Bruins, Bengals down Braves in wrestling
The Flathead Braves wrestling team lost two tough Western AA dual matches to Helena Capital (38-33) and Helena High (49-31) at home on Saturday night.
In the first dual against Capital, the Braves got pins from Hunter Rush (98) and Cameron Mantel (152).
Daniel DeVall (138), Logan Wilson (170) and Payton Boyce (182) wrestled a full six minutes and won by decision for Flathead.
In the second dual, Flathead got off to a fast start. Wilson, who went 2-0 on the night, hit an ankle pick and went straight for a cradle to pin Helena High’s Caleb O’Brien in the first period.
“He’s been getting better every week,” Flathead coach Rich Vasquez said. “He starting to add to his whole repertoire of technique. It’s neat to see.”
The Braves would drop the next three matches, but won by forfeit in the following three weight classes to lead 24-15 early in the dual.
Miles Terry (120) picked up a decision for the Braves as he defeated Jake O’Malley 7-4.
Unfortunately, Flathead wouldn’t score another team point until the 152-pound weight class, where the freshman Mantel won his second match of the night — a 12-4 major decision over Colton Jeffery.
“He’s looking great,” Vasquez said of Mantel’s performance. “To see him getting back into form right before the tournament is good news for us.”
The Braves will look to polish their form one last time at next Saturday’s divisional tournament, which kicks off at 11 a.m. in Helena, before the state tournament in Billings Feb 14-15.
“The guys’ technique is there, they’re competing well. I just want to see them grow that intensity and compete next week and at state,” Vasquez said.
Helena Capital 38 Flathead 33
98 — Hunter Rush (F) pin Parker Delany 4:17; 106 — Josh Rolfe (C) pin Michael Schmeusser 3:56; 113 — Seth Schroeck (C) pin Lukas DeCock 1:29; 120 — Dyan Guzman (F) by forfeit; 126 — Shamus Bartness (C) dec. Gavyn Wilson 9-7; 132 — Jack Murphy (C) maj. dec. Easton Terry 9-1; 138 — Daniel DeVall (F) dec. A.J. McBroom 10-6; 145 — C.J. Snyder (C) dec. Cody Wood 12-5; 152 — Cameron Mantel (F) pin Kory Brouchard :59; 160 — Addison Boyer (C) pin Anthony Wright, 3:19; 170 — Logan Wilson (F) dec. Nick Argento 2-1; 182 — Payton Boyce (F) dec. David Peterson 6-4; 195 — Alan Schmitz (C) pin Cody Howe, 3:23; 220 — Dillon Koffman (C) maj. dec. Riley Leigh, 9-1; 285 — Axel Bladholm by forfeit
Helena High 49 Flathead 31
98 — Cody DeVall (F) by forfeit; 106 — Michael Schmeusser (F) by forfeit; 113 - Thorton Heppler (H) pin Lukas DeCock, 3:24; 120 — Miles Terry (F) dec. Jake O’Malley, 7-4; 126 — Landon Bailey (H) maj. dec. Dyan Guzman, 11-2; 132 — Hayden Schrull (H) pin. Easton Terry, :58; 138 — Brodie Long (H) pin Daniel DeVall, 4:46; 145 — Cooper Ryan (H) pin Cody Wood, 3:28; 152 — Cameron Mantel (F) maj. dec. Colton Jeffery, 12-4; 160 — Caiden Crawford (H) pin Anthony Wright, 3:50; 170 — Logan Wilson (F) pin Caleb O’brien, 1:43; 182 — Jeremy VanDyke (H) pin Payton Boyce, 2:32; 220 — Jammer Halverson (H) dec. Riley Leigh, 5-2; 285 — Axel Bladholm (F) by forfeit.