Wrestling juggernaut Record-setting grapplers tearing through opponents

By MICHAEL RICHESON/Daily Inter Lake

What could possibly make the state's most dominant wrestling team cry?

Splitting up.

Last February marked the culmination of a remarkable season for the Flathead Braves wrestling team. The grapplers had just run away with the state tournament and set three state records.

Record 1: Most team points with 347.5

Record 2: Nine of the 15 state championship matches included a Braves wrestler.

Record 3: The Braves had 18 wrestlers medal, including three state champions.

But February 2007 also marked an end.

With Glacier High School set to open in the fall, the team knew that its time as a unified organization was over. Some of those wearing Flathead's black and orange were headed for Glacier's blue and green.

"There were a lot of tears," Braves head coach Jeff Thompson said. "It's such a family sport, and it was hard with all the families. We as a staff have been working with these kids since they were in the third grade."

Thompson said that having two schools created a separation, but not a divorce.

"We're still in contact with the coaches, wrestlers and parents at Glacier," Thompson said. "As long as we aren't wrestling them, we want them to win and do well. They're our second favorite team."

With the split came the trepidation of what would happen to each program. Would the Braves still be competitive?

"We're not changing our goals as a coaching staff," Thompson said. "We are always striving for a state championship."

That single-minded focus has produced winning results throughout Thompson's eight-year tenure as head coach at Flathead. The Braves have posted a 106-19 dual record, placed 88 wrestlers at state, set numerous state records and have had eight state champions. Thompson has also won Montana Coach of the Year honors in 2004, 2006 and 2007, which match the years the Braves won the team title.

"I have an amazing staff that makes me look good," Thompson said. "We've been working hard with our feeder program, and we've just been blessed with awesome, hard-working athletes.

"I think we outwork the competition. We brawl for six minutes. We might not be ahead for the first five-and-a-half minutes, but the last 30 seconds - we're going to try and win."

Thompson's philosophy of hard work is carried over from his years as a wrestler. He was a three-time Montana state champion for Great Falls High and competed for the University of Minnesota, where he was an All-Big Ten Conference Wrestler and a member of the 1994 No. 1 team in the nation.

For Thompson, wrestling is more a metaphor for life than a sport. He drills hard work and integrity into all of his athletes. Winning does not come at the expense of character.

"It's nice to win state championships, but the things they learn from the sport is the big picture," the coach said. "It's what they do for three months, but it gears them up for the rest of their life."

As for the questions concerning the Braves' continued dominance, the team is responding in overwhelming fashion.

So far this season, Flathead has steamrolled the competition, winning every dual meet and every tournament so far. Last week the team posted winning scores of 89-0 and 87-0 over Missoula Hellgate and Missoula Big Sky. The best dual score possible is 90-0.

The Braves also won Butte's Mining City Duals for the first time and convincingly won the Tri-State Tournament in Coeur d'Alene.

Then the Flathead wrestlers traveled to Gillette, Wyo., and obliterated some of the West's best teams. Flathead won all seven duals by a total score of 401-83.

Flathead now has a reasonable chance of completing the season with a perfect dual record and a perfect tournament record.

The busy schedule keeps the grapplers on the road most of the season. Local fans only get three chances to watch the Braves at home this season.

"It's good to challenge the kids with the toughest competition in the West," Thompson said. "It gets them seen by college coaches, and they get to experience some really big tournaments. State will seem small after that."

After setting so many state records during the past two years, do the Braves have a shot at making more history this season?

"We haven't even talked about state stuff yet," Thompson said. "We are focusing on the week at hand. One goal at a time. Once we get to that point, you'd better believe that's our goal. If we get a chance to get a pin, we're getting it."

Reporter Michael Richeson may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at mricheson@dailyinterlake.com