Crosstown II for Wolfpack-Braves grapplers

The Glacier Wolfpack hopes to narrow the gap on Flathead tonight at 7 in a crosstown wrestling dual at Glacier.

Flathead rolled to a 70-9 memorable victory last year in the first dual meeting ever between the two schools on Jan. 18. The Braves had seven pins that night, while Glacier's points came on a forfeit and a decision.

Glacier forfeited three weight classes to the Braves.

"Looking down their lineup, they're a stacked team," Glacier coach Mark Fischer said of FHS.

"They're the team to beat in the state.

"Matching up, probably two weight classes were favored at," he continued.

"The rest, if we get a win, it will be a bonus for us."

Flathead enters the dual with a 10-3 mark, while Glacier is 14-6.

"All the individual matches will be pretty close," Fischer said.

"I do think we've closed the gap there."

Glacier will tune-up for the FHS dual by wrestling Missoula Hellgate first at 5 p.m.

"We're kind of use to wrestling double duals," Fischer said.

"It will be good for us to wrestle that match before (Flathead). Usually our second match is better than our first one."

First-year Flathead coach Matt Owen, who was an assistant coach a year ago at Glacier, said "about the same approach (for this dual) as usual."

However, he says it's another story for his athletes.

"The kid are really excited about it. I think the rivalry will build as we get more years of competition."

Owen figures the outcome will not be as lopsided as last year's.

"Glacier has a really good team this year," he said.

"A good bunch of young wrestlers over there."

Owen says matches at 119 and 215 could be special. He said Paul Streich and John Frandsen (at 215) have already had a couple matches.

At 119 will be Flathead's Jake Stueban or Cody Tally versus Glacier's Cooper Sipe.

Bryce Stacy, who picked up his 100th career victory on Tuesday, has the best record for FHS. The 160-pounder is 24-2.

FHS heavyweight Tyler Thomas is 19-1, and Caleb Allen-Schmid is 20-7.

Larry Francis, 152, leads the Wolfpack record-wise at 28-5. Frandsen is next at 23-4.

"This is gonna be an exciting match (with Flathead)," Fischer said.

"I hope we get a lot of fans there. This will be a showcase of Kalispell wrestling. I just want people to know there are two quality programs going at it. It should be a fun one to watch."

Flathead Weight Glacier

Jake Kinkel 98 Jack Barber

Open 105 Open

Zach Reimnitz 112 Zach Orr

Jake Stueban/Cody Tally 119 Cooper Sipe

Joaquin Calderon 125 Dexter Orr

Steel Hahn 130 Tyler Hendrickson

Jeremiah Gaiser 135 Jordan Nelson/Shane St. Onge

Dan Jenkins 140 Riley Pisk

Caleb Allen-Schmid 145 Lucas Cummings

Ryan Thiel/Steven Mantel 152 Larry Francis

Bryce Stacy 160 Tanner Woodland

Ian Damon 171 Clayton Hamilton

Jonah Franchi 189 Randy Martin

Paul Streich 215 John Frandsen

Tyler Thomas Hwt Joel Horn