WRESTLING: Big Sky bests Braves, Eureka edges Libby
<p>Flathead's Payton Hume puts Missoula Big Sky's Wyatt Shinn in a cradle hold before pinning him in the first period during their 138-pount match at the dual at Flathead. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Missoula Big Sky soared to a slew of wins at the lower weights to edge Flathead 29-26 in a Class AA wrestling dual on Tuesday night.
The sixth-ranked Eagles picked up pins or major decisions in three matches and swept all but one class under 132 pounds to pull away with a close victory over the Braves.
Top-ranked Braves 120-pounder Trae Vasquez won the marquee match of the night, earning a 6-4 decision against fourth-ranked Wyatt Gordon in dominant fashion. Flathead’s Logan Wilson, the third-ranked wrestler at 182, topped sixth-ranked Jake Riekena, 6-1. Big Sky’s Braxten Wilcox, ranked fourth at 160, earned a major decision over fifth-ranked Tucker Nadeau in the only other ranked matchup of the night.
Flathead’s Payton Hume, ranked fourth at 145, dropped down in weight to pick up a pin, finishing his match in 57 seconds for the fastest decision of the night. Braves senior Payton Boyce, ranked fourth at 205, earned a pin in 4:57.
The Braves caught up in the higher weights, winning the top four classes, but fell just short of a victory.
“That’s probably our worst performance of the year,” Flathead coach Rich Vasquez said.
“We had some good performances by certain guys, but that’s my fault. I didn’t have the guys prepared the way they should’ve been. We’ll be better going forward.”
The Braves are back on the mat this weekend at the Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula.
Big Sky 29, Flathead 26
103—Dayton Evans, BS, p. Dominic Battello, 3:58. 113—Dayne Martin, BS, dec. Cody Devall, 5-3. 120—Trae Vasquez, F, dec. Wyatt Gordon 6-4. 126—Kyle Gordon, BS, dec. Austin Gabbert 10-3. 132—Kaden Lahti, BS, dec. Kenyon Fretwell, 6-3. 138—Payton Hume, F, p. Wyatt Shinn, :57. 145—Logan McGreevey, BS, p. Caleb Sherril, 5:56. 152—KJ Swanson, BS, maj. dec. Taylor Morton, 9-0. 160—Braxten Wilcox, BS, maj. dec. Tucker Nadeau, 11-2. 170—Matt Gash-Gilder, F, dec. Brenden Gallaghar, 9-4. 182—Logan Wilson, F, dec. Jake Riekena, 6-1. 205—Payton Boyce, F, p. Shane Morgan, 4:57. 285—Cody Howe, F, p. Bo Hann, 3:14.
Eureka 39, Libby 28
LIBBY — Eureka’s James Dunn and Jarrett Pecora earned victories on the mat as a skeleton crew beat Libby in a dual thanks to victories in five open weights.
Dunn earned a decision in his match and Pecora pinned his opponent at the end of the first period to earn the victory for the Lions.
Libby was led by a pin from Buddy Doolin in the first period and a major decision from Reed Christensen. Dylan Parrish and Clancy Gout each earned decisions. The Greenchain won two open weights.
Eureka 39, Libby 28
103—Colten Clemons, L, won by forfeit. 113—Buddy Doolin, L, p. Josh Goff, 2:00. 120—Mason Sams, L, won by forfeit. 126—Nate Cargill, E, won by forfeit. 132—Reed Christensen, L, maj. dec. James Fehr, 9-1. 138—James Dunn, E, dec. Laine Young, 2-0. 145—Cannan Smith, E, won by forfeit. 152—Jarrett Pecora, E, p. Tim Carvey, 2:00. 160—Dylan Parrish, L, dec. Colby Hommath, 7-0. 170—Garrett Graves, E, won by forfeit. 182—Austin Sherwood, E, won by forfeit. 205—Clancy Gout, L, dec. Joe Fehe, 5-3. 285—Kerlar Yarele, E, won by forfeit.