Wrestling: Braves overpower Glacier
<p>Flathead's Axle Bladholm (top) tries to turn Glacier's Zach Dennehy Thursday night during the wrestling match a Flathead High School. Jan. 2, 2014 in Kalispell, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Columbia Falls 113-pound wrestler Mason Fetters (top) tries to pin Sandpoint's Scout Nash Thursday night during the wrestling match a Flathead High School. Jan. 2, 2014 in Kalispell, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Glacier’s</strong> Sam Barber (left) tries to pin Flathead’s Lucas DeCock Thursday night during the 113-pound wrestling match a Flathead High School. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Columbia Falls posted three impressive victories, Flathead won the match it treasured the most and Glacier picked up a solid victory over Sandpoint, Idaho, during seven hours of intense dual wrestling action Thursday at Flathead High School.
Columbia Falls, ranked fourth in the latest Class A poll, dropped Sandpoint, Idaho, 54-22 in its finale of the day after beating Class AA Flathead 41-39 and Glacier 39-27.
Flathead pulled away on the strength of key decisions by Cameron Mantel (152) and Anthony Wright (160) and second-period pins by Jay Harrison (145) and Logan Wilson (170) to topple Glacier 40-33 in the last dual of the evening.
Flathead and Glacier came into the crosstown matchup with three victories apiece in the series.
Earlier, Flathead fell to Sandpoint 46-42 and Columbia Falls 41-39.
Glacier pinned a 45-31 loss on Sandpoint and lost to Columbia Falls
39-27.
It was the first action for the Montana schools since the break for the holidays began on Dec. 21.
“It’s always tough after the break getting kids motivated and ready,” Columbia Falls coach Jessie Schaeffer said.
“Give credit to Flathead and Glacier. They were ready to step on the mats.”
Columbia Falls, Flathead and Glacier get little rest, however, with action set for today and Saturday in Ronan at the Western Montana Duals.
“We definitely have our work cut out for us,” Schaeffer said.
“I thought we were pretty flat. Once we get our legs back under us, we’ll be OK. I do have to give the kids credit. The found a way to get the job done.”
As expected the crosstown dual came down to a couple key matches.
“Tough loss,” Glacier coach Ross Dankers said.
“We might have strayed from our style a little bit with the environment, but other than that, the kids battled.”
Flathead’s wins at those middle weights proved to be the difference.
Glacier led 24-22 after a pin by Cody Settle at 138.
The Braves then took the next four to go on top 40-24 heading into the last two matches.
“A big one for us,” Flathead coach Rich Vasquez said.
“It’s one we wanted. It’s a good building block for us.”
Harrison’s victory was crucial and got the ball rolling for the Braves. The freshman, who was making his varsity debut, lost his two previous matches on the day.
Flathead was also without Mitch Stivers in the Glacier dual. The 182-pounder suffered a concussion in an 8-5 decision win against Columbia Falls.
Flathead 40, Glacier 33
220 — Riley Leigh, F, won by forfeit; 285 — Axel Bladholm, F, maj. dec. Zach Dennehy, 14-2; 98 — Justin Gibson, G, dec. Hunter Rush, 7-0; 106 — Michael Schmeusser, F, won by forfeit; 113 — Sam Barber, G, pinned Lukas DeCock, 1:52; 120 — Ryder Day, G, pinned Dyan Guzman, 4:52; 126 — Cody Decker, G, def. Gavyn Wilson, 1-0; 132 — Tyler Davis, F, pinned Quinn Barber, 3:01; 138 — Cody Settle, G, pinned Daniel DeVall, 1:48; 145 — Jay Harrison, F, pinned Donovan Macura, 3:13; 152 — Cameron Mantel, F, dec. Arik Lybeck, 8-7; 160 — Anthony Wright, F, dec. Javon Ferkin, 6-2; 170 — Logan Wilson, F, pinned Isaac Saenz, 2:38; 182 — Tanner Stupack, G, won by forfeit; 195 — A.J. Robinson, G, dec. Payton Boyce, 12-5.
Columbia Falls 54, Sandpoint, Idaho, 22
220 — Josh Travers, SP, pinned Mikey Dennison, 1:14; 285 — Spencer Ross, CF, pinned Talon Egbers, :54; 98 — Manny Guzman, CF, won by forfeit; 106 — Winfield West, CF, won by forfeit; 113 — Mason Fetters, CF, pinned Scout Nash, 3:01; 120 — Cameron Goodwin, CF, pinned Preston Bunty, 4:56; 126 — Shonn Roberts, CF, won by forfeit; 132 — Wyatt Green, CF, won by forfeit; 138 — Colton Gove, CF, dec. Mahonri Hunsaker, 12-7; 145 — Zayne Brunz, CF, dec. Lewis Dunton, 7-6; 152 — Tyler Prester, SP, dec. Bryan Shaffer, 5-2; 160 — Owen Stebbins, SP, maj. dec. Cody Walters, 9-0; 170 — Casey Randles, SP, pinned Jason Williams, 4:29; 182 — Ike Schweikert, CF, pinned Tyler Brown, 1:28; 195 — Jake Williams, SP, dec. Andrew Burgess, 5-2.
