FHS does it with style
Flathead makes it a 3-peat as AA state mat champs
BILLINGS - Chances are … we won't see a team like the Flathead Braves again for a long, long time.
The numbers seem to get more amazing with each year.
The Braves reset the standard with three new records in 2008. They scored a monumental 410 points, had 19 state placers, 10 state finalists and five individual champions.
That's a three-peat in the record books. The new total in points scored obliterates Flathead's 2007 mark of 347.5. They also had 18 state placers last year and nine finalists.
Among the teams, Billings Skyview was a distant second with 264.5 points and Great Falls was third for the second straight year with 223.5. Rounding out the top five were CMR with 159 points and Bozeman with 158.5.
Glacier was 12th overall with three state placers.
Individual state titles were won by Flathead's Tanner Beaman (130), Brian Ham (135), Tyler Wells (152), David Lau (160) and Luke Fischer (171).
"This was the icing on the cake," smiled Flathead head coach Jeff Thompson as the Braves collected their championship trophy - their third straight and the fourth in five years.
"What a tremendous effort by this team," he said.
"Four senior state champions, 10 in the finals … wow, it's basically a dual meet against Flathead. Awesome performance."
The Braves had the tournament locked up by the end of Saturday's morning rounds - they had 402.5 points and the rest of Class AA in their rearview mirror.
Billing Skyview already trailed by more than 150 points.
Flathead did lose 12 1/2 team points when one wrestler was disqualified for misconduct.
"That was a black eye. He felt like he was going for a shot. I feel horrible for him," Thompson said of that wrestler.
"These guys have put in thousands and thousands of hours on the mat, working hard," Thompson said.
"We had a little bit of adversity, losing some of those final matches that we felt we were in. But that's just part of the sport. It's part of the game and part of life and that's our job, too," he said.
Flathead got off to a slow start - they lost the first two finals they were in, at 98 and 112, but bounced back at 130 pounds with Tanner Beaman.
"You're not going to win every match you expect to win. But we won some well-deserved matches," Thompson added.
Beaman won a 3-2 decision over Trenton Starkey of CMR.
"I knew it was my last match. I gave it all I had," Beaman said. "He was a really tough kid.
"I escaped and I was down by one, then I took him down," he said.
"I just knew I had to go out there and get it rolling for Brian (Ham at 135)," he added.
"This is unreal. It's like a dream," he added.
Ham followed that victory with a major decision, 21-12, over Nick Ramsey of Missoula Sentinel.
"It feels good to go out on a high note," the senior said.
"But it's kind of bittersweet. This is my last high school tournament ever.
"Words can't explain (the feeling)," he added. "We've bonded as a family. Every tournament we've gone to … it's been a perfect season for us."
The situation rollercoastered a bit for Flathead after that. Defending state champion Bryce Stacy lost a 3-2 decision at 145, but Wells pinned sophomore teammate Caleb Allen-Schmid in 1:56 to claim his first ever title.
Lau won an 11-4 decision at 160 pounds over Don Widdicombe of Missoula Big Sky and Fischer won a major decision over Lucas Polkow of Billings Skyview.
But Flathead couldn't quite finish it out perfectly.
Junior heavyweight Tyler Thomas was pinned by Helena High's Toby Erickson.
"It was a great tournament and we're just going to soak it in," Thompson said.
"But in a way, though, too, it's sad. I'm going to really miss those seniors. I'm going to miss the season that we had. The three months just flew by. I loved every moment of it. It's a rollercoaster ride, but it's so much fun, hanging out with my second family.
"These boys are all like sons to me," he added.
Class AA
Team Totals
Kalispell Flathead (KAL) 410, Billings Skyview (BSV) 264 1/2, Great Falls (GFH) 223 1/2, Great Falls Russell (CMR) 159, Bozeman (BOZ) 158 1/2, Missoula Sentinel (MSN) 130 1/2, Helena (HEL) 103, Billings Senior (BSH) 98, Butte (BUT) 74, Billings West (BWH) 64, Missoula Big Sky (MBS) 59, Kalispell Glacier (GLA) 57, Helena Capital (CAP) 34, Missoula Hellgate (MHG) 8.
