FHS spanks Helena schools

Thomas versus Erickson.

Where have we heard that before?

Flathead’s Tyler Thomas and Helena High’s Toby Erickson made up the marquee heavyweight wrestling matchup in Class AA for the last two years.

Helena mostly got the better of it.

It looks like Thomas-Erickson may be a spotlight rivalry again.

Only this time it will be the younger brothers’ show — Connor Thomas of Flathead and Helena’s Tucker Erickson.

Flathead came out on top this time around as the No. 1-ranked Thomas rallied from a one point deficit to claim a 6-3 decision over No. 3-ranked Erickson in a dual Saturday night at Flathead.

“I was worried. He’s been ranked No. 2 all year. I was extremely nervous ... mostly because his last name is Erickson,” Thomas said.

That was just one win among many Saturday for the Braves. Flathead dispatched Helena 66-12, then spanked Helena Capital 73-6 in the wrap-up of the regular season.

“I thought it was an awesome night. We really wrestled well in both duals,” said Flathead coach Matt Owen.

“I feel like we’re wrestling about where we should. We’re peaking at the right time for divisional and state,” he added.

“Just a great team performance. That’s exactly what we should be doing,” he said.

All in all, Flathead got 13 pins on the night — and lost a total of four matches, one by forfeit.

As for Thomas, he may have been nervous, but he got right to work on the sophomore Erickson with a takedown just 30 seconds in.

But Erickson tied the match at 2-all with a reverse.

Erickson chose to take down to start the second — and Thomas immediately gave up the escape to get both wrestlers back on their feet.

“I’m not very good on top and I didn’t want him to reverse me. I thought it would give me a better chance to put him on his back,” he explained.

“I thought we were stronger on our feet. (Thomas) had already taken (Erickson) down a couple of times and he was looking good on his feet,” Owen agreed.

It worked. Thomas got a takedown with 53 seconds left in the second. He took Erickson down one last time with 10 seconds left in the match.

He’s now beaten every other ranked heavyweight in Class AA.

That was just one thriller among several for the Braves.

Flathead’s Joaquin Calderon, ranked No. 2 in Class AA at 125, decided on Friday to wrestle 130 at state.

But on Saturday his coaches asked him to go to 135.

“I’ve never wrestled 135 before. It was much more weight to pick up, carry around,” Calderon said.

He won a 5-3 decision over Tyler Christians of Helena High, then defeated Helena Capital’s Simon Asay 9-7 in overtime. Both are ranked wrestlers — Christians is No. 4 at 135 and Asay is ranked third at 130.

“They were tough kids. It will get me stronger for state,” he said.

Calderon trailed Asay 6-2 with less than 20 seconds to go and Asay on bottom. Calderon gave up the escape to put both on their feet, then got a take down and took Asay to his back to tie it as time ran out.

“I was just picturing in my head taking a shot, taking him to his back,” Calderon said.

“I had both arms, so I just decided to throw him. I thought, ‘why not take a risk?’ So I did. I never give up, even if I’m down 10 points.”

With all the momentum going his way, it took Calderon 20 seconds to get another takedown — and the win.

There was one more surprise in store at the 215-pound weight class.  Travis Ozegovich pinned Capital’s Remington Reishus. Reishus is the No. 3 ranked wrestler at that weight.

Ozegovich trailed 5-0 in the second period when he caught and stuck Reishus.

“He got down early, but he kept battling. This was huge for him,” Owen said.

Up next for Flathead is the Western AA seeding tournament Friday and Saturday at Missoula Big Sky.

Flathead 66, Helena High 12

98 — Grant Boggs, H, won by forfeit; 105 — Shane Bogard, H, dec. Kaleb Liehr, 9-4; 112 — Suny Cheff, F, pinned Brady Bertagnolli, 4:37; 119 — Caleb Piasecki, F, pinned Devon Geiszler, 1:18; 125 — Cody Tally, F, pinned Sam Patera, :50; 130 — Jerrod Maddio, H, dec. Steel Hahn, 15-13; 135 — Joaquin Calderon, F, dec. Tyler Christians, 5-3, 140 — Austin Bowen, F, pinned Joey Jeffrey 3:45; 145 — Jeremiah Gaiser, F, won by forfeit; 152 — Zach Diest, F, pinned Nate Caldwell, 3:33; 160 — Caleb Allen-Schmid, F, pinned Kale Kamerzel, 2:59; 171 — Larry Francis, F, won by forfeit; 189 — Trevor Beaman, F, won by forfeit; 215 — Travis Ozegovich, F, pinned Shea Schlosser, 1:43; Hwt — Connor Thomas, F, dec. Tucker Erickson 6-3.

Dual started at 125.

Flathead 73, Helena Capital 6

98 — Double forfeit; 105 — Alex Markle, HC, pinned Kaleb Liehr, 3:44; 112 — Suny Cheff, F, won by forfeit; 119 — Caleb Piasecki, F, pinned Sam Asay, 3:10; 125 — Cody Tally, F, won by forfeit; 130 — Steel Hahn, F, pinned James English, 1:37; 135 — Joaquin Calderon, F, dec. Simon Asay, 9-7, OT; 140 — Austin Bowen, F, pinned Cullen Kostecki, 3:33; 145 — Jeremiah Gaiser, F, maj. dec. Pat Legg, 14-3; 152 — Zach Diest, F, won by forfeit; 160 — Caleb Allen-Schmid, F, won by forfeit; 171 — Larry Francis, F, pinned Tanner Patt, 1:08; 189 — Trevor Beaman, F, pinned Carl LeVell, 1:30; 215 — Travis Ozegovich, F, pinned Remington Reishus, 2:42; Hwt — Connor Thomas, F, won by forfeit.

Dual started at 130.