

The next action for Polson is a Thursday dual against Columbia Falls.

RONAN DID NOT qualify for the championship bracket at the Chiefs’ home tournament, and head coach Dylan Kramer is seeing “highs and lows” this season.

On Friday, he indicated the Chiefs did not wrestle extremely well, but were “picking it up a little” on Saturday.

“We have to pick it up. We were hit by the Christmas break pretty hard … We have to take advantage of each and every one of these opportunities to get better.”

Justin Mays, Ronan’s senior 205-pounder, has been an “exceptional leader and excellent wrestler. He’s a good all-around kid. He’s tough. When we need a big win or pin, he’s the one we usually count on to get it done.”

Next for Ronan is the Rocky Mountain Classic this Friday and Saturday at Sentinel High School in Missoula, “where you get some of the best kids in Montana and Idaho and Washington, too,” Kramer said.

Team Totals

1 Bozeman 214; 2 Billings Senior 164.5; 3 Billings West 159.5; t4 Butte 138; t4 Missoula Big Sky/Loyola 138; 6 Flathead 122.5; 7 Great Falls 120; 8 Helena Capital 113; 9 Billings Skyview 100.5; 10 Colstrip 96; 11 Great Falls CMR 93.5; 12 Powell County (Deer Lodge) 88; 13 Huntley Project 87.5; 14 Missoula Sentinel 70; t15 Laurel 63.5; t15 Polson 63.5; 17 Helena 58.5; 18 Forsyth 50; 19 Hardin 48; 20 Whitehall 44; 21 Park (Livingston) 39; 22 Cody 37; 23 Belgrade 36; 24 Beaverhead County (Dillon)/Twin Bridges 35.5; 25 Bozeman JV 33.5; 26 Shepard 32; 27 Missoula Hellgate 19.5; 28 Billings Central 17; 29 Belt 0; 29 Butte Central 0.

Polson Individual Results

113 – Rene (RJ) Pierre (Pol) 1:09 p. Jacob Hickman (Hellgate); Pierre 1:11 p. Clayton Weber (Helena Capital); Pierre 1:23 p. Colton Wieczorek (Flathead); (semi) Drace Rhodes (Blgs West) 3:24 p. Pierre; Easton Shupe (Great Falls) 9-1 md. Pierre; (5th Place) Felix Petersen (Bozeman) 4:23 p. Pierre.

120 – Kedrick Baker (Pol) 4-2 d. Eric Bott (Flathead); Austin Phatavong (Great Falls) 4-3 d. Baker; K.Baker 11-3 md. Roy DeGuzman (Belgrade); Cooper Cook (Shepherd) 1:30 p. Baker.

152 – Bridger Wenzel (Pol) 0:32 p. Brody Becker (Whitehall); Wenzel 1:19 p. Logan Gallagher (Blgs West); Wenzel 5:37 p. Austin Ketcham (Blgs Skyview); (semi) Michael Weber (Forsyth) 5-0 d. Wenzel; Dougie Swanson (BigSky/Loyola) 4-0 d. Wenzel; (5th Place) Wenzel inj. def. John Mears (Belgrade).

170 – Hunter Fritsch (Pol) 1:07 p. Stran Selman (Huntley P); Fritsch 16-0 4:42 tf. Dominick Scown (Butte); Fritsch 3-2 d. Peyton Morton (Blgs Sr); (semi) Fritsch 5:33 p. Noah Kovick (Helena Cap); (championship) Jace Rhodes (Blgs West) 8-0 md. Fritsch.

Pool Dual Results

Polson 42, Florence-Carlton 36

132: Jarod Farrier (POLS) over (FLCA) (For.). 138: Jonny Chamberlin (FLCA) over Dugan Davis (POLS) (Fall 1:31). 145: Caleb Pierre (POLS) over Caden Plasmier (FLCA) (Fall 2:39). 152: Gregory Winegart (FLCA) over Jeff Devlin (POLS) (Fall 0:56). 160: Avery Meinzen (FLCA) over Garrett Croft (POLS) (Fall 1:20). 170: Luke Maki (FLCA) over Jarius Smith (POLS) (Fall 5:21). 182: Logan Adler (POLS) over Zach Cather (FLCA) (Fall 1:02). 205: Spencer Jones (FLCA) over Aaron O’Roake (POLS) (Fall 0:55). 285: Jasper Drake (POLS) over Omaste Foster (FLCA) (Fall 0:50). 103: Oliver Post (FLCA) over Gavin Knutson (POLS) (Fall 1:58). 113: Irish Cenicola (POLS) over (FLCA) (For.). 120: Maysn Cowell (POLS) over (FLCA) (For.). 126: Tyren Stidham (POLS) over Aaron Edens (FLCA) (Fall 1:33).

