Adversity makes Braves stronger
No. 1 FHS sending 28 to state despite trying season
The Daily Inter Lake
Injuries, illness, family strife.
That kind of adversity doesn't often go hand-in-hand with a No. 1-ranked team.
But for the Flathead Brave wrestling team, the old adage 'What doesn't kill you can only make you stronger,' has turned into something of an anthem.
"We've had so much adversity this year, as much as I've had in my seven years," said Flathead coach Jeff Thompson.
There was heavyweight Dan Ogden's knee surgery, which kept him off the mat until the final weeks.
There was the season-ending arm injury to senior 189-pounder Levi Holt in the second week.
There was 171-pounder Luke Fischer suffering from chicken pox during the Tri-State tournament in Spokane, and finally, there was the housefire that claimed the (Steven) Mantel family home.
The knocks added up to the point that the Flathead High School wrestling room became 'safe ground' for many of the Braves.
"There have been some challenging issues. But this is life," Thompson said.
"They've overcome all that and have come together as a family. They've really grown as boys into men. It's been a lot of fun to see," he added.
"I look forward to watching them at the state meet."
Beginning today, the Braves defend their Class AA state title at Metra Park in Billings.
Flathead is taking 28 wrestlers to the tournament, more than any other school except Billings Skyview, which is also taking 28.
But the Braves have higher seeds than the Falcons. Flathead had 14 finalists at last weekend's Western AA seeding tournament and had six division champs. Skyview had seven finalists and three champions at the Eastern AA seeding tournament.
Butte, Great Falls High and CMR are each taking 22 wrestlers.
Thompson expects Great Falls High and CMR to present the toughest challenges.
"CMR and Great Falls High are very solid. They're front-runners," he said.
This Billings Skyview team reminds the coach of Falcon teams of the past.
"Tons of depth. They're very deep and are going to be a threat.
"And you can never count out Butte. (The Bulldogs) always come to wrestle."
It's not just the team title Flathead is after this year. As anyone who follows Flathead wrestling knows, the Braves won their second title in three years last February without winning a single individual championship.
"Our goal is not just that team trophy, but those individual titles," Thompson said.
"Let the team score fall into place."
They're also hoping every Flathead wrestler leaves the tournament with a win.
That would mean a first, a third or a fifth-place finish for every athlete.
Thompson believes it's doable.
"We've just got to wrestle up to our potential. We've set ourselves up very nicely," Thompson said.
"Let the battle begin."
Flathead's state lineup
Overall Divisional
Weight Name Record Place
98 Shawn Lau 35-3 1st
Zach Reimnitz 26-3 3rd
105 Dan Jenkins 24-13 2nd
Ryan Swelland 17-10 4th
112 Tanner Beaman 30-14 2nd
Joaquin Calderon 21-5 4th
119 Brian Ham 31-4 2nd
Jesse Morritt 14-10 5th
125 Ricky Janes 31-10 2nd
Jordan Nelson 18-11 7th
130 Austin Zapata 32-6 1st
Steven Mantel 25-7 5th
135 TC Decker 26-6 1st
Ryan Thiel 21-10 3rd
140 Caleb Allen-Schmid 19-7 2nd
AJ Stoick 14-6 6th
145 Bryce Stacy 30-7 1st
Ian Damon 17-8 6th
152 Tyler Wells 29-7 2nd
Tucker Hankinson 19-10 4th
160 David Lau 30-10 1st
171 Luke Fischer 26-4 1st
189 Drew Watkins 23-12 2nd
Dan Steuben 3-3 8th
215 Mark Svenson 17-16 5th
Justin Waverek 26-5 3rd
285 Dan Ogden 10-1 2nd
Tyler Thomas 16-8 4th
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First round matches for the Flathead Braves are as follows:
98: Shawn Lau versus Tyler Castellano, Billings West; Zach Reimnitz versus Justin Smart, Great Falls High.
105: Dan Jenkins versus Tony Grubb, CMR; Ryan Swelland versus Connor Elherd, Bozeman.
112: Tanner Beaman versus David Schmitt, Billings West; Joaquin Calderon versus Alex French, Billings Senior.
119: Brian Ham versus Josh Schwarz, Billings West; Jesse Morritt verus Zeke Concepcion, Billings Skyview.
125: Ricky Janes versus Kyle Taranto, Bozeman; Jordan Nelson versus Nash Halfrisch, CMR.
130: Austin Zapata versus Andy Davis, Great Falls High; Steven Mantel versus Brandon Hu, Billings Skyview.
135: T.C. Decker versus Tony Brown, Billings Senior; Ryan Thiel versus Jimmy Morriss, Great Falls High.
140: Caleb Allen-Schmid versus Rayvan Proffitt, Billings Skyview; A.J. Stoick versus Kyle Flood, CMR.
145: Bryce Stacy versus Andy Walker, Bozeman; Ian Damon versus Garrett Bergum, Billings Skyview.
152: Tyler Wells versus Peter Garcia, Bozeman; Tucker Hankinson versus Kalob Smith, Billings Senior.
160: David Lau versus Cody Pedro, CMR.
171: Luke Fischer versus Mark Bakas, CMR.
189: Drew Watkins versus Chris Mercer, Great Falls High; Dan Steuben versus Jared Rohrback, CMR.
215: Mark Svenson versus Casey Sternhagen, Bozeman; Justin Waverek verus Kasey Smitht, Billings Senior.
285: Dan Ogden versus Bryce Chapel, Billings Skyview; Tyler Thomas versus Josh Zimmer, Great Falls High.