AA wrestling: Glacier looks to even series with Flathead
After winning its second straight crosstown dual last season, the Glacier wrestling squad looks to even the all-time series against Flathead at three wins apiece when it hosts the annual contest at 7 p.m. tonight.
While the defending state champs haven’t performed at the same level this season, the Wolfpack enters the dual with six wrestlers ranked among the state’s best this season. Dawson Day (2nd, 189 pounds), Jackson Barber (2nd, 160), Kaleb Mitchell (2nd, 140), Lucas Mantel (3rd, 135), Cody Decker (3rd, 119) and Alek Mitchell (4th, 145) were all in the initial rankings that came out last week.
“There’s going to be some emotion out there,” Glacier coach Mark Fischer said. “Hopefully we can take advantage of that. A lot of these kids are being leaders for the first time out here. We’re putting a lot of pressure on them to step up and lead. Hopefully we see these kids come together as a team.”
Despite having a wealth of talent on its squad, Glacier will likely go into tonight’s matchup as the underdogs. Flathead, which has gone 9-6 in duals this season, is able to fill every weight class and will gain a handful of points on forfeits alone. The Wolfpack lost a dual to Libby on Tuesday, dropping 12 points to the Greenchain by not being able to field a wrestler at the lower classes.
“What we have to do is we can’t make any mistakes, like we did (against Libby), get caught on our back or anything,” Fischer said.
“We have to be the ones that are winning the scrambles. Our kids have to be hungry. We’ve got to be out there ready to get after it. We just have that attitude to get after it and we’ll be fine.”
Flathead enters the match after a blowout victory over Hellgate on Tuesday. Jake Egley is the only Brave ranked in the initial polls, coming in as the second-ranked 171-pounder in the state.
Braves coach Scot Davis said Flathead will have to come out strong to negate the advantage Glacier will have wrestling at home.
“They still have some real outstanding individuals in their lineup,” Flathead coach Scot Davis said of the Glacier team.
“I think having won a state championship, it kind of brings a confidence to your team. I think that’s something we have to try to get at right away and change the feeling in the meet. I think momentum does that. Hopefully we can create some.”
As a young team trying to re-establish its storied history, the Braves will be looking to make their mark against the top dogs from last season.
“We’ve been talking about it,” Davis said. “I think we’re getting better. A meet like tomorrow is a place to show where we’re at against a proven quality team.”
With the meet standing as the last contest for either team before a two-week break, a win in the dual could serve as motivation over the holidays.
“We need to try to have the best showing we can,” Davis said. “This is the featured meet in Kalispell. I think just the pride and respect of the community is something to wrestle for.
“I hope there’s a great turnout for the meet. I think the kids on both teams deserve that. This is the feature match for our town and I hope people come support that.”