Polson 39, Libby 36

138: Jeff Offenbecher (LITR) over Dugan Davis (POLS) (Fall 0:59). 145: Trey Thompson (LITR) over Caleb Pierre (POLS) (Fall 1:25). 152: Cody Crace (LITR) over Jeff Devlin (POLS) (Fall 0:48). 160: Garrett Croft (POLS) over Hunter Hoover (LITR) (Dec 7-6). 170: Tucker Masters (LITR) over Jarius Smith (POLS) (Fall 0:52). 182: Logan Adler (POLS) over (LITR) (For.). 205: Aaron O`Roake (POLS) over Daniel Rigney (LITR) (Fall 1:29). 285: Jasper Drake (POLS) over (LITR) (For.). 103: Gavin Knutson (POLS) over (LITR) (For.). 113: Irish Cenicola (POLS) over (LITR) (For.). 120: Buddy Doolin (LITR) over Maysn Cowell (POLS) (Fall 3:23). 126: Tyren Stidham (POLS) over (LITR) (For.). 132: Zack Morrison (LITR) over Jarod Farrier (POLS) (Fall 2:53).

Polson 54, Hamilton 21

152: Cole Anson (HADA) over Jeff Devlin (POLS) (Fall 1:01). 160: Noah Hurst (HADA) over Garrett Croft (POLS) (Dec 9-8). 170: Jarius Smith (POLS) over (HADA) (For.). 182: Logan Adler (POLS) over Cadagen Wheat (HADA) (Fall 0:26). 205: Aaron O`Roake (POLS) over Brock Jones (HADA) (Fall 1:54). 285: Jasper Drake (POLS) over Reece Buchanen (HADA) (Fall 0:35). 103: Gavin Knutson (POLS) over Logan Bratch (HADA) (Fall 3:14). 113: Irish Cenicola (POLS) over Hannah Hurst (HADA) (Fall 5:52). 120: Maysn Cowell (POLS) over Deegan Martin (HADA) (Fall 0:37). 126: Tyren Stidham (POLS) over Tristen Wiedow (HADA) (Fall 1:44). 132: Michael Golden (HADA) over Jarod Farrier (POLS) (Fall 3:28). 138: Adrian Garcia (HADA) over Dugan Davis (POLS) (Fall 2:48). 145: Caleb Pierre (POLS) over Joe Doane (HADA) (Fall 1:13).

Corvallis 36, Ronan 30

103 - Mark Spencer (COR) forfeit; 113 OPEN; 120 - OPEN; 126 - Dante Venema (COR) pin Trapper McAllister (RON) 3:23; 132 - Carter Brown (COR) pin Zane Walchuk (RON) 3:31; 138 - Benji Opat (COR) forfeit; 145 - Triston Davis (COR) pin Manny Rowan (RON) 1:29; 152 - Daniel Bishop (RON) pin Randon Weidow (COR) 3:04; 160 - Derrick Gasvoda (COR) pin Christian Smith (RON) :45; 170 - Rodolfo Minetti (RON) forfeit; 182 - Jamison Webster (RON) forfeit; 205 - Justin Mays (RON) forfeit; HWT -Larz Sorrell (RON) pin Harley Wise (COR) 3:27

Ronan 36, Clark Fork 24

103 - OPEN; 113 - OPEN; 120 - OPEN; 126 - Trapper McAllister (RON) forfeit; 132 - Julian Strait (RON) forfeit; 138 - Zane Walchuk (RON) pinned Hunter Haskins (CFK) 4:43; 145 - Isaiah Kovalsky (CFK) pinned Manny Rowan (RON) :31; 152 - Daniel Bishop (RON) pinned Silas Acker (CFK) 2:55; 160 - Kyler Francis (CFK) pinned Christian Smith (RON) 1:11; 170 - Rudolfo Minetti (RON) forfeit; 182 - Trey Green (CFK) pinned Jamison Webster (RON) :55; 205 - Justin Mays (RON) forfeit; HWT - Jacob Lapinski (CFK) pinned Lars Sorrell (RON) 3:20