First Place
98 - Dylan Mendenhall, GFH def. Zach Reimnitz, KAL, dec, 9-6
105 - Jake Dallaserra, BUT def. Brennan Barta, BSV, dec, 8-5
112 - Brice Gretch, BSV def. Shawn Lau, KAL, dec, 2-1
119 - Tanner Sprenkle, BSH def. David Demo, BOZ, dec, 5-3
125 - Tucker Sprenkle, BSH def. Jake Love, MSN, dec, 2-1
130 - Tanner Beaman, KAL def. Trenton Starkey, CMR, dec, 3-2
135 - Brian Ham, KAL def. Nick Ramsey, MSN, mdec, 21-12
140 - Zach Mendenhall, GFH def. Daniel Hamilton, MSN, dec, 6-1
145 - Nash Hallfrisch, CMR def. Bryce Stacy, KAL, dec, 5-3
152 - Tyler Wells, KAL def. Caleb Allen-Schmidt, KAL, pin, 1:56
160 - David Lau, KAL def. Don Widdicombe, MBS, dec, 11-4
171 - Luke Fischer, KAL def. Lucas Plokow, BSV, mdec, 9-1
189 - Ty Vinson, GFH def. Carson Hilliard, BSV, pin, 1:06
215 - Jared Rohrback, CMR def. Justin Prevost, BSV, pin, 1:25
Hwt - Toby Erickson, HEL def. Tyler Thomas, KAL, pin, :28
Third place
98 - Caleb Piasecki, KAL def. Cliff Evans, MSN, dec, 3-2.
105 - Steel Kahn, KAL def. Riley Berry, BOZ, pin, 4:02.
112 - Culley Buckley, BOZ def. David Schmitt, BWH, disqualification.
119 - Joaquin Calderon, KAL def. Niko Guymon, HEL, dec, 9-6.
125 - Kelly Olds, CMR def. Stormy Day, GLR, mdec, 19-5.
130 - Kooper Bond, BSV def. Kyle Taranto, BOZ, dec, 2-1.
135 - Mattias Savola, BSH def. Marshall Carpenter, BOZ, dec, 3-2.
140 - TC Decker, KAL def. Justin Mikkola, MSN, dec, 1-0.
145 - Tyler Elm, BSV def. Ryan Theil, KAL, dec, 3-1.
152 - Caleb Schlender, BOZ def. Joey Mancuso, BSV, pin, 2:24.
160 - Maxx Galland, GFH def. Nathan Kobold, BWH, dec, 7-1.
171 - Zach Wichman, GFH def. DJ Renz, BUT, mdec, 11-2.
189 - Dyami Bartholomew, BOZ def. Ian Damon, KAL, dec, 3-1.
215 - Jacob Haan, BWH def. Tyler Carter, GFH, pin, 2:55.
Hwt - Andrew Voorhees, CMR def. Josh Leonard, HEL, dec, 3-1.
Fifth place
98 - Nick Richardson, BWH def. Cody Cathey, BSV, dec, 5-4.
105 - Justin Rowling, BUT def. Mike Budeski, CMR, forf.
112 - Tyler Christians, HEL def. Seth Wegner, BSH, dec, 8-1.
119 - Jerimiah Gaiser, KAL def. Preston Hu, BSV, dec, 7-3.
125 - Zeke Concepcion, BSV def. Dan Jenkins, KAL, dec, 7-0.
130 - Austin Edwards, MSN def. Jordan Nelson, GLR, pin, 2:26.
135 - Austin Bailey, CMR def. Brandon Hu, BSV, injury default.
140 - Kallen Kleinschmidt, CAP def. Michael Carpenter, BOZ, dec, 3-1.
145 - Trylan Wassman, GFH def. Greg Wyatt, BSH, dec, 7-3.
152 - Tanner Schmid, GFH def. Garret Bergum, BSV, dec, 4-0.
160 - Jared Berry, BSV def. Pat Bomgardner, GFH, pin, 2:01.
171 - Kody Reed, MBS def. Chris Sowell, CMR, dec, 8-3.
189 - Andy Riordan, HEL def. Tim Welch, GFH, dec, 8-4.
215 - John Frandsen, GLR def. Justin Waverek, KAL, forfeit.
