Braves stomp Knights, Eagles

The Daily Inter Lake

As a coach, you know it has been a good night when your team wins its second dual by 60 points and that victory was closer than the first one.

The Flathead High School wrestling team dominated visiting Missoula Hellgate, 79-3, and Missoula Big Sky, 72-12, running its record to 10-1.

"Some of our guys just really wrestled well tonight, and I think just the excitement of being home - it was a lot of fun, we enjoyed it," said Flathead coach Jeff Thompson. "As coaches, we felt like we could just sit back and enjoy the show."

The Braves overwhelmed an undermanned Hellgate squad, posting four pins, a major decision, a decision and eight victories by forfeit.

Flathead sophomore Tanner Beaman set the tone by pinning Hellgate's Kenny Lindan in the first round. Freshman Caleb Allen-Schmid (140 pounds), sophomore Bryce Stacey (145) and senior heavyweight Cory Simonson also claimed pins against the Knights.

Beaman, Stacey and Simonson all notched pins against Big Sky as well.

Sophomore Zach Reinmitz (98), freshman Shawn Lau (105), sophomore Dan Jenkins (112), junior Brian Ham (125), senior Ricky Janes (130), Ryan Thiel (135), junior Tyler Wells (152), junior David Lau (160), senior Drew Watkins (171) and junior Justin Waverek (215) earned two victories apiece for Flathead.

"We just did what we had to do - we brawled," Simonson said.

Flathead already owned sizeable leads both times Simonson took the mat, but that didn't lessen the big man's motivation.

"I don't like to lose, and I do my best and I try to win," Simonson said. "And if I lose, I just look at what I did wrong and try to fix it."

Simonson was sick and weighed-in at just 257 pounds - 28 below the heavyweight maximum.

"I just wanted to get it over with," said Simonson of his pin against Big Sky's Lyle Loftus, which occurred with 1.9 seconds left in the second round.

Thompson said he was pleasantly surprised with the Braves' lopsided victories, particularly against Big Sky. The Eagles took fifth in last weekend's Great Falls C.M. Russell Holiday Tournament, and several Braves were battling health problems.

"We've been hit with the injury bug a little bit - some sickness, but our team really stepped up," Thompson said. "And great experience, especially for some of our younger guys and guys like Ryan Thiel stepping in the lineup and getting a huge win against the No. 2-ranked guy at 135 pounds for Big Sky. That was a great win for him, and Bryce Stacey beating a three-time state placer."

Thiel beat Big Sky's Nick Ramsey with a 12-9 decision, filling in for T.C. Decker, who was out with strep throat.

"Thiel's been in the lineup - he's been our utility guy," Thompson said. "He's been at (135) and (140) all year and doing great things. He's actually ranked fourth in the state at (140), but he's just a solid competitor at whatever weight he has."

Stacey pinned Eagles standout Don Widdicombe in the third round.

Thompson said he was proud of Allen-Schmid, who earned his first varsity win at 140 against Hellgate's Stephen DeYoung.

Waverek pinned Big Sky's Kyle Goettlich in his first varsity match.

"He really stepped in the lineup well and we're excited for his future," Thompson said.

The Braves received some good news Thursday, learning that senior heavyweight Dan Ogden will be back and cleared to compete after Jan. 1.

"He's going to have to battle," Thompson said. "Cory Simonson had a great day today - he's a very solid heavyweight."

Although Flathead registered 10 pins against Big Sky, most of the matches were competitive.

"The kids fought hard, lost a couple of close matches in the third period and a couple matches that we probably could have won, so it's a long way to divisionals and we've got a lot of work to do to catch a quality team like Kalispell," said Big Sky coach Jon Cusker.

Cusker said battling Flathead was a valuable learning experience for his Eagles.

"It's always fun to wrestle the top teams in the state, even if you don't beat them in a dual meet because it shows you where you need to bring your program as a coach and as wrestlers," Cusker said.

Cusker had no trouble pinpointing the reason behind Flathead's wrestling success.

"The quality of the coaching staff," Cusker said. "Depth certainly doesn't hurt, but they've got a great core of coaches up here."

The Braves are back in action today, playing host to Missoula Sentinel at 1 p.m. before visiting Whitefish at 6:30.

"Sentinel's pretty solid," Thompson said. "They're about where Big Sky is at and we just hope to see the same scores."

And Flathead's heavyweight hopes to add to his personal and team victory totals before the winter break.

"That would be a good Christmas present," Simonson said.

Flathead 79, Missoula Hellgate 3

98 - Zach Reimnitz, FHS, won by forfeit; 105 - Shawn Lau, FHS, won by forfeit; 112 - Dan Jenkins, FHS, won by forfeit; 119 - Tanner Beaman, FHS, pinned Kenny Lindan, MH, 1:19; 125 - Brian Ham, FHS, won by forfeit; 130 - Ricky Janes, FHS, won by forfeit; 135 - Ryan Thiel, FHS, won by forfeit; 140 - Caleb Allen-Schmid, FHS, pinned Stephen DeYoung, MH, :23; 145 - Bryce Stacey, FHS, pinned DJ St. Jean, MH, 1:21; 152 - Tyler Wells, FHS, dec. Chris Lavoie, MH, 6-4; 160 - David Lau, FHS, won by forfeit; 171 - Drew Watkins, FHS, maj. dec. Adam Hiday, MH, 14-2; 189 - TJ Wicklund, MH, dec. Mason Smith, FHS, 6-5; 215 - Justin Waverek, FHS, won by forfeit; Hwt. - Cory Simonson, FHS, pinned Joe Tobol, MH, 3:11.

Flathead 72, Missoula Big Sky 12

98 - Zach Reimnitz, FHS, pinned Dante Swallow, MBS, 3:51; 105 - Shawn Lau, FHS, won by forfeit; 112 - Dan Jenkins, FHS, dec. Bryan Wolff, MBS, 14-8; 119 - Tanner Beaman, FHS, pinned Jacob Schwartz, MBS, 2:31; 125 - Brian Ham, FHS, pinned Kenny Tritz, MBS, 1:53; 130 - Ricky Janes, FHS, pinned Aaron Callaghan, MBS, 2:42; 135 - Ryan Thiel, FHS, dec. Nick Ramsey, MBS, 12-9; 140 - Brian Moree, MBS, pinned Caleb Allen-Schmid, FHS, 4:50; 145 - Bryce Stacey, FHS, pinned Don Widdicombe, MBS, 5:18; 152 - Tyler Wells, FHS, pinned Zach Lowney, MBS, 5:47; 160 - David Lau, FHS, pinned Brad Volkmann, MBS, 1:49; 171 - Drew Watkins, FHS, pinned Cory Jellitich, MBS, 1:22; 189 - Kody Reed, MBS, pinned Mason Smith, FHS, 1:29; 215 - Justin Waverek, FHS, pinned Kyle Goettlich, MBS, 1:15; Hwt. - Cory Simonson, FHS, pinned Lyle Loftus, MBS, 3:58.