Ronan 36, Plains/Hot Springs 24

103 - OPEN; 113 - OPEN; 120 - OPEN; 126 - Peter Carey (PLA) pin Julian Strait (RON) :53; 132 - Trapper McAllister (RON) pinned Conrad Vanderwall (PLA) 3:51; 138 - Josiah Vanderwall (PLA) pinned Zane Walchuk (RON) 3:19; 145 - Bert Detienne (PLA) pinned Manny Rowan (RON) 1:47; 152 - Daniel Bishop (RON) forfeit; 160 - Jesse Uski (PLA) pinned Christian Smith (RON) 3:19; 170 - Rodolfo Minetti (RON) forfeit; 182 - Jamison Webster (RON) forfeit; 205 Justin Mays (RON) forfeit; HWT - Lars Sorrell (RON) pinned Steven Yother (PLA) :31.

Stevensville 39, Ronan 30

103 - Devin McLane (STV) forfeit; 113 - OPEN; 120 - Ty Thompson (STV) forfeit; 126 - Kennen Robbins (STV) pin Julian Strait (RON) 1:05; 132 - Trapper McAllister (RON) pin Treven Mertins (STV) 1:37; 138 - Zane Walchuk (RON) pin Aaron Springer (STV) :42; 145 - Tristan Riel (STV) pin Manny Rowan (RON) 1:03; 152 - Daniel Bishop (RON) forfeit; 160 - Dylan Jones (STV) pin Christian Smith (RON) 1:08; 170 - Kyler Panckake (STV) pin Rodolfo Minetti (RON) 5:35; 182 - Jamison Webster (RON) pin Mirko Ferretti (STV) 1:24; 205 - Justin Mays (RON) pin Sebastian Driver (STV) :48; HWT - Jake Woods (STV) dec. Larz Sorrell (RON) 8-7

Consolation Duals — Round 1

Ronan 33, Sentinel JV 30

103 – OPEN. 113 – OPEN. 120 - Jake Hall (SEN) forfeit. 126 - Trapper McAllister (RON) dec. Jackson Bakken (SEN) 12-9. 132 - Zane Walchuk (RON) pin Austin Pfau (SEN) :47. 138 - Ira Williams (SEN) forfeit. 145 - Gabe Riley (SEN) forfeit. 152 - Daniel Bishop (RON) pin Roman Knowles (SEN) 1:32. 160 - Rory McLaverty (SEN) pin Christian Smith (RON) 1:17. 170 - Rodolfo Minetti (RON) forfeit. 182 - Kris Musick (SEN) pin Jamison Webster (RON) 5:01. 205 - Justin Mays (RON) pin Josh Gunter (SEN) 2:35. HWT - Larz Sorrell (RON) pin Ramsey Knowles (Sen) 3:14.

CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

QUARTERFINALS

Polson 39, Broadwater (Townsend) 33

103 - Gavin Knutson (POL) pin Trusten Payne (TSD) :19. 113- Irish Cenicola (POL) pin Will Norstrom (TSD) 2:59. 120 - Riley Richtmyer (TSD) dec. Maysn Cowell (POL) 9-4. 126 - Tyren Stidham (POL) pin Sam Lane (TSD) 3:14. 132 - Jerod Farrier (POL) pin Kade Edgerton (TSD) :21. 138 - Dalton Byrd (TSD) pin Dugan Davis (POL) 4:21 145 - Caleb Pierre (POL) pin Ty Owens (TSD) 1:25. 152 - Ty Stele (TSD) pin Jeff Devlin (POL) 1:24. 160 - Kameron Rauser (TSD) pin Garrett Croft (POL) :44. 170 - Will Lane (TSD) pin Jarius Smith (POL) 1:33. 182 - Logan Adler (POL) dec. Justin Denton (TSD) 6-4. 205 - Jaden Lamb (TSD) pin Aaron O’Roake (POL) 1:00. HWT - Jasper Drake (POL) pin Kole Chatriand (TSD) :44.

