WRESTLING: Columbia Falls wins 4th straight divisional championship

WHITEFISH — Three Polson wrestlers won individual titles but it was Columbia Falls that ran away with the team championship at the Western A divisional tournament on Saturday afternoon.

The Mat Cats claimed their fourth straight title with 275.5 points, nearly 50 more than their closest competitor.

“The whole team came to wrestle and my hat’s off to them,” Columbia Falls coach Jessie Schaeffer said. “They came to compete and that’s what we were looking for out of them this weekend.”

Polson finished second with 226 points, but the Pirates rebounded from a rocky day one with a bevy of top finishes. Seven Pirates finished first or second and nearly every high seed maintained that position for next week’s state tournament.

“We had a really good day today,” Polson coach Bob Owen said. “I think we set the table pretty well for ourselves for state. I like where we’re at.”

The top eight wrestlers in each weight class from the divisional advance to the state tournament in Billings. The 16-grappler state field is seeded based on individual finishes at Saturday’s Western and Eastern A tournaments.

Not everything on Saturday went according to plan for the Pirates, however, most notably at 145 pounds where sophomore Parker Adler, ranked third in the state, was pinned in just over one minute by Columbia Falls’ Mason Fetters.

“We lost to (Adler) earlier in the season,” Schaeffer said. “(Fetters) has had a couple great weeks of practice and you’ve got to like it when they come out victorious and jacked with the crowd behind them.”

“He got caught,” Owen said of Adler’s surprising early fall. “I like his chances if he hadn’t gotten caught there in the first period.”

The Mat Cats suffered a surprising loss of their own in the 138 pound final, where number one ranked Kaleb Gravelin was out-pointed 5-2 by Dillon sophomore Brent Tezak in a match that came down to the final 30 seconds.

The run on upsets began at 103 pounds, where top-ranked Polson freshman R.J. Pierre was on the wrong side of a decision against his teammate, Mateo Quinones.

“Those two battle each other in the room every day so it’s kind of tough,” Owen said of the 103-pound final.

“It didn’t hurt anything for us, both of them are great kids and they’re both going to compete well. Pierre will be right in the mix (at state), I don’t doubt that at all.”

Quinones, Bridger Wenzel (120) and Cameron Brown (132) were the Pirates’ three individual champions. Wenzel earned the Jug Beck quick pin award at the divisional after earning all three of his victories by fall. The freshman entered the event ranked number two in the state.

“(Wenzel)’s one of the better freshmen that we’ve had in the program for a long time,” Owen said. “That’s a special award.”

Brown, ranked third, pinned Columbia Falls’ Thunder Morales at 3:56 to win his title.

In the last match of the day, Whitefish senior Steven Quimby won a riveting heavyweight final against Corvallis’ Luke Channer. Quimby trailed 5-2 on points after the first period but scrapped his way back even in the second and ultimately prevailed, 10-7.

In a match earlier this season, Channer pinned Quimby in the first period.

“That was awesome,” Whitefish coach Ryan Boyle said of Quimby’s win.

“He just stayed in position, stayed in the right spot and he wrestled a really smart match. We’ve been telling him all year, ‘just wrestle smart, don’t get crazy’.”

Whitefish finished eighth in the team standings with 100 points. The Bulldogs’ Travis Catina lost a heartbreaking third-place match at 205, succumbing to a Shawn Cassidy pin with one minute remaining. Catina was ahead on points at the time.

Divisional champion Columbia Falls saw three other wrestlers, in addition to Gravelin at 138, finish in second place — Winfield West (113), Hunter Peterson (132) and Storm Kemppainen (170). Kemppainen lost in overtime, 10-6, after tying the match in the final second of regulation.

Polson’s Mike Corrigan also finished second, losing on points to Hamilton’s Justin Hinson at 205.

WESTERN A DIVISIONAL

Saturday

Whitefish High School

Team Scores—Columbia Falls 275.5, Polson 226, Hamilton 208.5, Stevensville 146.5, Dillon 144.5, Corvallis 143.5, Frenchtown 126, Whitefish 100, Butte Central 24.

Championship

103— Mateo Quinones, Pol, dec. Rene Pierre, Pol, 6-2.

