Easy does it for FHS matmen

Methodically, without flash or flare, the Flathead Braves wrestling team first went into Whitefish and then Columbia Falls on Thursday night and returned home with easy dual meet wins.

The Braves defeated Whitefish 53-18 on senior night for the Bulldogs and dispatched Columbia Falls 57-19. The Wildcats also dualed with Ronan and beat the Chiefs 54-33.

"Overall we wrestled two great matches," FHS coach Jeff Thompson said. "It's been a long week - Tuesday, not having school we didn't practice and this week is finals week."

It was not a spotless effort by the Braves (13-1), to be sure. Nor was the evening devoid of highlights for the 'Cats (8-6) and 'Dogs (7-6).

"We scrapped tonight, and that's all you can ask of your kids," Columbia Falls coach Wes Knutson said. "I was real happy with the effort tonight. We had a couple of comeback wins, that's some exciting wrestling. We knew there were going to be some good matchups tonight."

Said Bulldogs coach Pat Cheff: "The team score is not an indication of how well we wrestled. For our program to get better, we have to face that caliber of competition. It's positive for our kids."

The day started in Whitefish, and the Braves and Bulldogs were tied 9-9 after the first four matches. Then three pins and an injury default for Flathead over the next four bouts put some distance between the two teams.

In Columbia Falls, Flathead jumped out in front early before the Wildcats scored some points in the lower-to-middle weights.

Individually, heavyweight Brandon Hoffenbacker defeated Whitefish's Troy Parker when Parker had to beg out after briefly losing consciousness in a tight hold just 1:31 into the match.

Hoffenbacker then pinned Tommy Church at the buzzer ending the first period on an impressive takedown.

"He knew that this was probably his toughest week of competition before that state tournament," Thompson said. "He and Troy Parker have had a lot of battles this year and that was a great one. It's too bad Troy got hurt and couldn't finish.

"Tommy goes after it. Hoff is a strong guy and once he puts you on your back he's tough to get off."

The highlight of the two duals was probably the 215-pound match between Columbia Falls' Nik Caron and Flathead's Garrett Woodson. Caron wrestled a fine match and was leading 12-4 late in the third when all of a sudden Woodson reversed and got a pin with just 22 seconds left.

"You can get caught like that," Knutson said. "That's the sport of wrestling."

Said Thompson: "It takes a lot of heart when you're losing by seven points to pull out the pin."

Whitefish's David Lautaret turned in a gutty performance, pinning Josiah Nelson midway through the third period after aggravating a shoulder injury early in the match.

"He's got a shoulder situation, we know where we're at - it's not going to get any better, it's not going to get any worse - so it takes a lot of courage to go out there with that," Cheff said. "And on the opening shot they both banged shoulders. I could see the pain in his face. But he came back."

Freshmen David Lau and Tyler Wells both won twice for the Braves. Lau had two pins, Wells a pin and a decision.

" Tyler Wells beat two tough competitors," Thompson said. He has really stepped up as a freshman. And David Lau won two great matches today. I'm really excited about those two guys."

All three teams still have things to work on before the state tournament, but all three like where they're at.

Flathead hosts Polson and Hellgate next Thursday. Whitefish is at Polson and Ronan on Saturday. Columbia Falls also visits Polson on Saturday.

BRAVES 53, BULLDOGS 18

98-Brian Ham, FHS, pinned Phillip Murphy, 1:09; 105-T.C. Decker, FHS, pinned Cody Morris, 1:11; 112-Danny Neff, WF, dec. Austin Zapata, 4-0; 119-Kevin Kaltschmidt, WF, pinned A.J. Stoick, 2:50; 125-Brandon Mitchell, FHS, won by forfeit; 130-Duran Flaget, FHS, tech. fall Matt Starr, 18-3; 135-Ryan Nelson, FHS, dec. Pete Starr, 9-7 (OT); 140-Tyler Wells, FHS, dec. Cody Mikesell, 13-8; 145-Mikey Kuehne, FHS, dec. Brad Watterud, 3-2; 152-David Lau, FHS, pinned Brad Kuntz, 5:30; 160-David Lautaret, WF, pinned Josiah Nelson, 5:01; 171-Tim Lehner, WF, dec. Levi Holt, 7-2; 189-Chris Thompson, FHS, dec. Matt Mangold, 6-2; 215-Garrett Woodson, FHS, pinned Kyle Burns, :38; HWT-Brandon Hoffenbacker, FHS, won by injury default.

BRAVES 57, WILDCATS 19

98-Brian Ham, FHS, pinned Clayton Patterson, :44; 105-Cody Kolodejchuk, CF, dec. T.C. Decker, 8-5; 112-Austin Zapata, FHS, pinned Tyson Nelson, :31; 119-Cory Pete, CF, pinned A.J. Stoick, 1:11; 125-Aric Tarr, CF, dec. Brandon Mitchell, 9-3; 130-Duran Flaget, FHS, dec. Michael Hader, 11-7; 135-Dalvin Averill, CF, dec. Ryan Nelson, 5-4; 140-Tyler Wells, FHS, pinned Bobby Opp, 2:38; 145-Mike Kuehne, FHS, won by forfeit; 152-David Lau, FHS, pinned Brighton Hollis, :18; 160-Calvin Williams, CF, maj. dec. Josiah Nelson, 10-1; 171-Levi Holt, FHS, won by forfeit; 189-Chris Thompson, FHS, pinned Jesse Woodward, 2:11; 215-Garrett Woodson, FHS, pinned Nik Caron 5:38; HWT-Brandon Hoffenbacker, FHS, pinned Tommy Church, 2:00.

WILDCATS 54, CHIEFS 33

98-Seth Clary, Ron, pinned Clayton Patterson, :29; 105-Cody Kolodejchuk, CF, won by forfeit; 112-Tyson Nelson, CF, won by forfeit; 119-Cory Pete, CF, won by forfeit; 125-Aric Tarr, CF, pinned Chris Starkel, 4:21; 130-Michael Hader, CF, won by forfeitl 135-Dalvin Averill, CF, pinned Joch Krantz 3:13; 140-Bobby Opp, CF, pinned Joe McCarthy, 3:44; 145-Diion Brown, Ron, pinned Bridger Beach, :57; 152-R.J. Olsen, Ron, pinned Brighton Hollis, 1:54; 160-Ben White, Ron, dec. Calvin Williams, 6-2; 171-Curtis Flesch, Ron, won by forfeit; 189-Nik Caron, CF, pinned T.C. Garcia, 3:13; 215-Dan Brown, Ron, pinned Jesse Woodward, 1:17; HWT-Tommy Church, CF, pinned Mike Trosper, 1:26.