Braves pin Polson, Hellgate
Chris Jordan/Daily Inter Lake<br>Flathead's David Lau screams after pinning Derrick Gerrity of Polson during Flathead's dual victory over the Pirates Thursday afternoon in Kalispell.
Defending state champion Flathead and Class A power Polson continued to round into form for the upcoming divisional tournaments next week and the state tournament the following week, squaring off in an entertaining dual on Thursday afternoon.
After the Braves defeated Polson 45-29, Flathead took on Missoula Hellgate in the evening to conclude their annual senior night. It was all rather anti-climactic, however, as the Knights' varsity squad could have traveled comfortably in a sedan from Missoula.
Flathead (15-1) claimed three of the four varsity matches plus 11 forfeits and won 78-6.
"Against Polson we won the matches that we needed to win," FHS coach Jeff Thompson said. "They are a very solid team, they're like us in that they have a solid guy at every weight class."
The Pirates began the dual with two pins, both come-from-behind efforts. At 130, Kaine Zetterberg pinned Duran Flaget late in the second period after Flaget had Zetterberg on his back for an extended time in the first but couldn't finish.
Then at 135, Pat Dellwo got a third-period pin against Ryan Nelson, despite trailing 7-0 at the time, when Nelson made a risky move that backfired.
"That comeback by Pat Dellwo was really big," Polson coach Bob Owen said. "He was getting beat pretty bad. We keep trying to tell them you're never out of a match, and he did a good job coming back and getting a pin for us."
Flathead righted itself behind pins from freshmen Tyler Wells and David Lau, plus a decision from Mikey Kuehne, and took control of the dual on the strength of four straight pins by Chris Thompson, Garrett Woodson, Brandon Hoffenbacker and Brian Ham.
"Tyler Wells beat a tough kid at 140 and got some momentum going," Thompson said. "The hardest match was probably 140 after we lost two matches. You're winning 7-0 and to try a dangerous move like that? But he knows he made a mistake, and it's better to do it now than at divisionals or state."
The outcome of the Polson-Flathead dual was undoubtedly affected by the absence of Pirate 105-pounder Logan Torgison, who was sidelined by strep throat.
That forced 98-pounder Shayne Ludwick into Torgison's spot and second-stringer Shawn Medland went at 98 pounds. Medland got pinned and Ludwick was decisioned.
"We're missing one of our better kids, Logan Torgison," Owen said. "That would have been a dandy matchup.
"It's a matter of getting our kids healthy. We've had kids hurt and we've kids with the flu and strep. If we get them all healthy, we're going to be pretty solid."
Polson has one more dual, tonight at Ronan, before hosting the divisional tournament next weekend.
"We're excited," Owen said of hosting. "I like it. You've got your home crowd behind you. It makes a difference."
Before the evening dual with Hellgate, the Braves honored their eight senior wrestlers and one senior manager. The four seniors who saw action Thursday - Brandon Mitchell (125), Chris Thompson, Woodson and Hoffenbacker - all won their matches against Polson and received forfeit wins against Hellgate.
"We have some great seniors," Jeff Thompson said. "We only have four starting, but even those seniors that aren't starting they're great leaders in our practice room.
"It's sad to see them leave. They've been leaders for this team, a young team."
The Braves travel across the Divide on Saturday to dual with Helena High and Helena Capital before hosting the Western AA seeding tournament next weekend.
BRAVES 45, PIRATES 29
98-Brian Ham, FHS, pinned Shawn Medland, 3:44; 105-T.C. Decker, FHS, dec. Shayne Ludwick, 9-2; 112-Conlin Benson, Pol, pinned Austin Zapata, 5:51; 119-Stephen Feistner, Pol, dec. Ricky Janes, 9-5; 125-Brandon Mitchell, FHS, dec. Colby Wolfenden, 10-8; 130-Kaine Zetterberg, Pol, pinned Duran Flaget, 3:42; 135-Pat Dellwo, Pol, pinned Ryan Nelson, 4:31; 140-Tyler Wells, FHS, pinned Andrew Miller, 4:27; 145-Mikey Kuehne, FHS, dec. Ted Morigeau, 9-3; 152-David Lau, FHS, pinned Derrick Gerrity, 3:20; 160-Logan Kugler, Pol, maj. dec. Josiah Nelson, 16-4; 171-Kevin Owen, Pol, maj. dec. Levi Holt, 13-4; 189-Chris Thompson, FHS, pinned A.J. Angelo, 2:11; 215-Garrett Woodson, FHS, pinned Aaron Jones, 2:29; HWT-Brandon Hoffenbacker, FHS, pinned Tracey Siegfried, :31.
BRAVES 78, KNIGHTS 6
98-Brian Ham, FHS, pinned Kenny Lindon, :23; 105-T.C. Decker, FHS, won by forfeit; 112-Ricky Janes, FHS, won by forfeit; 119-Austin Zapata, FHS, dec. Zach Bingham, 6-1; 125-Brandon Mitchell, FHS, won by forfeit; 130-Duran Flaget, FHS, won by forfeit; 135-Ryan Nelson, FHS, won by forfeit; 140-Tyler Wells, FHS, dec. Trevor St. John, 11-4; 145-Mikey Kuehnes, FHS, won by forfeit; 152-David Lau, FHS, won by forfeit; 160-Austin Oullette, Hel, pinned Josiah Nelson, 1:19; 171-Levi Holt, FHS, won by forfeit; 189-Chris Thompson, FHS, won by forfeit; 215-Garrett Woodson, FHS, won by forfeit; HWT-Brandon Hoffenbacker, FHS, won by forfeit.