C-Falls overcomes big deficit to pin Libby

The Daily Inter Lake

Loggers finish busy day on the mats by beating Whitefish 49-33

COLUMBIA FALLS - Talk about getting off to a lousy start.

Libby had Columbia Falls staring at a 23-0 deficit just four matches into Tuesday afternoon's Western Division wrestling dual.

The competition began at 160 pounds, with Libby's Nils Unger pinning Derek Wolf of Columbia Falls in 24 seconds.

The Loggers, ranked No. 10, followed with two more pins and a technical fall at 171, 189 and 215 for that double digit edge.

"We knew we'd be down a bit," said Columbia Falls coach Wes Knutson of his seventh-ranked squad.

But 23-0?

That's when Columbia Falls heavyweight Tommy Church made sure things really didn't get out of control. Church won by a fall in 5:49 over Tyler Goff for the Wildcats' first six points in the match.

"That kinda got the thing rolling for us," said Knutson.

And boy did it ever.

Clayton Patterson followed Church's lead with a 9-1 decision at 98 as the Wildcats rolled from there to a 44-37 dual victory.

"That was a big win for us, again," said Knutson of Patterson's performance.

"He came through. He kept the momentum going."

Columbia Falls picked up six easy points off a forfeit at 105 and used wins at 112, 119 and 125 to go on top 32-23.

Columbia Falls, 5-3 in duals on the season, wound up with five pins in the match to four for Libby.

"We had seven freshmen in our lineup today," said Knutson.

And four won - Patterson, Cody Kolodejchuk at 112, Michah Jam at 105 and Michael Hader at 125.

"Twenty points," said Knutson of what the ninth graders scored for the Wildcats.

It was the final outing prior to the holiday break for Columbia Falls. Libby, on the other hand, had some more business to take care of with a dual that evening at Whitefish, ranked No. 4. The Loggers beat the Bulldogs 49-33.

That contest also turned out to be a pinfest with Libby getting five and Whitefish four.

"We didn't wrestle very well," said WHS coach Pat Cheff. "We didn't match up very well with them. We knew it would be an uphill battle."

WILDCATS 44, LOGGERS 37

98 - Clayton Patterson, CF, dec. Logan Ricke, 9-1; 105 - Micah Jam, CF, won by forfeit; 112 - Cody Kolodejchuk, CF, pinned Trevor Kelly, 1:19; 119 - Aric Tarr, CF, pinned Kyle Ames, 2:36; 125 - Michael Hader, CF, dec. Matt Roberts, 17-3; 130 - Boomer Peek, L, dec. Keyvin Walter, 14-2; 135 - Seth Cummings, L, dec. Dalvin Averill, 14-5; 140 - Bobby Opp, CF, pinned Andrew Orr, 2:34; 145 - Ryan Buck, CF, pinned Hunter Gregert, 3:56; 152 - Steve Bertelsen, L, pinned Brighton Hollis, :10; 160 - Nils Unger, L, pinned Derek Wolf, :24; 171 - Jake Spencer, L, dec. Nike Caron, 19-1; 189 - Jake Graham, L, pinned Jesse Woodward, 1:10; 215 - Travis Hjort, L, pinned A.J. Taylor, :28; Hwt - Tommy Church, CF, pinned Tyler Goff, 5:49.

Libby 49, Whitefish 33

98 - Phillip Murphy, W, pinned Logan Ricke, 1:25; 105 - Cody Morris, W, pinned Trevor Kelly, 1:20; 112 - Loran Nelson, L, won by forfeit; 119 - Kevin Kaltschmidt, W, pinned kyle Ames, 1:59; 125 - Matt Roberts, L, won by forfeit; 130 - Boomer Peek, L, pinned Matt Starr, 3:52; 135 - Seth Cummings, L, pinned Pete Starr, 1:13; 140 - Cody Mikesell, W, pinned Andrew Orr, 3:42; 145 - Brad Kuntz, W, pinned Hunter Gragert, 1:04; 152 - Steve Bertelson, L, dec. Brad Watterud, 14-6; 160 - Nils Unger, L, dec. David Lautaret, 11-6; 171 - Jake Spencer, L, pinned Tim Lehner, 1:28; 189 - Jake Graham, L, pinned Matt Mangold, 1:25; 215 - Travis Hjort, L, pinned Kyle Burns, 1:39; Hwt - Troy Parker, W, dec. Tyler Goff, 9-3.