Libby wrestles to divisional win

WHITEFISH - Libby's Seth Cummings knows a little about wrestling perfection.

For the past three seasons, he's been the Northwestern A divisional champion, and this year was no different. He came out strong and pinned Columbia Falls' Michael Clark in 39 seconds for his fourth consecutive divisional championship on Saturday.

"They were quick," Cummings said about his day's matches.

Libby also won the tournament for the fourth straight time as a team with 215 points. Whitefish placed second with 201.5 points, Polson third with 169, Columbia Falls fourth with 141 and Ronan finished fifth with 136.

Whitefish was poised to run away with the tournament. The Bulldogs put eight wrestlers into the finals, one more than Libby. Before the consolation finals, Whitefish was ahead by 14.5 points.

"We talked to the younger kids, and told them they needed to close the gap for the older guys," Libby coach Jay Graham said. "They did their job."

The Loggers won five of six matches in the consolation round to move within half a point of Whitefish.

The Bulldogs then dropped six of their eight championship matches to watch Libby win yet again. Both teams still qualified 14 wrestlers each for the state tournament in Billings.

Just five matches were won by pin. The rest went the distance, and many were down to the wire.

Matcat Corey Pete and Bulldog Kevin Kaltschmidt (130 pounds) went at it like, well, Cats and Dogs. After a scoreless first period, Kaltscmidt scored on an escape. Both wrestlers fought for takedowns, but neither could pull it off. The pair were blindingly quick on their feet.

Pete chose the down position to start the third and finally scored an escape of his own to tie the bout 1-1. As time ran down, the wrestlers threw themselves at each other, but the buzzer sounded before they could score.

The overtime period was much of the same: nice tries but no points to show for it.

Kaltschmidt had bottom position for double overtime. All he needed was an escape for the win. The fight was on once the ref blew his whistle. Pete tried to break Kaltschmidt down, but the Bulldog fought hands well and began to rise to his feet. But as he stood up, Pete picked him up and slammed him back down to the mat in a whirlwind of hands and feet.

Kaltschmidt was able to get back up again, but Pete still had a hold of his foot as time expired and earned the win.

Like any good wrestling tournament, the day had its upsets, the biggest of which probably came at 145 pounds.

Matcat Michael Clark wrestled like a man inspired to defeat two higher-ranked wrestlers early in the day. He left Whitefish's Brad Kuntz (No. 5 in state) and Polson's Pat Dellwo (No. 6) in his wake to reach the finals.

And Polson's Shayne Ludwick (112 pounds), who is ranked second in state, fell in the first round to Ronan's Seth Clary.

And the match that was supposed to be the highlight of the night never even happened. Polson's Bryce Picard and Libby's Jake Spencer have been trading wins and the No. 1 ranking all season long.

Spencer has been battling strep throat and came into the tournament 10 pounds underweight. He wrestled one match to get into the finals, but forfeited the match against Picard.

"Once we had the points wrapped up, we decided to keep him out," Graham said.

Teams have a week to rest up and heal before the state tournament begins. Although Whitefish and Libby qualified 14 wrestlers each, they face an uphill battle at state against Eastern teams like Havre. Because of lower numbers, Havre will likely qualify close to 19 wrestlers, which will give the team about a 20-point advantage.

And almost everyone in Class A is wrestling for second place as powerhouse Sidney tries for its fourth consecutive state title.

Team scores

Libby 215, Whitefish 201.5, Polson 169, Columbia Falls 141, Ronan 136.

Championship finals

98 - Phillip Murphy (WHS) pinned Clayton Patterson (CF) 3:04; 105 - Tyson Noyes (RON) dec. Kolton King (CF) 11-5; 112 - Danny Neff (WHS) dec. Seth Clary (RON) 3-0; 119 - Conlin Benson (POL) pinned Cody Kolodejchuk (CF) 5:25; 125 - Logan Torgison (POL) dec. Boomer Peek (LIB) 8-6; 130 - Corey Pete (CF) dec. Kevin Kaltschmidt (WHS) 2-1, 2OT; 135 - Matt Roberts (LIB) dec. Matt Starr (WHS) 11-9; 140 - Michael Hader (CF) dec. Billy Johnson (POL) 7-1; 145 - Seth Cummings (LIB) pinned Michael Clark (CF) :39; 152 - Ted Morigeau (POL) pinned Cody Mikesell (WHS) 2:52; 160 - Steve Bertelsen (LIB) dec. Brad Watterud (WHS) 4-1; 171 - Jake Spencer (LIB) dec. Tim Lehner (WHS) 6-2; 189 - Bryce Picard (POL) won by forfeit over Jake Graham (LIB); 215 - Travis Hjort (LIB) pinned Dan Brown (RON) 4:44; 275 - Aaron Jones (POL) dec. Troy Parker (WHS) 5-1.

3rd-4th place

98 - Zach Robinson (RON) dec. Shawn Medland (POL) 6-2; 105 - Ryan Munoz (POL) pinned Logan Ricke 1:09; 112 - Shayne Ludwick (POL) pinned Nolan Emerson (CF); 119 - Loran Nelson (LIB) maj. dec. Pete Travis (CF) 10-0; 125 - Cody Morris (WHS) dec. Ricky Luchau (RON) 6-5; 130 - Porter Nelson (LIB) maj. dec. Derek Pepperling (CF); 135 - Seth Wright (LIB) def. Chris Starkel (RON); 140 - Joe McCarthy (RON) dec. Andrew Orr (LIB) 10-5; 145 - Brad Kuntz (WHS) maj. dec. Pat Dellwo (POL) 15-6; 152 - Matt Krause (WHS) dec. Josh Krantz (RON) 7-6; 160 - Reece Gassett (LIB) pinned Ben White (RON) 1:43; 171 - Tyler Espinoza (RON) pinned Nathan Topliff (WHS) 1:39; 189 - Levi Guenzler (RON) pinned Bret Martin (WHS) 1:04; 215 - Jesse Woodward (CF) maj. dec. Kyle Burns (WHS) 18-6; 275 - Tyler Goff (LIB) pinned Mike Trosper (RON) 1:37.