FHS wrestlers hit perfection, crush Hellgate 83-0

| January 27, 2006 1:00 AM

The Daily Inter Lake

It was a perfect night for the Flathead Braves.

The wrestling team scored its first shutout of the season, destroying the Hellgate Knights, 83-0 on Thursday in a Western AA dual. Flathead's JV squad also went undefeated.

"We wrestled well," Flathead coach Jeff Thompson said. "The kids looked great. A couple of JV kids stepped in and wrestled well."

Tanner Beaman (105), Ryan Thiel (112), Josiah Nelson (160) and Damien Farrier (215) all moved up to the varsity and won for the Braves.

Farrier faced a tough match against Roy Pritchett, who took fifth at the Rocky Mountain Classic. Farrier pinned him midway into the third period.

Mikey Kuehne (152) also had stiff competition against Hellgate's Chris Lavoie. Kuehne wrestled smart and won by an 11-6 decision.

"Mikey had a great effort," Thompson said.

Flathead has just two duals left before the divisional tournament in Missoula. Both matches are this Saturday at home against Helena High at noon and Helena Capital at 2 p.m.

The Braves will honor the senior wrestlers on Saturday as well. Flathead has 16 seniors wrestling their last match for the home crowd on Saturday. They are: Joel Ahles, three-time state qualifier; Scott Cassel, two-time state placer; Damien Farrier, state placer; Duran Flaget, state finalist; Josh Gibbs, first year; John Hoag, first year; Mikey Kuehne, three-time state placer; Colter Lane, two-time state qualifier; Brandon Meier, letter winner; Josiah Nelson, two-time state qualifier; Ryan Nelson, three-time state qualifier; Andy Noel, state qualifier; Casey Poier, two-time state qualifier; Cody Rush, letter winner; Ashley Leatzow, manager; and Mallory Pisk, manager.

BRAVES 83, KNIGHTS 0

98 - Dan Jenkins, F, p. Roger Gillespie 3:02; 105 - Tanner Beaman, F, p. Kenny Lindon 0:50; 112 - Ryan Thiel, F, def. Eddie Brewer 10-1; 119 - Ricky Janes, F, p. Mandy Gillespie 0:52; 125 - Austin Zapata, F, def. D.J. St. John 13-1; 130 - 140 - Ryan Nelson, F, p. Brendon Gobert 0:16; 145 - Luke Fischer, F, p. Dustin Black 2:21; 152 - Mikey Kuehne, F, def. Chris Lavoie 11-6; 160 - Josiah Nelson, F, p. Cole Jensen 0:39; 189 - Scott Cassel, F, p. Seth McCracken 0:41; 215 - Damian Farrier, F, p. Roy Pritchett 4:51; Hwt - Dan Ogden, F, p. Joe Tobol 0:37. Flathead won 130, 135 and 171 by forfeit.