Braves bury Bengals, Bruins

That's what everybody paid to see.

The No. 1 Class AA heavyweight versus No. 2 on Saturday night at Flathead High School.

Helena High junior Toby Erikson showed up at Flathead with an undefeated record and a reputation as a thrower.

Flathead junior Tyler Thomas brought his 34-2 record and the education he received from his first match with Erikson.

"The first time, he got after me pretty good," Thomas said. "I wasn't really expecting him."

It took Erikson about 1:30 to pin Thomas during the Bozeman tournament final.

But the shoe was on the other foot Saturday as Thomas pinned Erikson in 1:52.

That win was the icing on the cake as Flathead celebrated senior night with two dual victories over the Helena schools. The Braves downed Helena Capital 82-3 in the first, then rolled Helena High 81-3 in the nightcap.

"I watched film after that (first loss)," Thomas said.

"I watched film and made sure I wrestled safe.

"I worked with a lot of the coaches and kind of got my bearings straight on what I needed to do and got it done this go-around," Thomas said.

"He took second at nationals in freestyle, which is a lot of throwing. So, I knew I didn't want to let him throw me. I just worked on wrestling safe and smart," he said.

"He got me locked up. That's how he threw me last time. I didn't want that to happen again, so I kept my weight back. Then I got locked up with him and then I threw him to his back."

"We've been working quite a bit with Tyler, just trying to set up a little strategy. He wrestled that match completely different than how he wrestled the first time," Flathead coach Jeff Thompson said.

"Erikson hasn't really been pushed all year. He's pinned everybody right away," the coach said.

Thomas needed to push him into the second minute - and possibly into the second or third period, he said.

"Erikson tried a big throw right away and it just took the wind out of him," Thompson said.

"Tiny (Thomas) has got a great set of lungs. It's one of those areas he's very strong. He just got his lungs going. It opened up an opportunity for him. Two beautiful throws and got the pin.

"This is a great momentum builder. I think he realizes how good he is," Thompson said.

That match was the pinnacle of a terrific evening for the Braves.

The Braves were on Helena Capital from the get-go.

Caleb Piasecki got the ball rolling right away at 98 pounds with a pin in 28 seconds.

Three Capital forfeits, a tech fall and two pins later, Flathead was comfortably ahead at 41-0. The Bruins didn't even get on the board until they won a 5-2 decision in the 215-pound weight class.

Flathead lost only one match in the second dual as well - a 6-0 decision at 119 pounds.

Except for that loss, the Braves' night included 10 pins, three forfeits and a 4-2 win.

"We wrestled really well," Thompson said.

"We're peaking at the right time. This is a great momentum builder for us. But it's a tough day, too," he said.

Flathead will be saying goodbye to some seniors who have been a part of two state championships and who have so far spearheaded an undefeated 2007-08 season.

"They wanted to put on a show and boy, they did," Thompson said.

"It's getting difficult because a lot of teams are wrestling so defensive against us.

"They're not attacking us because they know it puts them in a difficult situation," he said.

"We have to open up a lot more. We have to shoot a little more, hit a lot of second shots," he added.

Thompson complimented the efforts in the first dual of Alejandro Calderon at 125 pounds.

Calderon pinned Guy Nordahl of Capital in 1:13.

"He's wrestling really well," Thompson said.

He also was happy with Tyler Wells at 152 and with Ian Damon at 171/189.

Wells won his Capital match by tech fall, then built a 16-6 lead in his second match before pinning his Helena High opponent.

"What a great show he put on," Thompson said.

Damon took two forfeits on the night - the first at 189 and the second at 171.

He dropped to 171 against Helena High to give senior Luke Fischer the opportunity to wrestle in front of the home crowd.

"My hat goes off to Ian. What a great, respectful thing for him to do," Thompson said.

Fischer appreciated that as well.

"It was just awesome that Ian was willing to let me wrestle for my last time here. It's kind of weird being done now, but I really appreciate that. It's an awesome way to end the year at home.

"I think we wrestled great, especially Tyler Thomas. That was just an incredible win," he said.

"Hopefully, we can keep this going through divisional and all the way through state," Fischer said.

Flathead 82, Helena Capital 3

98: Caleb Piasecki (F) pinned Austin Lundin, :28; 105: Steel Hahn (F) won by forfeit; 112: Shawn Lau (F) won by forfeit; 119: Joaquin Calderon (F) tech fall Jake Boyl, 25-10; 125: Alejandro Calderon (F) pinned Guy Nordahl, 1:13; 130: Tanner Beaman (F) pinned Chad Truscott, :50; 135: Brian Ham (F) won by forfeit; 140: Steven Mantel (F) pinned Caleb Spangler, 4:51; 145: Bryce Stacy (F) won by forfeit; 152: Tyler Wells (F) tech fall Reece Easterling, 15-0; 160: David Lau (F) won by forfeit; 171: Luke Fischer (F) pinned Rusty Higgens, 2:17; 189: Ian Damon (F) won by forfeit; 215: Shaun Sampson (HC) dec. Justin Waverek, 5-2; Hwt: Conner Thomas (F) pinned Nick Alamnia, :32.

Flathead 81, Helena High 3

98: Caleb Piasecki (F) pinned Wyatt Boyer, :27; 105: Steel Hahn (F) won by forfeit; 112: Shawn Lau (F) pinned Tyler Christians, 2:40; 119: Niko Guyman (H) dec. Jeremiah Gaiser, 6-0; 125: Dan Jenkins (F) pinned Jared Maddio, 5:34; 130: Tanner Beaman (F) dec. Ryan Fuss, 4-2; 135: Brian Ham (F) pinned J.T. Street, 1:52; 140: T.C. Decker (F) won by forfeit; 145: Bryce Stacy (F) pinned Adam Pfiefer, 1:46; 152: Tyler Wells (F) pinned Conner Stanly, 3:29; 160: David Lau (F) pinned Matt Upham, 3:27; 171: Ian Damon (F) won by forfeit; 189: Luke Fischer (F) pinned Andy Riordan, 4:35; 215: Mark Svenson (F) pinned Brandon Weis, :34; Hwt: Tyler Thomas (F) pinned Toby Erikson, 1:52.