Successful slugfest

The crosstown rivalry between Flathead and Glacier reached the boxing ring on Thursday in the first-ever smoker between the two Kalispell schools.

After 16 spirited bouts, the sold-out event at Gardner Auction south of town ended in an 8-8 tie, with the fight of the night arguably coming between two girls, Flathead junior Cera Lau and Glacier freshman Nicole Heavirland.

The younger sister to a pair of state champion wrestlers, Lau proved that toughness runs in the family as she went punch for punch with Heavirland over three crowd-pleasing rounds.

"I said I can't let them down, I have a name to stick up for," Lau said, referring to her older brothers Shawn and David.

The Lau name was defended in earnest as the bloody-nosed little sister brought the estimated crowd of 1,000 to a standing roar with a barrage of hits that won her the fight by unanimous decision.

As the final bell signaled the fight's conclusion, the two beaten-up competitors exchanged an exhausted embrace as the capacity crowd gave its loudest ovation of the night and the announced echoed "Oh what a fight!"

"It was a lot of fun. I was really nervous though," Lau said afterward. "She hit me one time and I was like oh my gosh that really hurts, but it was still fun."

Earlier, Glacier's Dawson Day sparked the enthusiasm with the first TKO of the night. Day peppered Brett Handford with one haymaker punch after another, but didn't land the finishing blow until late in the third round after referee and professional boxer Phillip Moore stepped in.

Flathead's Larry Francis earned a decisive TKO victory as well in a bout with Logan Clay. Josh Turner, also of Flathead, earned the night's other TKO and schoolmate Tevin Groshelle had a knockout.

All in all, organizers agreed afterward that the event to raise money for the schools' wrestling programs surpassed expectations.

"I think it was a huge success, much more than we anticipated," Glacier Wrestling Association President Greg Pisk said. "I think people had a lot of fun tonight. The boxers were very well mannered and there was good sportsmanship and I think everybody had a great time."

1st Annual Crosstown

Boxing Smoker

Thursday

#1 - Travis Woodland (G) wins by split decision over Jerrad Merrill (F)

#2 - Amanda Fenger (G) wins by unanimous decision over Taylor Keltner (F)

#3 - Roman Solarez (G) wins by split decision over Cole Pehling (F)

#4 - Dawson Day (G) wins by TKO over Brett Handford (F)

#5 - Zach Diest (F) wins by unanimous decision over Alec Tuman (G)

#6 - Tevin Groshelle (F) wins by KO over Tanner Woodland (G)

#7 - Jackson Barber (G) wins by decision over Brett Mergenthaler (F)

#8 - Julian Rodriguez (F) wins by decision over Alek Mitchell (G)

#9 - Marnic Mann (G) wins by split decision over Kassidy Martin (F)

#10 - Lucas Mantel (G) wins by split decision over Caleb Piasecki (F)

#11 - Josh Turner (F) wins by TKO over Gary Gratham (G)

#12 - Larry Francis (F) wins by TKO over Logan Clay (G)

#13 - Dakota Tackett (F) wins by split decision over Haime Miranda (G)

#14 - Cera Lau (F) wins by unanimous decision over Nicole Heavirland (G)

#15 - Joaquin Calderon (F) wins by split decision over Brent Burke (G)

#16 - Dan Gilbert (G) wins by unanimous decision over Trevor Beaman (F)