113— Michael Golden, Ham, dec. Winfield West, CF, 4-2 (SV-1).

120— Bridger Wenzel, Pol, p. Owen Indreland, Ftown, 3:00.

126— Koltin Starkel, Dill, p. Thunder Morales, Pol, 3:54.

132— Cameron Brown, Pol, dec. Hunter Peterson, CF, 7-1.

138— Brent Tezak, Dill, dec. Kaleb Gravelin, CF, 5-2.

145— Mason Fetters, CF, p. Parker Adler, Pol, 1:04.

152— Jon Blanchard, Ftown, dec. Steven Scheffer, Ham, 5-3.

160— Patrick Griffin, Dill, dec. Manny Rivera, Ham, 7-1.

170— Ben Crews, Stevi, dec. Storm Kemppainen, CF, 10-6 (SV-1).

182— Jerry Cassidy, Stevi, dec. Mason Griffin, Stevi, 6-4 (SV-1).

205— Justin Hinson, Ham, dec. Mike Corrigan, Pol, 6-4.

285— Steven Quimby, WF, dec. Luke Channer, Corv, 10-7.

Third Place

103— Austin Nelson, CF, p. Carter Brown, Corv, 0:39.

113— Dante Venema, Corv, p. Elliot Vanosdell, Stevi, 4:18.

120— Adrian Garcia, Ham, m.dec. Aden Role, CF, 9-0.

126— Ben Windauer, CF, p. Clay Fisher, BtC, 0:44.

132— Kwin Stoddard, Dill, m.dec. Brandon Thomas, CF, 13-3.

138— Cody Warner, Ftown, dec. James Buckley, WF, 9-3.

145— Bridger Nelson, Dill, dec. Bryce Williams, Ftown, 3-2.

152— Kye McCollaum, Corv, dec. Colton Cote, Pol, 10-7.

160— Koby Garcia, Pol, dec. Colten McPhee, CF, 10-6.

170— Konrad Zinke, WF, p. Cole Jones, Ftown, 1:39.

182— Kyle Anderson, Ham, p. Miguel Garate, CF, 2:28.

205— Shawn Cassidy, Stevi, p. Travis Catina, WF, 5:00.

285— Garret Hunt, Corv, p. Nick Marquardt, Pol, 1:39.

Fifth Place

103— Benji Opat, Corv, p. Luke Huffaker, Dill, 4:14.

113— Taisuke Matsuo, WF, p. Kelson Bauman, Ftown, 4:49.

120— Jesse Welling, Ftown, p. Joe Kidd, Dill, 0:37.

126— Dillon Thorsteinson, WF, p. Caden Brown, Ham, 1:27.

132— Steven Banks, Ham, p. Will Wissenbach, Corv, 2:04.

138— Jaben Wenzel, Pol, p. Drew Schmitt, Corv, 4:01.

145— Kris Anderson, Ham, m.dec. Dustin Copeland, Ham, 17-5.

152— Colton Sweeney, CF, p. Braden Loveless, Stevi, 3:49.

160— Troy Meyer, CF, dec. Caleb Edens, Stevi, 4-2.

170— Aaron Swafford, Ham, dec. Colter Stillwagon, BtC, 12-5.

182— Hunter Barron, Corv, p. Dale Meyer, CF, 0:28.

205— Jakob Freeman, CF, p. Behner Kordale, Stevi, 0:20.

285— Kyler Koski, CF, p. Justin Murray, Ham, 4:40.

Seventh Place

103— Roy Russell, BtC, dec. Zach Blanchard, Ftown, 9-2.

120— Eli Taylor, WF, p. Sidney Cooke, WF, 4:17.

126— Aaron Christensen, Corv, p. Jesse Shaske, Ftown, 2:37.

132— Sam Peterson, Dill, m.dec. Robert Bertelsen, WF, 16-8.

138— Nathan Hader, CF, p. James Bess, Ham, 2:46.

145— Jackson Stephens, Corv, m.dec. Daylon Moore, Corv, 14-5.

152— Hyme Anderson, Ham, p. Hunter Allen, Ftown, 2:17.

160— Christian Ellis, Ham, p. Malik Heydon, WF, 4:07.

170— Chase Krone, Stevi, dec. Michael Edwards, Ftown, 5-2.

