Wrestling: Wolfpack splits with Big Sky, Hellgate

Glacier wrestling coach Ross Dankers said his Wolfpack lost a Western AA wrestling dual at Missoula Big Sky last year by a 72-6 score.

Or, something close to that.

Regardless, it wasn’t close.

Well, a lot has changed since then.

Big Sky had to rally with four wins in the last six matches to pull out a tough 35-24 victory at Glacier on Thursday evening.

“They wrestled really hard,” Dankers said of this team.

“It was a fun night for them to see that all their hard work is paying off and that they are closing the gap (on Big Sky).”

The dual started with a pin by Eli Horn at 285. Justin Gibson followed with another pin at 103.

“An awesome way to start,” Dankers said.

“That was a great momentum builder.”

Ryder Day (126), Cody Decker (138), Quinn Barber (152) and Isaac Sanez (182) won by decisions for Glacier. That gave the Wolfpack six wins. Big Sky totaled seven.

“They’re tough on top (upper weights),” Dankers said of Big Sky.

“They pulled away at the end there. I think a few of those matches are winnable down the road.”

Glacier also had an outing with Missoula Hellgate. The Wolfpack dominated that Western AA action, winning 63-6. Posting pins for the Wolfpack in that one were Day, Cody Settle (145), Barber, Sanez and Horn.

Glacier is back on the mat tonight at 7 versus Class A Libby.

Glacier 63, Missoula Hellgate 6

103 — Kyle Mulcahy, G, won by forfeit; 113 — Justin Gibson, G, won by forfeit; 120 — Billy Barrett, G, won by forfeit; 126 — Ryder Day, G, pinned Asa Hoerner, 1:00; 132 — Sam Barber, G, dec. Dylan Lewis, 6-4; 138 — Cody Decker, G, dec. Shawn Olson, 7-3; 145 — Cody Settle, G, pinned Derek Baker, 2:39; 152 — Quinn Barber, G, pinned Kody Keenan, 5:40; 160 — Arik Lybeck, G, dec. Brady Needles, 7-4; 170 — Isaac Sanez, G, pinned Reece Robinson, 2:51; 182 — Cody Haugen, MH, pinned Bryce Franklin, 2:47; 205 — Kellen Bemis, G, won by forfeit; 285 — Eli Horn, G, pinned Elisha Ponce, 1:26.

Missoula Big Sky 35, Glacier 24

103 — Justin Gibson, G, pinned Gabe Rose, :21; 113 — Demo Koures, MBS, pinned Billy Barrett, :24; 120 — Wyatt Gordon, MBS, won by forfeit; 126 — Ryder Day, G, dec. Kaden Lahti, 11-4; 132 — Kj Swanson, MBS, dec. Sam Barber, 6-4; 138 — Cody Decker, G, dec. Josh Brunner, 4-1; 145 — Logan McGreevey, MBS, tech. fall Cody Settle, 17-1; 152 — Quinn Barber, G, dec. Jon Andres, 4-0; 160 — Braxten Wilcox, MBS, dec. Arik Lybeck, 5-0; 170 — Luke Entzel, MBS, pinned Jake Ferkin, 2:28; 182 — Isaac Sanez, G, dec. Jake Riekena, 4-0; 205 — Conner Gordon, MBS, pinned Kellen Bemis, 1:55; 285 — Eli Horn, G, pinned Gabe Miller, 4:53.