AA state wrestling preview: Wolfpack, Braves ready for season to end a higher note

Back together under one roof and glad for it.

Montana's three state wrestling meets were split up last year after a tornado damaged Billings' MetraPark in summer of 2010.

The Metra had hosted the All Class Wrestling Tournament every year since 1988, but the building couldn't be repaired in time for the 2011 tournament, so three other venues came forward - Class AA was in Great Falls, Class A moved to Butte and Class B-C was in Hamilton.

The local coaches couldn't be happier to see the whole thing together this weekend.

"It's great. It's good for the sport for all the classes to be together. It makes for a fan-friendly environment," said Flathead coach Matt Owen.

Being split apart "was a good thing for us last year with our age and maturity level. The added pressure of being in the Metra wasn't there," said Glacier coach Mark Fischer.

The Wolfpack had one state champion (Boyce Ballard) and placed second to Bozeman last year.

But this year is a different story. The No. 2-ranked Wolfpack finished the regular season with a perfect 17-0 dual meet record and spent part of the season in the top spot of the Class AA coaches poll.

"This year, we're a lot more mature as a group. We're more ready for (the Metra)," he said.

"I think the brackets look really good. We're sitting in a good place," Fischer said.

"But I think Skyview and Great Falls are too. It's just going to be whoever is the best team on that particular day," he added.

The Wolfpack is more than ready, though, Fischer said.

So ready that they took over Wednesday's final practice.

"They know we trust them. There are 20 kids who are in the wrestling room right now, sweating, working on the things they need to work on," he said.

"The kids are relaxed. They're confident. They know they've done everything they can possibly do. We've done everything. We haven't lost a lot of sleep. We know we've put in so much time as a team," he said

"The more of that you do, the better your luck is," Fischer said.

"We're set up pretty well to do some good things over there. We ended up really nice on the brackets," Owen said.

The set-up obviously doesn't determine outcome, but "at least it gives us a good opportunity," he added.

"I'm looking for (Flathead) to peak at the right time. If everybody goes out there and wrestles to their potential, we'll be coming out of the weekend happy," Owen said.

"If we get some placers and push a couple kids into the finals, that would be awesome," he added.

The Braves are enjoying a rare bout of good health right now. Everyone is back from colds, illness and injury, the coach said.

"There's going to be a lot of good things at the state tournament to watch this year. It will be a great showcase from all the different classes," Fischer said.

Of interest this weekend - although it doesn't involve any local wrestlers - are the four athletes vying to become four-time state champions.

There have been only 19 in the state's history - and never have there been four in the same evening.

They are Cole Mendenhall, Great Falls High, Ben Stroh, Chinook, Luke Zeiger of Glasgow and Luke Schlosser of Conrad.

Stroh is at 189 and Schlosser at 119.

Mendenhall and Zeiger are both at 140 pounds - and with the Class AA mats situated in the middle of the floor this year, those two could be wrestling side-by-side on championship night.

"(Having as many as four) is pretty rare. That's always fun to see. We'll see if they can get it done," Owen said.

On a local note, Larry Francis of Flathead and Kyle Leir of Libby are both shooting for their third trip to the finals.

Leir placed fifth as a freshman, second as a junior and was the champion at 140-pounds last year.

Francis has been second twice - as a freshman and as a junior. He was third as a sophomore.

The tournament begins at 10 a.m. today with the Parade of Champions. Saturday's start time is 9 a.m. with the finals moved from 6 p.m. to 4 p.m.

"I like that," Fischer said. "(Waiting around) is a nerve-wracking experience for all those kids," he said.

"That's actually really nice," Owen agreed.

"We will be able to get the kids fed and get on the road."