Flathead batters Butte in wrestling season opener

BUTTE ­— In its first action since winning a state wrestling championship last February, Flathead kept right on rolling.

The Braves steamrolled Butte 51-19 on Friday afternoon after the Bulldogs dominated Glacier 62-6 earlier in the day in a three-team dual meet.

Flathead recorded seven pins in its dual against Butte, including one by first-time varsity competitor Brenden Barnes, who Braves coach Jeff Thompson identified as one of the standouts in a dominant display.

“It was his first time wrestling in the spotlight of a varsity competition, and he was just on fire out there,” Thompson said.

Barnes pinned his 103-pound opponent in one minute, 52 seconds, the fastest of anyone in the dual.

Bryce Shaffer (113-pound), Braden Comer (132-pound), Bo Meyer (138-pound), Tanner Russell (145-pound), Kenyon Fretwell (152-pound) and Payton Hume (160-pound) also pinned their opponents for the Braves. Tucker Nadeau (182-pound) won by way of forfeit.

“We were just excited to get back on the mat after such a successful year last year,” Thompson said. “Even though we’re defending state champions, you never know exactly where your team’s going to be.

“We want to see them build their own identity.”

Butte pummeled Glacier before its matchup with Flathead.

Caden Willis pinned his opponent in the 132-pound weight class to provide the Wolfpack’s only points.

Butte tallied seven pins and picked up another six points on a forfeit.

Flathead and Glacier return to the mat today at 9 a.m. at the Helena Duals.

Butte 62, Glacier 6

103 – Wil Queer (B) pin Dylan Miller, 0:53; 113 – Christian Sherman (B) dec. Bridger Beach, 9-8; 120 – Gabe Tierney (B) maj. dec. Tristian Little, 18-5; 126 – Scout Allen (B) pin Lane Wilson, 0:33; 132 – Caden Willis (G) pin Tye D’Arcy, 3:16; 138 – Cory West (B) pin Trey Mitchell, 4:27; 145 – Quinn Sullivan (B) maj. dec. Adam Elerick, 12-4; 152 – Kole McGrath (B) dec. Andrew Glynn, 7-4; 160 – Carl Anderson (B) pin Caden Gilmond, 5:10; 170 – Kobe Moreno (B) by forfeit; 182 – Kameron Moreno (B) pin Wesley Palmer, 1:08; 205 – Grayson Mandic (B) pin Connor DeReu, 5:44; 285 – Jeff Queer (B) pin Treymayne Krause, 1:29.

Flathead 51, Butte 19

103 – Brenden Barnes (F) pin Wil Queer, 1:51; 113 – Bryce Shaffer (F) pin Wyatt Queer, 2:30; 120 – Gabe Tierney (B) maj. dec. Dominic Battello, 15-5; 126 – Scout Allen (B) dec. Hunter Reichert, 6-5; 132 – Braden Comer (F) pin Tye D’Arcy, 2:20; 138 – Bo Meyer (F) pin Dale Kent, 2:50; 145 – Tanner Russell (F) pin Quinn Sullivan, 3:01; 152 – Kenyon Fretwell (F) pin Tanner Cooney, 5:57; 160 – Payton Hume (F) pin Carl Anderson, 4:00; 170 – Kobe Moreno (B) pin Garrett Rieke, 4:49; 182 – Tucker Nadeau (F) by forfeit; 205 – Hunter Wellcome (F) dec. Kameron Moreno, 12-8; 285 – Jeff Queer (B) pin Alex Paul, 5:00.