Sandpoint, Idaho, 46, Flathead 42
182 — Mitchell Stivers, F, pinned Tyler Brown, 3:48; 195 — Jake Williams, SP, pinned Cody Howe, 1:03; 220 — Josh Travers, SP, maj. dec. Riley Leigh, 10-0; 285 — Axel Bladholm, F, pinned Talon Egbers, 2:41; 98 — Hunter Rush, F, won by forfeit; 106 — Michael Schmeusser, F, won by forfeit; 113 — Scout Nash, SP, pinned Lukas DeCock, 2:26; 120 — Dyan Guzman, F, pinned Preston Bunty, 1:45; 126 — Gavyn Wilson, F, won by forfeit; 132 — Tyler Davis, F, won by forfeit; 138 — Mahonri Hunsaker, SP, pinned Daniel DeVall, 4:43; 145 — Lewis Dunton, SP, pinned Jay Harrison, 3:26; 152 — Tyler Prester, SP, pinned Clay Skonard, 1:47; 160 — Owen Stebbins, SP, pinned Kaleb Dickson, 1:27; 170 — Casey Randles, SP, pinned Matt Gash-Gilder, 1:34.
Columbia Falls 41, Flathead 39
195 — Payton Boyce, F, pinned Andrew Burgess, 4:56; 220 — Riley Leigh, F, pinned Mikey Dennison, 1:21; 285 — Axel Bladholm, F, won by default over Spencer Ross; 98 — Hunter Rush, F, pinned Manny Guzman, :52; 106 — Winfield West, CF, dec. Michael Schmeusser, 12-5; 113 — Mason Fetters, CF, pinned Lukas DeCock, 1:55; 120 — Dyan Guzman, F, pinned Cameron Goodwin, 1:52; 126 — Shonn Roberts, CF, won by forfeit; 132 — Tyler Davis, F, pinned Wyatt Green, 1:01; 138 — Colton Gove, CF, pinned Daniel DeVall, 1:21; 145 — Zayne Brunz, CF, maj. dec. Jay Harrison 18-5; 152 — Bryan Shaffer, CF, pinned Cameron Mantel, 3:22; 160 — Cody Walters, CF, pinned Anthony Wright, 1:53; 170 — Jason Williams, CF, maj. dec. Matt Gash-Gilder, 10-2; 182 — Mitch Stivers, F, dec. Ike Schweikert, 8-5.
Columbia Falls 39, Glacier 27
98 — Justin Gibson, G, pinned Manny Guzman, :55; 106 — Winfield West, CF, won by forfeit; 113 — Mason Fetters, CF, dec. Brandon Olson, 6-0; 120 — Ryder Day, G, pinned Cameron Goodwin, :39; 126 — Shonn Roberts, CF, dec. Cody Decker, 8-2; 132 — Quinn Barber, G, dec. Wyatt Green, 7-2; 138 — Colton Gove, CF, pinned Cody Settle, :40; 145 — Zayne Brunz, CF, pinned Donovan Macura, 3:22; 152 — Bryan Shaffer, CF, dec. Arik Lybeck, 7-3; 160 — Cody Walters, CF, dec. Jacob Ferkin, 1-0; 170 — Jason Williams, CF, dec. Isaac Saenz, 6-4; 182 — A.J. Robinsonb, G, dec. Andrew Bdurgess, 5-3; 195 — Tanner Stupack, G, pinned Ike Schweikert, 2:36; 220 — Mikey Dennison, CF, won by forfeit; 285 — Zach Dennehy, G, dec. Spencer Ross, 10-4
Glacier 45, Sandpoint, Idaho, 31
98 — Justin Gibson, G, won by forfeit; 106 — Open; 113 — Scout Nash, SP, dec. Sam Barber, 6-1; 120 — Ryder Day, G. pinned Preston Bunty, 1:33; 126 — Cody Decker, G, won by forfeit; 132 — Quinn Barber, G, won by forfeit; 138 — Mahonri Hunsaker, SP, pinned Cody Settle, 3:01; 145 — Lewis Dunton, SP, maj. dec. Donovan Macura, 13-2; 152 — Arik Lybeck, G, pinned Tyler Prester, 3:02; 160 — Jacob Ferkin, G, dec. Owen Stebbins, 6-4; 170 — Casey Randles, SP, pinned Isaac Saenz, 2:25; 182 — Tanner Stupack, G, pinned Tyler Brown, 4:51; 195 — Jake Williams, SP, pinned A.J. Robinson, 3:24; 220 — Josh Travers, SP, won by forfeit; 285 — Zach Dennehy, G, pinned Talon Egbers, :51.