AA state wrestling: Rough first day for Braves, Wolfpack
BILLINGS — Cody DeVall of Flathead and Justin Gibson of Glacier are the only two local AA wrestlers left in the championship bracket after Friday’s competition at the MHSA All-Class State Tournament.
If all goes as planned for the two freshmen, a win in the semifinals would pit them against each other in a crosstown matchup for the state title at 98 pounds.
DeVall upset the top seed on his side of the bracket with an amazing 7-5 overtime win over Nick Kunz of Helena Capital in the quarterfinals to reach the semis in his first ever state tournament appearance.
DeVall was nearly pinned in the first period of the match after Kunz took him down and maneuvered an arm-bar hold. DeVall was on his back for a majority of the first two minutes as Kunz had a 5-0 lead after one period.
Kunz was in the top position to start the second period and would stay there without scoring a point, riding DeVall out for the entire period.
As soon as the second buzzer sounded, Flathead coach Rich Vasquez instructed DeVall to choose the neutral position for the final round. It paid off as DeVall hit an underarm spin within the first 10 seconds of the period and sent Kunz to his back. He held Kunz in the near-fall position for the rest of the 1:50, almost pinning Kunz as he tied the match at five and sending it into overtime.
“I knew he wasn’t going anywhere,” DeVall said. “I heard him tell his coach he couldn’t move.”
In the extra period, the two grappler’s traded shot attempts before DeVall hit a single leg, which he elevated as he tripped Kunz for a takedown and the win with 14 seconds left in overtime.
“[Heading into overtime] my mindset was that I was going to win,” DeVall said of the overtime period. “I wasn’t going to lose that match.”
The Flathead cheering section erupted as DeVall celebrated the triumphant victory.
On the other side of the 98-pound bracket, Flathead Valley wrestling fans enjoyed a crosstown matchup in Billings. Glacier’s Gibson squared off against Flathead’s other 98-pound contestant, Hunter Rush.
Rush wasn’t as successful as his teammate as Gibson dominated the matchup for the entire six-minute match.
Gibson lead 2-0 after the first period, but widened the gap on Rush with a number of tilts and cradles leading to a 9-1 major decision and sending the Wolfpack freshman into the semifinals.
“He came out and wrestled the same style he has been all year,” Glacier coach Ross Dankers said. “He’s been wrestling really well here.”
Staying Alive: Flathead still has four wrestlers with their eyes on the medal rounds. Rush, Cameron Mantel (152), Payton Boyce (182) and Axel Bladholm (285) all won their wrestle-back matches and are in the consolation quarterfinals. One more win and they’ll be guaranteed at least sixth place and a spot on the podium.
Glacier also has four wrestlers in the consolation bracket including two that will wrestle each other in the consolation quarterfinals. Cody Decker and Ryder Day will face off in the 126-pound consolation bracket with the loser’s season coming to an end.
Joining them in the consolation rounds are teammates Tanner Stupack (170) and Zach Dennehy (285).
Both Glacier and Flathead are out of contention for a team medal. Flathead is in 11th place with 47.5 points, just a half point behind the 10th place Wolfpack.
Great Falls High is leading the field after the first day with 166 points. Bozeman is in second with 116.
The consolation quarterfinals and championship semifinals begin today at 9 a.m.