Ronan grappling for 3-peat
Ronan will be looking for a three-peat today at the Northwestern A Divisional wrestling tournament in Polson.
Ronan edged Polson, which has been the runner-up the last two years, by 12 1/2 points last year to defend its divisional title. Both schools are loaded with talent again, which could make for another close divisional race.
“I think we have a great chance (to win it),” Polson coach Bob Owen said.
“Our numbers are so good, it’s really an advantage.”
Ronan will be open at three weight classes — 105, 119 and 135 — while Polson will have a full lineup. That could tip the scale in favor of the Pirates when all is said and done.
Just like last year, the divisional will have three highly-ranked teams competing. Ronan is third in the latest Class A Coaches Poll, while Polson is fourth and Libby 10th.
Wrestling begins at 11 a.m. in the Linderman gym with the finals slated for 5 p.m. The top four individuals in all weight classes advance to state Feb. 12-13 in Billings.
Polson has six wrestlers in its lineup who have won at least 20 matches, led by Craig Feistner (98), who is 30-1. Jacob Young (135) is 29-8 and Brock Picard (171) is 28-1.
Picard, a two-time state champion and a three-time divisional champion, has 16 pins. He is undefeated against Montana competition.
Feistner, Josiah Clairmont (215), who is 21-10, and Mike Devlin (140), who is 18-15, are Polson’s pin leaders, all with 17.
“For as young as we are, as many freshmen and sophomores in our lineup, I’m really encouraged with the progress we made this year,” Owen said.
There are seven freshmen and six sophomores in the Pirates divisional lineup.
Nick Howell (125), who has been sidelined with a knee injury, is back for Polson. He’s 7-5 to date and won a divisional title a year ago at 112.
Ronan has three individuals wrestling today who won divisional titles a year ago — Cameron Neiss, Micky Cheff and Toby Cheff. Neiss (130) in undefeated in 33 matches. Micky Cheff (152) is 30-4 and Toby Cheff (189) is 30-2. Toby Cheff leads the team in pins with 25.
Columbia Falls returns two divisional champions — Sal Bacarro and Shawn Whitman — and a runner-up in Kelly Houle. Bacarro (112) is 22-10 for the Wildcats. Whitman, no record, will wrestle at 140.
Houle (215) is 32-2 and has 26 pins, which is five shy of the season school record. The senior is also unbeaten versus Class A competition.
Justin Whitman (119) leads the Wildcats in takedowns (43) and escapes (22). He has a 24-8 record.
Kohl Thompson (130) leads the Wildcats in reversals with 15. He has a 13-24 mark.
Libby has one returning divisional champion in Kyle Sweedman (171), who is 27-2.
In Class B divisional action today at Deer Lodge, Eureka returns one divisional champion in Taylor Brown and a runner-up in Taylor Vaughn. Brown is wrestling at 171 this year, where he holds a 31-8 record. Twenty-six wins are by win. Last year he wrestled at 152.
Vaughn has also moved up, going 33-3 at 160 with 23 pins. He was the runner-up at 145 in 2009.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to state.
Northwestern A Divisional
Today At Polson
Lineups
Top four advance to state
Columbia Falls
105 — Seth McCall (9), 22-11
105 — Mercy Armstrong (10), NR
112 — Sal Baccaro (11), 22-10
119 — Justin Whitman (10), 24-8
119 — Travis Province (10), 10-15
125 — Adam Richardson (10), 11-21
125 — Drake Iverson (10), 1-11
130 — Kohl Thompson (10), 13-24
130 — Josh Havercorn (10), 3-16
135 — Cody Hader (10), 12-24
135 — Brendan Moseman (10), 6-16
140 — Shawn Whitman (12), NR
152 — Billy Gross (11), 10-12
160 — Joe Gross (12), 17-15
171 — Josh Folsom (10), 17-17
189 — Jacob Babcock (10), 10-15
189 — Marcus Ross (10), 6-18
215 — Kelly Houle (12), 32-2
Libby
98 — Ian Edwards-Myslicki, 12-11
105 — Isaac King, 7-16
112 — Levi Erickson, 12-9
119 — Aaron Seefeldt, 11-18
125 — Mike Roby, 25-7
130 — Mitch Haugen, 20-7
130 — Devin Williams, 5-4
135 — Kyle Leir, 16-6
140 — Cody Elliot, 18-9
145 — Dylan Berget, 22-7
145 — Justin O’Brien, 3-6
152 — Robin Kyes, 16-14
160 — Austin Bailey, 18-11
171 — Kyle Sweedman, 27-2
171 — Logan Neubauer, 3-3
189 — Kody Berget, 22-9
189 — Wes Whechel, 2-2
215 — Rigo Ibbara, 6-6
285 — Lucas Puckett, 8-14
Polson
98 — Craig Feistner (9), 30-3
98 — Pat Sumner (9), 18-4
105 — Lucas Polk (9), 3-9
112 — Razz Walhood (9), 6-11
119 — Jesse Alfiero (11), 19-15
119 — Drew Fouty (9), 11-9
125 — Nick Howell (10), 7-5
130 — Alex Nystrom (10), 12-12
130 — Nate Brooks (9), 13-7
135 — Jacob Young (11), 29-8
140 — Mike Devlin (9), 18-15
140 — Randy Kelley (12), 2-1
145 — Brock Bleazard (10), 17-14
152 — Ty Fouty (12), 22-11
152 — Chris Cote (10), 13-11
160 — Jake Skelton (10), 4-16
171 — Brock Picard (12), 28-1
189 — Devin Kamarainen (12), 9-11
215 — Josiah Clairmont (10), 21-10
285 — Kaden Thomas (12), 20-4
Ronan
98— Lukas Conklin, 16-17
112 — Andrew Teigan, 23-13
125 — Kyle Lawson, 11-17
130 — Cameron Neiss, 33-0
130 — Shelby Grant, 22-16
140 — Alex Greenfield, 16-18
145 — Dustin Goldsby, 14-15
152 — Micky Cheff, 30-4
152 — Quentin Denton, 7-5
160 — Cole McArthur, 28-6
171 — Tyler Wheeler, 23-9
189 — Toby Cheff, 30-2
215 — Colby Roberts, 16-17
285 — Aaron Yazzie-Whitworth 9-19
Whitefish
130 — Dalton Rice (12), 14-15
130 — Jon Sammon (9), 4-17
140 — DJ Buckley (9), 1-22
145 — Nick O’Dell (12), 6-16
152 — Robby Neff (10), 0-15
160 — Tanner Benedict (12), 15-5
160 — Nate Wiedenmeyer (11), 4-12
171 — Geoff Streeter (12), 12-16
215 — Domonic Sargent (9), 1-17
285 — Wolf Zinke (9), 4-16
Western B Divisional
Today At Deer Lodge
Top four finishers advance to state
Lineup
Eureka
112 — Kelby Lihme (9), 10-13 (7 pins)
125 — Kaleb Lafrancois (9), 4-20 (2 pins)
130 — Ashton Dierman (11), 19-15 (17 pins)
135 — Bodee Floyd (11), 4-17 (2 pins)
135 — Logan Brown (9), 5-17 (1 pin)
145 — Curtis McDuffie (11), 17-15 (14 pins)
152 — David Wilson (9), 10-14 (7 pins)
160 — Taylor Vaughn (11), 33-3 (23 pins)
171 — Taylor Brown (12), 31-8 (26 pins)
171 — Taylor Tope (11), 6-6 (6 pins)
189 — Michael Wilson (11), 17-16 (12 pins)