Northwestern A loaded for another challenging season

Get ready to wrestle.

The 2005-2006 season is primed to be an explosive and exciting year under the spotlight for area wrestlers.

After a long offseason, boys from Flathead, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Eureka, Libby and Polson are back on the mat and ready to kick off a new year of grappling.

In Class A competition, Libby, Polson and Whitefish all return a large number of state-experienced wrestlers. Traditionally, the Northwestern A conference is the toughest in the state.

This year won't be much different.

Every match of every dual will count. Libby is the slight favorite in Northwestern A, as the Loggers return the most varsity wrestlers, but the Pirates and the Bulldogs are chomping at the bit to prove they are the teams to beat.

Flathead, the lone Class AA school around, is set to dominate everyone that comes its way. The Braves are gunning for a return to the top and bringing home another team championship.

Flathead will be a serious contender for the state title in February if the team can send two wrestlers in almost every weight class. Defending AA champion Billings Skyview will be tough competition at state.

Eureka and Columbia Falls are both building their wrestling programs. Jesse Schaeffer, first year head coach for the 'Cats, and Danny Lemer, in his second year for the Lions, are molding young teams from the ground up.

Although the Wildcats placed fourth at state last year, this season will be much rougher.

Eureka's budding program continues to grow, and now fields 14 grapplers.

Class AA

Flathead

Head Coach: Jeff Thompson, 6th year

Last year: 17-1 dual record, 2nd at state

Key players lost: Brandon Hoffenbacker, state champion, 275; Brandon Mitchell, 3rd place, 125; Chris Thompson, 3rd place, 189

Key players returning: Sophomore TC Decker, state champion, 112; sophomore Brian Ham, 2nd place, 105; junior Austin Zapata, 2nd place, 119; senior Duran Flaget, 2nd place 135; senior Mikey Kuehne, 2nd place 152

Key newcomers: Overall strong freshmen class

Outlook: The Braves have placed at state three years in a row, including a state title in 2004. Winning it all is a definite possibility once again with an incredible varsity lineup. Nine of the 15 weight classes for the Braves are filled with state placers.

Six state finalists, 22 state participants and 24 returning letter winners will provide leadership for the 70 brawlers coach Thompson has in the practice room each day.

Having such a large number of wrestlers gives Flathead a solid depth chart.

"We look good," Thompson said. "We have so much depth, which will help us with the postseason. The first string (varsity) will be fighting for their spots every Tuesday."

Flathead is ranked 38th in the nation and third in the Northwest States Wrestling Poll.

"This team has the potential to set a new standard for Braves wrestling," Thompson said. " We are very excited about the potential we have to not only be a successful team in Montana, but also to take our wrestling to the next level and compete at the national level."

The Braves will compete at the National Duals in Rochester, Minn., in December. The added competition will require Flathead to peak in the middle of the season and at the end for divisionals and state.

Class A

Whitefish

Head Coach: Tim Neff, 1st year

Last year: 8-9 dual record, 9th at state

Key players lost: David Lautaret, 6th place, 152; Matt Mangold, 189; Pete Starr, 135

Key players returning: Senior Cody Mikesell, 4th place, 140; Junior Danny Neff, 4th place, 112; Senior Tim Lehner, 5th place, 171

Key newcomers: None

Outlook: Coach Tim Neff has been with the Bulldogs 11 years, but this is his first year in the driver's seat. And he has the keys to an experienced team ready to contend in Class A along with strong Libby and Polson teams.

"I'm excited," Neff said. "We've got such a great group of kids."

Whitefish returns most of its varsity roster from last year, although injuries and eligibility are an issue at some spots. From the middle weights on up, seniors are expected to carry the team far.

"Senior leadership is our biggest strength," Neff said. "They will compete very well. If we get a good contribution from our lighter weights and underclassmen, we're going to be a force to be reckoned with."

One of those underclassmen is Phillip Murphey, a sophomore who wrestled at 98 pounds last year. He gained some weight in the offseason, and now he actually weighs 98 instead of 89. Coach Neff will look to Murphey to provide momentum for the rest of the team at tournaments.

Columbia Falls

Head Coach: Jesse Schaeffer, 1st year

Last year: 9-7 dual record, 4th at state

Key players lost: Aric Tarr, 2nd place, 119; Ryan Buck, 2nd place, 145; Nik Caron, 5th place, 189

Key players returning: Sophomore Michael Hader, 2nd place, 125; senior Cory Pete, 119; sophomore Cody Kolodejchuk, 105

Key newcomers: Sophomores Clayton Patterson, 105; Derek Pepperling, 130; Jesse Woodward, 215

Outlook: Who says you can't go home again? New head coach Jesse Schaeffer returns to lead the matcats, a position he is familiar with. Schaeffer graduated from Columbia Falls in 1995 after winning a state championship. He went on to be a two-time All-American wrestler at MSU-Northern.

