Wrestlers kick off season with tourney
It’s been a couple of weeks since high school wrestling practice
started and it wouldn’t be out of turn to say most coaches are
ready to have their athletes stop matching up against one another
and get out on the mat in real competition.
They’re getting their wish on Saturday with the 34th edition of the
Polson Invitational at Polson Middle School.
The
tournament begins at 9:30 a.m. with third-fourth place matches
slated for 5:15 p.m. The championship finals will follow directly
after — at around 6:45 to 7 p.m.
Teams that will be at the tournament this weekend are Polson,
Flathead, Glacier, Missoula Sentinel, Hamilton, Corvallis,
Frenchtown, St. Ignatius-Charlo, Columbia Falls, Whitefish,
Superior, Thompson Falls and Eureka.
“I’m excited. I’m really itching to get going and I think the kids
are, too,” said Glacier coach Mark Fischer.
“I
think they’re ready for a little competition. This will be a good
tournament. It’s just a great way to start the season. We get to
see kids we won’t for the rest of the year. That makes it a solid
tournament to start off with, I think,” he said.
“Some of those Class A schools will be strong, just like they
always have,” Fischer said.
Both Fischer and Polson coach Bob Owen point to five-time defending
Class AA champion Flathead — already ranked 40th in the nation by
Amateur Wrestling News — as the team to beat on Saturday.
But
Flathead coach Matt Owen pointed out that Glacier finished ahead of
the Braves at this tournament last year.
“And we barely squeaked it out the year before,” he added.
“I
really think Glacier will have a great team this year. Sentinel
will be very competitive and I know Polson has a lot of great
individuals. Frenchtown always has some tough kids. It’s a good
tournament, definitely no slouch,” Matt Owen said.
“I’m excited to just get the season going. We’ll see a lot of great
competition down there. It’s a perfect tournament to get things
started,” he added. most coaches are ready to have their athletes
stop matching up against one another and get out on the mat in real
competition.
They're getting their wish on Saturday with the 34th edition of the
Polson Invitational at Polson Middle School.
The tournament begins at 9:30 a.m. with third-fourth place matches
slated for 5:15 p.m. The championship finals will follow directly
after - at around 6:45 to 7 p.m.
Teams that will be at the tournament this weekend are Polson,
Flathead, Glacier, Missoula Sentinel, Hamilton, Corvallis,
Frenchtown, St. Ignatius-Charlo, Columbia Falls, Whitefish,
Superior, Thompson Falls and Eureka.
"I'm excited. I'm really itching to get going and I think the kids
are, too," said Glacier coach Mark Fischer.
"I think they're ready for a little competition. This will be a
good tournament. It's just a great way to start the season. We get
to see kids we won't for the rest of the year. That makes it a
solid tournament to start off with, I think," he said.
"Some of those Class A schools will be strong, just like they
always have," Fischer said.
Both Fischer and Polson coach Bob Owen point to five-time defending
Class AA champion Flathead - already ranked 40th in the nation by
Amateur Wrestling News - as the team to beat on Saturday.
But Flathead coach Matt Owen pointed out that Glacier finished
ahead of the Braves at this tournament last year.
"And we barely squeaked it out the year before," he added.
"I really think Glacier will have a great team this year. Sentinel
will be very competitive and I know Polson has a lot of great
individuals. Frenchtown always has some tough kids. It's a good
tournament, definitely no slouch," Matt Owen said.
"I'm excited to just get the season going. We'll see a lot of great
competition down there. It's a perfect tournament to get things
started," he added.
"I think it's good competition because some of the better Class A
schools are in it. It's good variety for those AA schools to get
some teams from other classes. All the schools have at least one or
two pretty decent kids," Bob Owen agreed.
As for the Pirates, "it's good for us. It's a great measuring stick
to see where you are at. We don't put a lot of pressure on the kids
in this first competition," Bob Owen said.
“I
think it’s good competition because some of the better Class A
schools are in it. It’s good variety for those AA schools to get
some teams from other classes. All the schools have at least one or
two pretty decent kids,” Bob Owen agreed.
As
for the Pirates, “it’s good for us. It’s a great measuring stick to
see where you are at. We don’t put a lot of pressure on the kids in
this first competition,” Bob Owen said.