Maxed-out smoker at Trade Center
Moving on up.
The result of two straight sellouts is that the third annual Crosstown Smoker has moved from the Expo Building to the Trade Center at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.
The boxing smoker is set for Thursday evening — doors at the Trade Center open at 5:30 p.m. with the first bout at 6:30.
Tickets ($20 ringside, $10 adults and $8 students) are available at the door as well as at Pisk Chiropractic, Burton Boxing, Universal Athletics, Twisted Bliss and Whitman Brothers Manufacturing in Columbia Falls.
“We’ve maxed out the last two years,” said Glacier Wrestling Association board member Dr. Greg Pisk.
“We had a great crowd last year. We maxed out the building.”
Organizers are expecting anywhere from 1,200-1,500 fans, he said.
Eighty-six kids signed up to box — of those 16 from Glacier, 12 from Flathead and four from Columbia Falls will be on Thursday’s 16-bout card.
There will be 13 male and three female fights.
Organizers have made a few other changes to enhance the experience for fans and fighters. They are renting a new ring from Burton Boxing and Flathead Boxing Club, boxers will enter down the aisle with a spotlight and their signature music and once the fight begins, the lights in the Trade Center will be dimmed.
“It’ll have the arena feeling to it,” Pisk said.
The boxers are split into two teams — the Glacier team will be coached by Burton Boxing while the Flathead team will be coached by Flathead Boxing Club.
Proceeds will benefit Glacier, Flathead and Columbia Falls wrestling programs, as well as the Evergreen Wrestling Club and Kalispell Wrestling Club.
Kalispell Wrestling Club will handle concessions while Evergreen will be doing a 50-50 raffle. Both clubs are also doing some fundraising.
“It’s really grown to include all the local wrestling programs,” Pisk said.
“We’ve just helped out where we could. It has made a difference,” he said.
Donations have gone toward equipment, computers, scholarships to wrestling camps, a college scholarship given annually to a senior from either Flathead or Glacier, toward stipends for extra coaches, meals, T-shirts, etc., he explained.
Six of the last seven Class AA state championships have gone to Kalispell schools — five to Flathead and the last one to Glacier.
“It’s seems like things are paying off,” he said.
3rd annual Crosstown Smoker
Bout 1: Jonah Isles,GHS vs. Tristen Hines, FHS
Bout 2: Clarke Jones, GHS vs. Cody “T CELL” Walters, CFHS
Bout 3: Alex Fralin, GHS vs. Brendan “Monsoon” Moseman, CFHS, FHS
Bout 4: Amy Lybeck, GHS vs. Savanah “Suga-Mama” Mahlen, FHS
Bout 5: Waytt Clay, GHS vs.Scott “Peterbuilt” Bolt, FHS
Bout 6: Brandon “Tsunami” Scholz, GHS vs.Matthew Oftedahl, FHS
Bout 7: Ramon Saenz, GHS vs. Adam Richardson, CFHS
Bout 8: Mariah Kanistanaux, GHS vs. Danielle “El Diablo” Davis, FHS
Bout 9: Branden Perina, GHS vs. Reno Abregana, FHS
Bout 10: Ryan Danielson, GHS vs.Dyan Guzman, FHS
Bout 11: Jaun “The Mexicusioner” Rodriguez, GHS vs. Cole “Wicked Clown” DeLaughder, FHS
Bout 12: Tyson “The Hurricane” Hubbard, GHS vs. Robert “Hardcorp” Heavilin, FHS
Bout 13: Shane St. Onge, GHS vs. Khol “Train” Thompson, CFHS
Bout 14: Lucas Leigh, GHS vs. Gage Palmer, FHS
Bout 15: Keyawana Larson, GHS vs. Cassie “Lights-out” Krueger, FHS
Bout 16: Lucas Mantel, GHS vs. Cody Hader, CFHS