182— Levi Downard, Ftown, p. Noah Humphrey, Pol, 1:26.

205— Matt Stafford, Dill, p. Harley Wise, Corv, 0:12.

Semifinals

103—Rene Pierre, Pol, T.fall Luke Huffaker, Dill, 4:41 (21-5); Mateo Quinones, Pol, p. Austin Nelson, CF, 2:37.

113—Winfield West, CF, p. Kelson Bauman, Ftown, 2:49; Michael Golden, Ham, p. Elliot Vanosdell, Stevi, 3:26.

120—Bridger Wenzel, Pol, p. Adrian Garcia, Ham, 1:21; Owen Indreland, Ftown, p. Aden Role, CF, 3:34.

126—Koltin Starkel, Dill, p. Clay Fisher, BtC, 1:08; Thunder Morales, Pol, dec. Ben Windauer, CF, 7-5.

132—Cameron Brown, Pol, m.dec. Kwin Stoddard, Dill, 11-3; Hunter Peterson, CF, dec. Steven Banks, Ham, 4-2 (SV-1).

138—Kaleb Gravelin, CF, dec. Cody Warner, Ftown, 5-0; Brent Tezak, Dill, p. James Buckley, WF, 2:55.

145—Parker Adler, Pol, p. Kris Anderson, Ham, 0:40; Mason Fetters, CF, m.dec. Bridger Nelson, Dill, 9-0.

152—Jon Blanchard, Ftown, p. Kye McCollaum, Corv, 1:20; Steven Scheffer, Ham, p. Colton Cote, Pol, 5:15.

160—Patrick Griffin, Dill, dec. Colten McPhee, CF, 8-2; Manny Rivera, Ham, p. Troy Meyer, CF, 2:15.

170—Ben Crews, Stevi, dec. Cole Jones, Ftown, 9-2; Storm Kemppainen, CF, dec. Konrad Zinke, WF, 9-8.

182—Mason Griffin, Stevi, p. Kyle Anderson, Ham, 1:20; Jerry Cassidy, Stevi, p. Miguel Garate, CF, 3:24.

205—Justin Hinson, Ham, p. Jakob Freeman, CF, 5:18; Mike Corrigan, Pol, p. Travis Catina, WF, 1:19.

285—Luke Channer, Corv, p. Kyler Koski, CF, 0:18; Steven Quimby, WF, dec. Garret Hunt, Corv, 4-3.

Consolation Semifinals

103—Carter Brown, Corv, T.fall Luke Huffaker, Dill, 2:40 (15-0); Austin Nelson, CF, p. Benji Opat, Corv, 4:12.

113—Dante Venema, Corv, T.fall Kelson Bauman, Ftown, 4:22 (18-1); Elliot Vanosdell, Stevi, m.dec. Taisuke Matsuo, WF, 18-8.

120—Adrian Garcia, Ham, p. Joe Kidd, Dill, 2:27; Aden Role, CF, dec. Jesse Welling, Ftown, 5-2.

126—Clay Fisher, BtC, m.dec. Caden Brown, Ham, 17-3; Ben Windauer, CF, p. Dillon Thorsteinson, WF, 2:30.

132—Kwin Stoddard, Dill, m.dec. Will Wissenbach, Corv, 14-3; Brandon Thomas, CF, dec. Steven Banks, Ham, 5-2.

138—Cody Warner, Ftown, dec. Jaben Wenzel, Pol, 4-2; James Buckley, WF, m.dec. Drew Schmitt, Corv, 16-5.

145—Bryce Williams, Ftown, dec. Kris Anderson, Ham, 8-2; Bridger Nelson, Dill, p. Dustin Copeland, Ham, 0:22.

152—Kye McCollaum, Corv, p. Braden Loveless, Stevi, 1:36; Colton Cote, Pol, p. Colton Sweeney, CF, 4:08.

160—Colten McPhee, CF, p. Caleb Edens, Stevi, 1:39; Koby Garcia, Pol, dec. Troy Meyer, CF, 4-2.

170—Cole Jones, Ftown, p. Aaron Swafford, Ham, 0:25; Konrad Zinke, WF, p. Colter Stillwagon, BtC, 1:56.