Hwt - Josh Zimmer, GFH def. Connor Thomas, KAL, pin, 3:56.
Semifinals
98 - Zach Teimnitz, KAL def. Nick Richardson, BWH, mdec, 10-2; Dylan Mendenhall, GFH def. Cliff Evans, MSN, dec, 3-1.
105 - Brennan Barta, BSV def. Steel Hahn, KAL, tfall, 17-2; Jake Dallaserra, BUT def. Mike Budeski, CMR, forf.
112 - Shawn Lau, KAL def. Culley Buckley, BOZ, dec, 6-2; Brice Gretch, BSV def. Tyler Christians, HEL, pin, 3:56.
119 - Tanner Sprenkle, BSH def. Niko Guymon, HEL, dec, 4-2; David Demo, BOZ def. Jerimiah Gaiser, KAL, dec, 7-0.
125 - Jake Love, MSN def. Zeke Concepcion, BSV, dec, 2-1; Tucker Sprenkle, BSH def. Stormy Day, GLR, dec, 6-4.
130 - Tanner Beaman, KAL def. Kyle Taranto, BOZ, dec, 5-2; Trenton Starkey, CMR def. Kooper Bond, BSV, dec, 12-5.
135 - Brian Ham, KAL def. Brandon Hu, BSV, pin, 1:51; Nick Ramsey, MSN def. Austin Bailey, CMR, dec, 13-6.
140 - Daniel Hamilton, MSN def. Kallen Kleinschmidt, CAP, dec, 5-4; Zach Mendenhall, GFH def. TC Decker, KAL, dec, 9-5.
145 - Bryce Stacy, KAL def. Tyler Elm, BSV, pin, 1:43; Nash Hallfrisch, CMR def. Ryan Thiel, KAL, dec, 5-2.
152 - Tyler Wells, KAL def. Joey Mancusso, BSV, mdec, 10-1; Caleb Allen-Schmidt, KAL def. Tanner Schmid, GFH, pin, 2:32.
160 - David Lau, KAL def. Nathan Kobold, BWH, pin, 3:11; Don Widdicombe, MBS def. Maxx Galland, GFH, dec, 10-8.
171 - Luke Fischer, KAL def. Zach Wichman, GFH, mdec, 10-1; Lukas Polkow, BSV def. DJ Renz, BUT, dec, 7-2.
189 - Carson Hilliard, BSV def. Tim Welch, GFH, pin, 3:15; Ty Vinson, GFH def. Andy Riordan, HEL, pin, 2:58.
215 - Justin Prevost, BSV def. John Frandsen, GLR, mdec, 12-1; Jared Rohrback, CMR def. Jacob Haan, BWH, tfall, 15-0.
275 - Toby Erickson, HEL def. Josh Zimmer, GFH, pin, :36; Tyler Thomas, KAL def. Andrew Voorhees, CMR, dec, 12-6.
Consolation quarterfinals
98 - Caleb Piasecki, KAL def. Colin Rupert, BOZ, tfall, 17-2; Cody Cathey, BSV def. Holden Gagner, MHG, pin, 2:06.
105 - Justin Rowling, BUT def. Jeff Meier, MSN, pin, 3:34; Riley Berry, BOZ def. Ty Girard, BWH, pin, 4:07.
112 - Seth Wegner, BSH def. Dexter Orr, GLR, pin, :47; David Schmitt, BWH def. Matt Snyder, GFH, pin, 2:59.
119 - Preston Hu, BSV def. Jacob Dickson, CMR, pin, 4:37; Joaquin Calderon, KAL def. Jerrod Maddio, HEL, tfall, 15-0.
125 - Kelly Olds, CMR def. Travis Lang, BOZ, dec, 6-4 OT; Dan Jenkins, KAL def. Jacob Conklin, MBS, dec, 5-4.
130 - Jordan Nelson, GLR def. Ryan Fuss, HEL, dec, 5-2; Austin Edwards, MSN def. PJ Neary, BWH, pin, 3:59.
135 - Marshall Carpenter, BOZ def. David Nobel, KAL, mdec, 9-0; Matias Savola, BSH def. Frank Ramsey, GFH, dec, 7-4.