Now, he takes over a young and inexperienced team. Close to 30 students came out for the team this year, and many of them are freshmen and sophomores. The lineup will likely undergo changes as the wrestlers get used to absorbing technique and making weight.

"It's exciting to be back," Schaeffer said. "We're just working on stuff the team needs and building day by day. We only have three individuals with state experience."

So far, what the matcats don't have in experience they are making up for with intensity.

"They are an aggressive group," Schaeffer said. "They are eager to go hard. We need to keep them positive and healthy because we don't have a lot of depth."

Libby

Head Coach: Jay Graham, 15th year

Last year: 13-2 dual record, 3rd at state

Key players lost: Kyle Ames, 5th place,119; Neal Unger, 5th place, 152

Key players returning: Jake Graham, 1st place, 189; Steve Bertelsen, 1st place, 145; Jake Spencer, 2nd place, 171; Travis Hjort, 3rd place, 215; Matt Roberts, 4th place, 125; Seth Cummings, 4th place, 135; Boomer Peek, 4th place, 130

Key newcomers: Senior Quinton Rodriguez - ranked fifth as a sophomore until he blew out his knee

Outlook: The Loggers' roster is stacked with seven state placers, including 2005 champions Steve Bertelsen and Jake Graham. Libby also has 16 returning wrestlers from last year's divisional championship team.

Libby's wrestlers pursued a dedicated offseason training routine, and the results are already paying off.

"This is the best team I've had this early in the season," coach Graham said. "They are sold on the fact that the weight room pays off. The whole staff is excited. We're happy with our kids. A couple of them will be wrestling with bullseyes on their backs."

Everything about practice shows that the team is focused about performing at the highest level this season.

After a third-place finish last year, senior Travis Hjort is on a mission to bring home a state title, and senior Jake Spencer looks "tougher than nails." These two, along with the other five seniors on varsity, are ready to lead their team.

"This group, I thanked them because it's a treat to go to practice," Graham said. "It's quiet when I talk, and they are teaching the younger kids what intensity is."

Polson

Head Coach: Bob Owen, 31

Last year: 18-5, 6th

Key players lost: Kevin Owen, first place, 189, Kaine Zetterbert, 2nd place 130, Logan Kugler, 2nd place, 160, Coby Wolfenden, two 119

Key players returning: Sophomore Logan Torgison, 3rd place, 105; sophomore Shayne Ludwick, 5th place, 98; Pat Dellwo, 6th place 140; senior Aaron Jones, 6th place, 215, junior Conlin Denison 2nd two years ago, 119

Key newcomers: Junior Brice Pickard, 5th for St. Ignatius last year, 189; sophomore Shawn Medland, 98; junior Billy Johnson, 145, injured most of last season broken scapula

Outlook: Just two freshmen came out for the Pirates this season, and numbers are down overall, but the team is still tough and ready to compete. Polson will also start the season with a couple open spots due to the low numbers and injuries.

"We look pretty strong," Owen said. "The kids are excited, and we have a lot of state experience. It will be more difficult for us in dual situations, but the bigger the tournament the better it will be for us."

If Owen's prediction runs true, his team should do well at the Tri-State tournament in Couer d' Alene and at the state tournament. The Tri-State event is one of the biggest in the Northwest.

Right now, Owen is busy drilling the fundamentals into his team to prepare for the season.

"We want to be in the trophy hunt at the end of the year," he said.

Class B

Eureka

Head Coach: Danny Lemer, 2nd year

Last year: 2-5, 28th at state

Key players lost: Nobody

Key players returning: 215 Kellen Ruth, senior 160 Gatlin Paine, 4th place, 152, Neil Carrie, 145 Cory Greenwood, 152 Josh

Key newcomers: Freshman Randy Kirkedahl, 119; sophomores Vinny Kirkedahl, 112; Bryce Stacey, 135

Outlook: Lemer is feeling confident about the 2005-2006 season for his team. Although his team is still young, he believes the Lions should have a shot at competing for the district and divisional title in Class B.

The return of Gatlin Paine, a fourth-place finisher at state last year will help Eureka put points on the board. Paine should be in the runner for a title this year.

"This year, we are way more competitive overall," Lemer said. "People are wanting to step it up and fill the shoes of varsity wrestlers."