Braves, Wolfpack primed for divisional
Flathead's wrestling season has met expectations and Glacier's has exceeded its.
Both schools will look for those trends to continue through the final two weekends of the high school season.
The Braves and Wolfpack head to Helena Capital for a Western AA divisional seeding tournament today, 4 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. with finals at 4 p.m. The state tournament follows Feb. 8-9 in Billings.
Flathead is not only the top ranked AA team in Montana, but is listed as the 10th best prep program in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News and No. 14 by Win Wrestling magazine.
Flathead has 10 wrestlers ranked either No. 1 or 2 in AA at their weight class in the latest Montana poll. They are: (No.1) Tanner Beaman (37-6) at 130, Brian Ham (33-2) at 135, Bryce Stacy (30-2) at 145, Tyler Wells (33-3) at 152, David Lau (36-5) at 160, Luke Fischer (35-2) at 171, Tyler Thomas (35-2) at heavyweight, (No. 2) Zach Reimnitz (26-8) at 98, Shawn Lau (27-2) at 112 and T.C. Decker (22-3) at 140.
Shawn Lau, Ham, Decker, Stacy, Wells, David Lau and Fischer are all going for their second divisional titles.
The Braves qualified 28 for state last year. They had 18 in the semifinals, 14 in the finals and six champions.
FHS holds the record of state qualifiers at 29, which was set in 2006.
The top eight wrestlers in all weight classes advance to state.
"We expect to do extremely well at divisional," FHS coach Jeff Thompson said.
"We expect everyone who is going to compete and qualify for the state tournament. We always have high expectations. One of our goals is to always qualify the maximum number, which is 30."
And speaking of numbers, the numeral 10 could be another Flathead milestone this weekend.
"On a good day, we could have 10 guys win the divisional tournament this year," Thompson said.
"Realistically, on paper, we could have upwards of 15 guys in the finals if we wrestle to our potential."
Thompson said the Braves could have two finalists at four weight classes - 98, 112, 119 and 145.
Glacier coach Mark Fischer has no special number in mind regarding state qualifiers. His main concern is continued improvement.
"We're coming to the end of the season, peaking," he said. "I think good things will happen (this weekend). I think we will surprise some people."
Glacier has done that so far. The Wolfpack finished with an 11-11 dual record, 3-3 versus Western AA foes.
"At the beginning of the season, walking around the practice room, we were just amazed how inexperienced the kids were," Fischer said.
"We were talking about two, three duals we would win. These kids have worked so hard this season."
Fischer says he can't pinpoint a dual when it became apparent Glacier would be much better than expected. It just kind of evolved as the season went along.
"At the beginning of the season, we were losing one right after another," he said.
"The second half of the season, they just started winning and it just kept going. It got contagious for our team Other kids started to see that success and they stepped up.
"It came all of a sudden. In one week, the kids were buying into everything we were teaching, finding success with it."
The Wolfpack has been led by freshman standout Stormy Day. The 125-pounder is 33-4 to date.
He's also Glacier's lone AA ranked wrestler - No. 3 at his weight class.
Three other Wolfpack grapplers own winning records - Jordan Nelson (21-15) at 130, Lucas Cummings (15-10) at 140 and John Frandsen (17-10) at 215.
Joel Horn, heavyweight, is 5-5.
Glacier will fill all weight classes this weekend but 98, and will have 23 competing. Glacier will have two entrants at 125, 135, 140, 145, 152, 189, 215 and heavyweight.
"Usually about this time, you have a lot of burnout," Fischer said.
"We are totally still into it as coaches. The kids are still on fire, are a little bit hungry for this tournament coming up."
NOTE: For Flathead senior Mark Svenson, the wrestling season came up two weeks short. He broke his hand while getting a pin in last weekend's dual with Helena High. The injury, however, ended his season. The 215-pounder is 19-6 and a returning state placer (sixth).
Seeding Tournament Lineups
Glacier
Varsity
WT Name YR Record
105 - John Patrick 10 4-9
112 - Sam Overton 10 8-16
Dexter Orr 11 0-0
119 - Derek Mitchell 9 3-23
125 - Stormy Day 9 33-4
Wilder Peterson 9 0-0
130 - Jordan Nelson 11 21-15
135 - Brayden Bagley 9 3-11
Kline Keller 9 0-0
140 - Lucas Cummings 10 15-10
Tyler Hendrixson 10 3-4
145 - Tanner Woodland 10 8-15
Zack White 10 1-4
152 - Clayton Hamilton 11 4-21
Jaymee Robbins 10 0-0
160 - Chance Stupak 11 0-4
171 - Brit Block 10 0-16
189 - Boyce Ballard 9 10-13
Jake Criner 10 3-13
215 - John Frandsen 11 17-10
Kazmir Splilis 9 1-4
Hwt - Joel Horn 9 5-5
Dan Gilbert 11 1-1
Flathead
Overall
WT Name YR Record
98 - Caleb Piasecki 9 23-6
Zach Reimnitz 11 26-8
105 - Steel Hahn 9 23-3
Jake Steuban 9 5-7
112 - Ryan Swelland 11 21-3
Shawn Lau 10 27-2
119 - Joaquin Calderon 10 30-7
Jeremiah Gaiser 9 20-8
125 - Dan Jenkins 11 18-10
Alejandro Calderon 11 24-6
130 - Tanner Beaman 11 37-6
Beau Gravelle 12 12-10
135 - Brian Ham 12 33-2
David Nobel 12 16-2
140 - T.C. Decker 12 22-3
Steven Mantel 11 20-9
145 - Bryce Stacy 11 30-2
Ryan Thiel 11 22-6
152 - Tyler Wells 12 33-3
Caleb Allen-Schmid 10 27-6
160 - David Lau 12 36-5
Jonah Franchi 11 16-6
171 - Luke Fischer 12 35-2
Trevor Beaman 10 20-4
189 - Ian Damon 11 25-7
Paul Streich 11 16-9
215 - Tyler Komenda 11 11-7
Justin Waverek 12 27-9
Hwt - Tyler Thomas 11 35-2
Connor Thomas 9 21-5