182—Kyle Anderson, Ham, p. Hunter Barron, Corv, 4:11; Miguel Garate, CF, p. Dale Meyer, CF, 4:19.

205—Shawn Cassidy, Stevi, p. Jakob Freeman, CF, 2:36; Travis Catina, WF, dec. Behner Kordale, Stevi, 8-1.

285—Nick Marquardt, Pol, dec. Kyler Koski, CF, 4-2; Garret Hunt, Corv, p. Justin Murray, Ham, 0:49.

Consolation Third Round

103—Carter Brown, Corv, dec. Roy Russell, BtC, 5-4; Benji Opat, Corv, T.fall Zach Blanchard, Ftown, 5:00 (16-0).

113—Dante Venema, Corv, dec. Jimmy Schmitt, Corv, 5-2.

120—Joe Kidd, Dill, p. Sidney Cooke, WF, 2:54; Jesse Welling, Ftown, p. Eli Taylor, WF, 0:48.

126—Caden Brown, Ham, p. Jesse Shaske, Ftown, 4:29; Dillon Thorsteinson, WF, p. Aaron Christensen, Corv, 0:45.

132—Will Wissenbach, Corv, p. Sam Peterson, Dill, 3:39; Brandon Thomas, CF, p. Robert Bertelsen, WF, 1:51.

138—Jaben Wenzel, Pol, p. Nathan Hader, CF, 0:20; Drew Schmitt, Corv, p. James Bess, Ham, 2:28.

145—Bryce Williams, Ftown, p. Jackson Stephens, Corv, 0:48; Dustin Copeland, Ham, p. Daylon Moore, Corv, 2:02.

152—Braden Loveless, Stevi, m.dec. Hunter Allen, Ftown, 8-0; Colton Sweeney, CF, T.fall Hyme Anderson, Ham, 3:49 (16-0).

160—Caleb Edens, Stevi, p. Malik Heydon, WF, 2:29; Koby Garcia, Pol, p. Christian Ellis, Ham, 2:16.

170—Aaron Swafford, Ham, p. Chase Krone, Stevi, 3:56; Colter Stillwagon, BtC, p. Michael Edwards, Ftown, 2:20.

182—Hunter Barron, Corv, dec. Levi Downard, Ftown, 10-4; Dale Meyer, CF, p. Noah Humphrey, Pol, 1:55.

205—Shawn Cassidy, Stevi, p. Matt Stafford, Dill, 3:22; Behner Kordale, Stevi, p. Harley Wise, Corv, 0:46.

285—Justin Murray, Ham, p. Woods Tyler, Stevi, 0:14.

Consolation Second Round

120—Joe Kidd, Dill, dec. Robert Walker, Stevi, 6-5.; Jesse Welling, Ftown, p. Randon Weidow, Corv, 0:39.

132—Sam Peterson, Dill, p. Isaac Watts, WF, 1:44.; Will Wissenbach, Corv, p. Jarrod Farrier, Pol, 4:23.; Brandon Thomas, CF, p. Austin Neives, BtC, 0:57.; Robert Bertelsen, WF, p. Dawson Jones, Ftown, 1:38.

138—Nathan Hader, CF, p. Tyler Johnson, Ham, 3:30.; Jaben Wenzel, Pol, p. Tyler Steadman, Dill, 0:51.; Drew Schmitt, Corv, p. Ammon Simmons, Stevi, 2:21.; James Bess, Ham, dec. Johnathon Moore, Pol, 13-8.

145—Bryce Williams, Ftown, dec. Brooks Krause, WF, 10-3.; Dustin Copeland, Ham, dec. Isaac Maxfield, Stevi, 16-9.

152—Colton Sweeney, CF, p. Alexandre Mazzonetto, WF, 1:40.

160—Caleb Edens, Stevi, p. Mikkel Olesen, Ftown, 0:49.; Christian Ellis, Ham, p. Ewalt Colton, Corv, 4:24.

170—Chase Krone, Stevi, p. Aiden Eisenbarth, WF, 1:43.

182—Levi Downard, Ftown, won by forfeit over Triston Knopp, WF.

205—Shawn Cassidy, Stevi, p. Ryan Burland, Pol, 0:34.