Braves No. 1 in poll
The Daily Inter Lake
Flathead has taken over the No. 1 spot this week in the Class AA wrestling poll.
Billings Skyview has moved up to the second slot in balloting by coaches with Butte dropping from first to third.
Flathead was ranked No. 2 a week ago.
"This early in the season, it just shows a sign of respect from the other AA coaches," said FHS coach Jeff Thompson. "Our young kids are excited about it. We have some great senior leaders who are building these young guys up."
The Braves have six wrestlers in the AA individual poll who are ranked No. 1 in their weight classes. Three schools - Billings West, Great Falls High and C.M. Russell - have two individuals ranked first in a weight class.
Flathead's T.C. Decker leads the 105-pound weight class with Ricky Janes No. 1 at 112, Ryan Nelson first at 130, Mikey Kuehne first at 145, Chris Thompson first at 189 and Brandon Hoffenbacker first at heavyweight.
Decker and Kuehne are both undefeated at 11-0 and 12-0, respectively. Janes is 8-5, Nelson 9-3, Thompson 10-2 and Hoffenbacker 9-2.
All total, the Braves have 11 wrestlers ranked in the top four. The only weight classes FHS does not have a top four performer is 119, 125, 140 and 160.
Flathead's other ranked wrestlers are: Brian Ham, second at 98; Duran Flaget, second at 135; David Lau, fourth at 152; Levi Holt, second at 171; and Garrett Woodson, fourth at 215.
Flathead will compete in the CMR Holiday Tournament Friday and Saturday in Great Falls. The Braves are defending tournament champs.
"This is a tough tournament," said Thompson. "Thirty-two teams. I get excited for it because I get to wrestle back in my old stomping grounds. It's a fun tournament."
Havre, No. 1 in Class A and Conrad, No. 1 in Class B, will be at the Holiday Tournament.
Class AA
Coaches Poll
Team
1. Flathead. 2. Billings Skyview. 3. Butte. 4. Billings Senior. 5. C.M. Russell.
Individual
Top four in each weight class
98 - 1. Zach Mendenhall, Great Falls. 2. Brian Ham, Flathead. 3. Nick Seghens, CMR. 4. Mike King, Senior. 105 - 1. T.C. Decker, Flathead. 2. Seth Goodell, Skyview. 3. Trent Starney, CMR. 4. Kallen Kleinschmidt, Capital. 112 - 1. Ricky Janes, Flathead. 2. Ben Spencer, Great Falls. 3. Jake Jaralzeski, CMR. 4. Casey Berish, Senior.
119 - 1. Cody Tolliver, Great Falls. 2. Jeff Jones, Skyview. 3. T.J. Renz, Butte. 4. Rob Gersbach, Helena. 125 - 1. Trent Sprinkle, Senior. 2. Cody Verrall, Butte. 3. Craig Moline, West. 4. Zach Gregoire, Great Falls. 130 - 1. Ryan Nelson, Flathead. 2. Cole Dallaserra, Butte. 3. Caleb Schlender, Bozeman. 4. Matt Schieno, West.
135 - 1. Vince Salminen, Skyview. 2. Duran Flaget, Flathead. 3. Nick Lang, Bozeman. 4. Will Cusker, Big Sky. 140 - 1. Cole Pryor, West., 2. Tay Todd, Bozeman. 3. Nick Haynes, Butte. 4. Joe Binkoski, Skyview. 145 - 1. Mikey Kuehne, Flathead. 2. Tel Todd, Bozeman. 3. Josh Boeman, Senior. 4. Jordan Duffield, Skyview.
152 - 1. Tom Daniels, CMR. 2. Kasey Halcro, Capital. 3. Darrin Williams, Skyview. 4. David Lau, Flathead. 160 - 1. Austin Wuollette, Hellgate. 2. Ryan McCracken, CMR. 3. Derek Maciel, Skyview. 4. Cory Shilhanek, Senior. 171 - 1. Andy Fogerty, CMR. 2. Levi Holt, Flathead. 3. Jake Henderson, Bozeman. 4. Cameron Prinzling, Great Falls.
189 - 1. Chris Thompson, Flathead. 2. Ryan Shilhanek, Senior. 3. Zack Jones, Skyview. 4. Mike Keyer, Bozeman. 215 - 1. Kevin Klaboe, West. 2. Ben Schmidt, Butte. 3. Will Wine, Senior. 4. Garrett Woodson, Flathead. Heavyweight - 1. Brandon Hoffenbacker, Flathead. 2. Preston Lyles, Senior. 3. Erick Meyer, Skyview. 4. Dave Lambers, Bozeman.