Wrestling: Spartans tame Wolfpack

After senior Tanner Stupack (170) started out Thursday night’s home dual with a fall in 1:16, the Glacier Wolfpack wrestling team dropped its next four matches to Missoula Sentinel and eventually lost 45-21.

Sentinel’s Cy Steele (182) won 12-9 over Issac Saenz before teammate Justin Harbison pinned Glacier’s A.J. Robinson to quickly take away the momentum from Stupack’s first-period pin.

Following a forfeit by Glacier in the 220-pound weight class, former state champion Jaydn Wilson pinned Zach Dennehy in 1:45 and the Spartans continued to grow their lead on the scoreboard.

Freshmen Justin Gibson stopped the Sentinel assault by pinning Isaac Renfro just before the first period buzzer in 1:54.

Following two more Spartan wins, the most exciting match of the night came in the form of 3-2 decision in favor of Glacier junior Cody Decker.

Decker, who placed sixth at last year’s state tournament, reversed Dylan Duffalo — fifth at state in 2013 — with 16 seconds left in the match.

“I didn’t look up at the clock, but I knew that reversal was going to win me the match, or at least an escape to go to overtime,” Decker said.

“I worked hard in the offseason to figure out what I have to do to beat guys like him. It definitely showed tonight. The hard work definitely paid off.”

The effort was praised by Glacier coach Ross Dankers.

“Decker always goes out there and guts matches out. He works hard the whole time. It was just a product of working hard in the wrestling room and having that confidence to win in the end,” Dankers said.

Unfortunately, Decker’s triumphant victory was short lived as Sentinel won four consecutive matches until the final draw of the night. Junior Jacob Ferkin pinned Gabe Peppenger with five seconds left in the second period to close out the dual.

Dankers continues to see improvement in his squad and is eager to move forward with the season as the state tournament draws near.

“Our boys came out and wrestled hard. We can see that we’re getting better every week, sticking to our system of wrestling,” Dankers said.

The Wolfpack will hit the road this weekend as they travel Spokane, Wash., to compete in the Spokane Invitational before dualing with Missoula Hellgate on Jan. 16.

Sentinel 45 vs. Glacier 21

98- Justin Gibson (G) pin Isaac Renfro 1:54; 106- open; 113- Jake Hegel (MST) dec. Sam Barber 4-1; 120- Jace Kovalicky (MST) maj. dec. Ryder Day 12-4; 126- Cody Decker (G) dec. Dylan Duffalo 3-2; 132- Dylan Schulte (MST) maj. dec. Quin Barber 12-1; 138- Jake Marr (MST) dec. Cody Settle 7-2; 145- Chandler Paulson (MST) pin Donavon Macura 2:36; 152- Chance Stack (MST) maj. dec. Arik Lybeck 13-5; 160- Jacob Ferkin (G) pin Gabe Peppenger 3:55; 170- Tanner Stupack (G) pin Trystan Clark 1:16; 182- Cy Steele (MST) dec. 12-9 Isaac Saenz; 195- Justin Harbison (MST) pin A.J. Robinson 1:18; 220- Colin Hammock (MST) won by forfeit; 285- Jaydn Wilson (MST) pin Zach Dennehy 1:45.

After senior Tanner Stupack (170) started out Thursday night’s home dual with a fall in 1:16, the Glacier Wolfpack wrestling team dropped its next four matches to Missoula Sentinel and eventually lost 45-21.

Sentinel’s Cy Steele (182) won 12-9 over Issac Saenz before teammate Justin Harbison pinned Glacier’s A.J. Robinson to quickly take away the momentum from Stupack’s first-period pin.

Following a forfeit by Glacier in the 220-pound weight class, former state champion Jaydn Wilson pinned Zach Dennehy in 1:45 and the Spartans continued to grow their lead on the scoreboard.

Freshmen Justin Gibson stopped the Sentinel assault by pinning Isaac Renfro just before the first period buzzer in 1:54.

Following two more Spartan wins, the most exciting match of the night came in the form of 3-2 decision in favor of Glacier junior Cody Decker.

Decker, who placed sixth at last year’s state tournament, reversed Dylan Duffalo — fifth at state in 2013 — with 16 seconds left in the match.

“I didn’t look up at the clock, but I knew that reversal was going to win me the match, or at least an escape to go to overtime,” Decker said.

“I worked hard in the offseason to figure out what I have to do to beat guys like him. It definitely showed tonight. The hard work definitely paid off.”

The effort was praised by Glacier coach Ross Dankers.

“Decker always goes out there and guts matches out. He works hard the whole time. It was just a product of working hard in the wrestling room and having that confidence to win in the end,” Dankers said.

Unfortunately, Decker’s triumphant victory was short lived as Sentinel won four consecutive matches until the final draw of the night. Junior Jacob Ferkin pinned Gabe Peppenger with five seconds left in the second period to close out the dual.

Dankers continues to see improvement in his squad and is eager to move forward with the season as the state tournament draws near.

“Our boys came out and wrestled hard. We can see that we’re getting better every week, sticking to our system of wrestling,” Dankers said.

The Wolfpack will hit the road this weekend as they travel Spokane, Wash., to compete in the Spokane Invitational before dualing with Missoula Hellgate on Jan. 16.

Sentinel 45 vs. Glacier 21

98- Justin Gibson (G) pin Isaac Renfro 1:54; 106- open; 113- Jake Hegel (MST) dec. Sam Barber 4-1; 120- Jace Kovalicky (MST) maj. dec. Ryder Day 12-4; 126- Cody Decker (G) dec. Dylan Duffalo 3-2; 132- Dylan Schulte (MST) maj. dec. Quin Barber 12-1; 138- Jake Marr (MST) dec. Cody Settle 7-2; 145- Chandler Paulson (MST) pin Donavon Macura 2:36; 152- Chance Stack (MST) maj. dec. Arik Lybeck 13-5; 160- Jacob Ferkin (G) pin Gabe Peppenger 3:55; 170- Tanner Stupack (G) pin Trystan Clark 1:16; 182- Cy Steele (MST) dec. 12-9 Isaac Saenz; 195- Justin Harbison (MST) pin A.J. Robinson 1:18; 220- Colin Hammock (MST) won by forfeit; 285- Jaydn Wilson (MST) pin Zach Dennehy 1:45.