140 - Justin Mikkola, MSN def. Cavin Engel, BSV, dec, 12-7; Michael Carpenter, BOZ def. Zach Fellows, BUT, dec, 8-4.
145 - Trylan Wassman, GFH def. Tony Brown, BSH, dec, 11-6; Greg Wyatt, BSH def. Joe Powell, BOZ, dec, 4-3.
152 - Garret Bergum, BSV def. Todd Mulcahy, BUT, pin, 2:26; Caleb Schlender, BOZ def. Zach Lowney, MBS, pin, 2:19.
160 - Pat Bomgardner, GFH def. Matt Upham, HEL, pin, 4:25; Jared Berry, BSV def. Nick McMillian, MBS, pin, 2:14.
171 - Kody Reed, MBS def. Kalob Smith, BSH, pin, :35; Chris Sowell, CMR def. Trever Beaman, KAL, tfall, 20-3;
189 - Dyami Bartholomew, BOZ def. Paul Streich, KAL, dec, 14-7; Ian Damon, KAL, def. Colton Fenner, CMR, dec., 8-7.
215 - Tyler Carter, GLR def. Shaun Sampson, CAP, dec, 5-0; Justin Waverek, KAL def. Tyler Komenda, KAL, pin, 1:56.
275 - Josh Leonard, HEL def. Derek Treptow, BSV, dec, 7-2; Connor Thomas, KAL def. Matt Cable, GFH, dec, 5-3.
Consolation semifinals
98 - Caleb Piasecki, KAL def. Nick Richardson, BWH, mdec, 13-3; Cliff Evans, MSN def. Cody Cathey, BSV, dec, 9-4.
105 - Steel Hahn, KAL def. Justin Rowling, BUT, dec, 7-3; Riley Berry, BOZ def. Mike Budeski, CMR, forf.
112 - Culley Buckley, BOZ def. Seth Wegner, BSH, pin, 2:19; David Schmitt, BWH def. Tyler Christians, HEL, mdec, 14-4.
119 - Niko Guymon, HEL def. Preston Hu, BSV, dec, 8-6 OT; Joaquin Calderon, KAL def. Jerimiah Gaiser, KAL, dec, 5-4.
125 - Kelly Olds, CMR def. Zeke Concepcion, BSV, pin, 2:11; Stormy Day, GLR def. Dan Jenkins, KAL, dec, 4-0.
130 - Kyle Taranto, BOZ def. Jordan Nelson, GLR, dec, 3-1; Kooper Bond, BSV def. Austin Edwards, MSN, dec, 9-2.
135 - Marshall Carpenter, BOZ def. Brandon Hu, BSV, dec, 9-7; Matias Savola, BSH def. Austin Bailey, CMR, dec, 8-1.
140 - Justin Mikkola, MSN def. Kallen Kleinschmidt, CAP, dec, 3-1; TC Decker, KAL def. Marshall Carpenter, BOZ, mdec, 11-3.
145 - Tyler Elm, BSV def. Trylan Wassman, GFH, dec, 7-0; Ryan Thiel, KAL def. Greg Wyatt, BSH, mdec, 11-0.
152 - Joey Mancuso, BSV def. Garret Bergum, BSV, pin, 3:35; Caleb Schlender, BOZ def. Tanner Schmid, GFH, dec, 4-2 OT.
160 - Nathan Kobold, BWH def. Pat Bomgardner, GFH, pin, 2:37; Maxx Galland, GFH def. Jared Berry, BSV, tfall, 16-1.
171 - Zach Wichman, GFH def. Kody Reed, MBS, dec, 9-6; DJ Renz, BUT def. Chris Sowell, CMR, dec, 4-1.
189 - Dyami Barthomolew, BOZ def. Tim Welch, GFH, pin, 4:16; Ian Damon, KAL, def. Andy Riordan, HEL, dec., 10-7.
215 - Tyler Carter, GFH def. John Frandsen, GLR, mdec, 10-1; Jacob Haan, BWH def. Justin Waverek, KAL, dec, 7-3.
275 - Josh Leonard, HEL def. Josh Zimmer, GFH, dec, 3-2; Andrew Voorhees, CMR def. Connor Thomas, KAL, pin, :53.