Bulldogs win Cat/Dog Smoker

The Daily Inter Lake

When two rival high schools are pitted against each other in the boxing ring, emotions tend to hit the red zone.

Such was the case in Whitefish Monday night at the 2009 version of the annual Cat/Dog Smoker, a fundraiser for the Glacier Twins baseball team. In front of more than 1,000 rowdy fans at Memorial Field, the Whitefish Bulldogs defeated the Columbia Falls Wildcats 7-5.

There was no shortage of bloody noses and fat lips, as fighters from both teams landed solid blows and nasty upper-cuts. Unlike last year, there were no knockouts, and almost every fight could have gone either way.

"It's a great event. It teaches the guys to stand on their own feet and take it like a man," said Twins head coach Bill Sapa. "I wish more of my kids would sign up for it, because a lot of them need to get tougher. It's a lot of fun."

Sapa said the event raises almost $15,000 every year for the baseball club, which features athletes from both schools.

This year featured four female matches, which were every bit as ferocious and competitive as the male bouts. The Whitefish High School cheerleaders proved they can hang with the boys as both McKenzie Bayne and Karli Volkman took to the ring, with Volkman winning her bout with Kionna Kellar by a split decision. Volkman left the ring with sweat and blood running through her mascara.

"I thought she had me for a little while there. I was able to land a few hits though," Volkman said after her fight.

Volkman said she wants to pursue fighting as a semi-professional further down the road.

In the main event, Columbia Falls' Shay Riley took down Brian Flickinger by unanimous decision. Both fighters displayed great technique and brought the crowd to it's feet.

They may have lost the title fight, but for a year at least the Whitefish Bulldogs have bragging rights.

Weight - Results

150 - Shawn Benton (CF) def. Bryn Thomas by decision.

135 - William Garcias (CF) def. Virgil Matt (CF) by decision.

110 - Jeneesa Couture (CF) def. McKenzie Bayne by decision..

140 - Devon Sellwood (CF) def. Hunter Fishel (CF) by decision.

165 - Jordan Crook (CF) def. Blake Brown by decision.

180 - Paula Oliveira (W) def. Amber James by decision.

180 - Kaleb Prestegaard (W) def. Joe Gross by decision.

160 - Karli Volkman (W) def. Kionna Kellar by decision.

160 - Olivia Nagler (W) def. Carrissa Williams by decision.

150 - Michael Kruse (CF) def. Drew Coco by decision.

180 - Josh Backer (W) def. William Joubert by decision.

190 - Marcus Applegate (CF) def. Joe Nangle

Semi-main event

200 - Orin Dugan (W) def. Dean Phillips by decision.

Main event

180 - Shay Riley (CF) def. Brian Flickinger by decision.