Flathead, Glacier grapple for seeds

Don’t let the number fool you.

Flathead doesn’t expect to qualify as many wrestlers as it did for state at this weekend’s Western AA seeding tournament at Missoula Big Sky as it did last year, which was 25.

“Probably a little less than that,” Flathead coach Matt Owen said.

But the good news is ...

“The kids we push through will be quality kids,” Owen said.

“I’m sure I’ll be happy with the (final) number.”

Part of the reason the number will drop is Flathead will not have a full lineup for this event. The Braves will be open at 98, and will have just one entrant at 140, 215 and 285. Schools can enter two wrestlers in each of the 15 weight classes.

The tournament begins today at 4 p.m. at Missoula Big Sky. Action continues on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. The finals are tentatively set for 3 p.m.

The top six placers from the seeding tournament advance to state in Billings on Feb. 12-13.

The Western AA consists of Flathead, the four-time defending state champs, Glacier, Helena Capital, Helena High, Missoula Big Sky, Missoula Hellgate and Missoula Sentinel.

Glacier, on the other hand, hopes it state qualifying numbers continues to rise. The Wolfpack advanced 17 in its first season and 22 last year.

“We set a goal as a team for 25,” Glacier coach Mark Fischer said.

“We’ll see what happens.”

Glacier and Flathead both have two key wrestlers back in the fold. The Wolfpack’s Cooper Sipe (130) returns after injuring his knee at the Class AA Duals in Great Falls in late January.

 “He should be 100 percent,” Fischer said.

“I don’t think any of our kids have any (health) excuses going into this weekend. I think we’ll be 100 percent.”

Flathead’s Shawn Lau (140) has been sidelined with a knee injury since the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in mid-January.

“He’s actually looking really good,” Owen said.

“It’s still painful in certain areas, but he’s dealing with it.”

Sipe, a sophomore, is 19-8 overall. Lau, a senior, is 6-0 versus AA competition.

Dan Gilbert (285) is having a standout season for the Wolfpack, leading the team in points (150), wins (27) and pins (23). He has lost just three matches.

Lucas Mantel (119) has the most takedowns (43) and reversals (16) for Glacier. Other team leaders are Travis Woodland (160) in escapes (52) and Sipe in near falls (30).

Three more Glacier wrestlers who have won at least 20 matches are Shane St. Onge (140), who is 24-7, Mantel, who is 22-16, and Kaleb Mitchell (98), who is 24-2.

Flathead has nine wrestlers competing who have lost just three AA matches on the season. The Braves’ Connor Thomas (285) and Caleb Allen-Schmid (160) have the most wins versus AA competition with 17 each. Cody Tally (125), Joaquin Calderon (130) and Zack Deist (152) all have 14.

Thomas is the team leader in points (135), while has the most takedowns (58).

Flathead enters the seeding tournament ranked No. 2. Glacier is unranked.

“I think it will be good motivation for them,” Owen said of not being top ranked, which is was for much of the season.

“It wasn’t that bad a thing to happen this late in the year. It gives us something to shoot for.”

Flathead’s Lineup

(Records for AA matches)

98 — Open

105 — Jake Kinkel, 10-3; Kaileb Lieher, NR

112 — Caleb Piasecki, 13-1; Suny Cheff, NR

119 — Jake Stueben, NR; Billy Allen, NR

125 — Cody Tally, 14-4; Jacob Egley, NR

130 — Joaquin Calderon, 14-1; Coty Piasecki, 3-11

135 — Steel Hahn, 10-4; Brock Steller, NR

140 — Shawn Lau, 6-0

145 — Jeremiah Gaiser, 11-3; Travis Lopes, NR

152 — Zach Deist, 14-2; Josh Erickson, NR

160 — Caleb Allen-Schmid, 17-3; Josh Turner, NR

171 — Larry Francis, 10-1; Alex Rudolph, NR

189 — Trevor Beaman, 13-2; Dakota Lovett, NR

215 — Travis Ozegovich, 9-7

285 — Connor Thomas, 17-1

—————

Glacier’s Lineup

98 — Kaleb Mitchell (9), 24-2; Alek Mitchell (9), 13-7

105 — Zach Barber (10), 12-6; Christian Knopp (9), 8-3

112 — Grant Tafoya (9), 11-19; Jackson Barber (9), 11-13

119 — Lucas Mantel (9), 22-16; RJ Ancon (9), 3-12

125 — Open

130 — Cooper Sipe (10), 19-8; Ramone Saenz (9), 2-11

135 — Nick Iavicolli (9), 6-12; Shelton Todd (9), 8-5

140 — Shane St. Onge (10), 24-7

145 — Stormy Day (11), 6-3; Brayden Bagley (11), 7-9

152 — Lucas Cummings (12), 6-7; Dawson Day (9), 8-4

160 — Travis Woodland (12),13-21; Dayne Sandelin (12), 1-2

171 — Logan Clay (12), 16-13; Lane Armstrong (10), 8-10

189 — Boyce Ballard (11), 19-15; Randy Martin (12), 15-9

215 — Jake Criner (12), 7-15; Mack Sutherland (10), 11-8

285 — Dan Gilbert (12), 27-8; Joel Horn (11), 10-4