Braves, Wolfpack ready for crosstown

Luggage will not be necessary this time for Flathead's well-traveled wrestling team.

After spending the bulk of the season bussing to cities all over Montana and with side trips to Idaho and Wyoming thrown in for good measure, the Braves will wrestle at home for just the second time tonight. The first one was way back on Nov. 30, a dual with Butte. For those who don't remember, it was Flathead 64, Butte 7.

"Hopefully people will get off the sofa and come out to watch some great wrestling," Flathead coach Jeff Thompson said.

"Not only are we the No. 1 team in the state of Montana, but nationally ranked (14th). The kids are real excited to show their stuff in front of family and friends."

Flathead's foe will be Glacier. The Braves are 17-0 in duals this season while Glacier enters with a 9-9 mark.

It's the first crosstown meeting between the two schools.

Junior varsity wrestling begins at 6 p.m. with varsity action at 7.

"We just told them not to take anything for granted," Thompson said of what his final words were to his squad after Wednesday's practice.

"Don't take any matches for granted, any second of the match for granted. We are the favorite, but nobody's hand has been raised yet."

And …

"We told them to open up, have fun, stay relaxed," he said.

"They're our second favorite team, but tomorrow night, they are our competitor. You go after them."

Flathead will have six wrestlers in the crosstown lineup with at least 30 victories. Glacier has one - Stormy Day, a freshman at 125. Day is 30-4.

Flathead's David Lau, 171, Luke Fischer, 189, and Tyler Thomas, heavyweight, have all won 33 matches.

"We look at it as an opportunity," Glacier coach Mark Fischer said.

"We have nothing to lose in a matchup like this. It's a win-win situation. We're wrestling the best team in the state, probably the best team in the Northwest."

Fischer said his wrestlers are both "nervous and excited" for the chance to go head-to-head with the Braves.

"We've been talking about this matchup for a long time," he said.

"It's finally here."

Glacier will be without one of its top wrestlers for this dual. John Frandzen, 215, hurt his ankle at the Rocky Mountain Classic last weekend.

"He was winning the match," Fischer said.

"Just rolled over on it. We had to pull him from the tournament."

Frandzen is 16-9.

Thompson said the match at 140 should be a dandy with TC Decker (22-3) facing Glacier's Lucas Cumming (12-9).

The same goes for 125 with Day meeting Flathead's Dan Jenkins (15-9).

"Stormy Day is having in incredible freshman season," Thompson said.

"He's so well-rounded.

"Dan Jenkins is real excited for the opportunity. He just needs to try to wrestle his match, stay relaxed and see what happends. Lucas Cummings is real tough."

Crosstown Dual

7 p.m. at Flathead High School

Lineup

Flathead Glacier

98: Caleb Piasecki (20-6) John Patrick (4-7)

105: Zach Reimnitz (24-8) Open

112: Shawn Lau (24-2) Sam Overton (7-14)

119: Jeremiah Gaiser (18-7) Derek Mitchell (2-19)

125: Dan Jenkins (15-9) Stormy Day (30-4)

130: Tanner Beaman (30-6) Jordan Nelson (18-14)

135: Brian Ham (31-2) Tyler Hendrixson (2-3)

140: T.C. Decker (22-3) Lucas Cummings (12-9)

145: Ryan Thiel (24-6) Tanner Woodland (6-13)

152: Bryce Stacy (27-2) Clayton Hamilton (3-17)

160: Tyler Wells (31-3) Open

171: David Lau (33-6) Open

189: Luke Fischer (33-2) Boyce Ballard (8-11)

215: Justin Waverek (26-8) Kazmir Spilis (0-3)

Hwt: Tyler Thomas (33-2) Joel Horn (2-3)