SEMIFINALS

Frenchtown 48, Polson 24

103 - Landon Stuart (FTN) pin Gavin Knutson (POL) 2:31. 113 - Eli Warner (FTN) pin Trish Cenicola (POL) 1:28. 120 - Walker Dyer (FTN) pin Mayson Cowell (POL) 1:48. 126 - Jake Bibler (FTN) pin Tyren Stidham (POL) 2:33. 132 - Jarod Farrier (POL) dec. Nic Blanchard (FTN) 6-2. 138 - Dugan Davis (POL) forfeit. 145 - Caleb Pierre (POL) forfeit. 152 - Adam Vang (FTN) pin Jeff Devlin (POL) 3:35. 160 - Garrett Croft (POL) forfeit. 170 - Jarius Smith (POL) forfeit. 182 - Tate Jones (FTN) pin Logan Adler (POL) 2:48. 205 - Levi Downard (FTN) pin Aaron O’Roake (POL) :52. HWT -Cody Miller (FTN) pin Jasper Drake (POL) 1:35.

THIRD/FOURTH

Columbia Falls 45, Polson 27

103 - Gavin Knutson (POL) pin Renee Sandlin (CFS) 1:07. 113 - Orion Barta (CFS) pin Irish Cenicola (POL) 1:39. 120 - Maysn Cowell (POL) pin Colten Hogan (CFS) :40. 126 - Tyren Stidham (POL) pin Zak Gray (CFS) :44. 132 - Thomas Peters (CFS) dec. Jarod Farrier (POL) 10-8. 138 - Ayden Role (CFS) pin Dugan Davis (POL) 1:52. 145 - Caleb Pierre (POL) dec. Isaac Balla (CFS) 13-8. 152 - Jeff Devlin (POL) forfeit. 160 - Sam Despain (CFS) pin Garrett Croft (POL) 5:32. 170 - Lucas Thacker (CFS) pin Jarius Smith (POL) 3:16. 182 - Colton McPhee (CFS) Logan Adler (POL) 1:08. 205 - Jake Freeman (CFS) pin Aaron O’Roake (POL) :58. HWT - Taylor Galdeau (CFS) pin Jasper Drake (POL) 1:55.

Consolation Rounds

Libby/Troy 33, Ronan 18

103: OPEN. 113: OPEN. 120: OPEN. 126: Buddy Doolin (LITR) over Trapper McAllister (RONA) (Dec 11-4). 132: Zack Morrison (LITR) over Zane Walchuk (RONA) (Dec 9-5). 138: Jeff Offenbecher (LITR) over (RONA) (For.). 145: Trey Thompson (LITR) over (RONA) (For.). 152: Hunter Hoover (LITR) over Daniel Collins Bishop (RONA) (Fall 5:49). 160: Cody Crace (LITR) over Christian Smith (RONA) (Fall 0:44). 170: Tucker Masters (LITR) over Rodolfo Minetti (RONA) (Dec 12-6). 182: Jamison Webster (RONA) over Daniel Rigney (LITR) (Fall 3:45). 205: Justin Mays (RONA) over (LITR) (For.). 285: Larz Sorrell (RONA) over (LITR) (For.).

Mission (STI) 48, Ronan (RON) 18

103 - Kody Dillard (STI) forfeit. 113 - Roman Gonzalez (STI) forfeit. 120 - Isaiah Fields (STI) forfeit. 126 - Walker Murphy (STI) dec Trapper McAllister (RON) 7-5. 132 - Cole Gilleard (STI) dec Zane Walchuk (RON) 4-2. 138 - OPEN. 145 - Kayden Carter (STI) forfeit. 152 - Darwin Adams (STI) pinned Daniel Bishop (RON) 3:23. 160 - Christian Smith (RON) forfeit. 170 - Troy Matt (STI) pinned Rodolfo Minetti (RON) 1:55. 182 - Isaiah Allik (STI) pinned Jamison Webster (RON) :50. 205 - Justin Mays (RON) pinned Miles Anderson (STI) 1:41. HWT - Lars Sorrell (RON) forfeit.

— John Heglie contributed to this article.