Western A Divisional Wrestling C-Falls 2nd behind Frenchtown; Polson 3rd
Columbia Falls wrestler Colton McPhee battles Ronan’s Justin Mays in the 182-pound championship at the Class A Divisional Meet in Columbia Falls Saturday. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Columbia Falls wrestler Ben Windauer pins Polson’s Hunter Fritsch for the 170-pound Class A Divisional title in Columbia Falls Saturday. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Columbia Falls wrestler Ben Windauer pins Polson’s Hunter Fritsch for the 170-pound Class A Divisional title in Columbia Falls Saturday. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Columbia Falls wrestler Ben Windauer battles Polson’s Hunter Fritsch for the 170-pound Class A Western divisional title in Columbia Falls on Saturday. Windauer won by pin in 2 minutes, 46 seconds. (Jeremy Weber/Hungry Horse News)
Polson’s Parker Adler takes on Beaverhead County’s Cooper Hoffman for the 152-pound title at the Class A Divisional Meet in Columbia Falls Saturday. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Polson’s Cameron Brown takes on Stevensville/Victor’s Kyler Pancake to earn the 145-pound title at the Class A Divisional Meet in Columbia Falls Saturday. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Polson’s Cameron Brown takes on Stevensville/Victor’s Kyler Pancake to earn the 145-pound title at the Class A Divisional Meet in Columbia Falls Saturday. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Ronan’s Hunter Peterson battles Frenchtown’s Riley Gun for the 138-pound title at the Class A Divisional Meet in Columbia Falls Saturday. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Columbia Falls wrestler Brandon Thomas takes on Polson’s Bridger Wenzel for the 132-pound title at the Class A Divisional Meet in Columbia Falls Saturday. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Polson’s Bridger Wenzer takes down Columbia Falls wrestler Brandon Thomas during the 132-pound title match at the Class A Divisional Meet in Columbia Falls Saturday. (Jeremy Weber photo)
The Daily Inter Lake
COLUMBIA FALLS — Columbia Falls made a valiant effort on the final day of the Western A divisional wrestling tournament on Saturday, but the MatCats still came up a little short.
The five-time defending champions left the mats with three individual winners — Ben Windauer (170), Colten McPhee (182) and Taylor Gladeau (285) — and the same number of runners-up — Brandon Thomas (132), Jakob Freeman (205) and Kyler Koski (285) — to push hard for a repeat, only to finish second behind Frenchtown.
Frenchtown, led by individual winners Eli Warner (103), Jake Bibler (120) and Riley Gurr (138), posted a 246 1/2 point total.
Columbia Falls, 214, was second, Polson, 211 1/2, third, Ronan, 187, fourth and Libby/Troy fifth, 145 1/2.
Polson had three divisional champions in Bridger Wenzel (132), Cameron Brown (145) and Parker Adler (152).
Buddy Doolin (113) was Libby’s lone champion.
The top eight wrestlers advance to the all-class state tournament in Billings, which begins Friday.
Western A Divisional Tournament
Saturday At Columbia Falls
Team Totals
1. Frenchtown 246.5; 2. Columbia Falls 214; 3. Polson 211.5; 4. Ronan 187; 5. Libby/Troy 145.5; 6. Browning 107; 7. Hamilton/Darby 105.5; 8. Corvallis 81; 9. Beaverhead/Twin Bridges/Sheridan 76; 10. Whitefish 61; 11. Stevensville/Victor 49; 12. Butte Central 37.5.
Top eight individuals qualify for the state tournament
103 pounds
Championship — Eli Warner, FREN, dec. Trapper McAllister, RONA, 9-5.
Third place — Maysn Cowell, POLS, p. Roy Russell, BUCE, 4:41.
Fifth place — Landen Stewart, FREN, p. Nathan Sproul, WHIT, 3:59.
Seventh place — Ashton Flamand, BROW, p. Trevor Bartel, RONA, 1:53.
113 pounds
Championship — Buddy Doolin, LITR, dec. Walker Dyer, FREN, 4-3.
Third place — Mateo Quinones POLS, p. Rene Pierre, POLS, 0:33.
Fifth place — Kellen Robbins, STVI, dec. Dean Kellogg, WHIT, 10-5.
Seventh place — Nicolilai Blanchard, FREN, p. Forest Wagoner, BDCT, 2:12.
120 pounds
Championship — Jake Bibler, FREN, maj. dec. Dillon Yeadon, LITR, 12-0.
Third place — Spencer Stagg, RONA, dec. Zack Morrison, LITR, 6-1.
Fifth place — Zane Walchuk, RONA, wins by forfeit (Austin Nelson, COFA).
Seventh place — Kedrick Baker, POLS, dec. James Wissenbach, CORV, 6-2.
126 pounds
Championship — Michael Golden, HADA, SV-1, Clay Fisher, BUCE, 5-3.
Third place — Owen Brown, RONA, dec. Dante Venema, CORV, 8-2.
Fifth place — Brody Marcure, FREN, p. Mason Sams, LITR, 3:55.
Seventh place — Xander Spady, LITR, p. John Warner, FREN, 0:51.
132 pounds
Championship — Bridger Wenzel, POLS, maj. dec. Brandon Thomas, COFA, 11-2.
Third place — Trey Thompson, LITR, dec. Ayden Role, COFA, 4-2.
Fifth place — Triston Davis, CORV, p. Owen Indreland, FREN, 3:24.
Seventh place — Benji Opat, CORV, dec. Tommy Cambell, BROW, 7-6.
138 pounds
Championship — Riley Gurr, FREN, maj. dec. Hunter Peterson, RONA, 14-2.
Third place — Bridger Williams, HADA, dec. Dakota Flannery, WHIT, 8-3.
Fifth place — Jarod Farrier, POLS, p. Easton Sempf, COFA, 4:35.
Seventh place — Jeffery Offenbecher, LITR, tech fall, Randon Weidow, CORV, 17-1 (2:27).
145 pounds
Championship — Cameron Brown, POLS, maj. dec. Kyler Pancake, STVI, 12-3.
Third place — Nathan Hader, COFA, p. Aaron Christensen, CORV, 1:39.
Fifth place — Jack Eisenbarth, WHIT, p. Pete Gibson, BDCT, 2:44.
Seventh place — Daylon Moore, HADA, p. Kaleb Unger, POLS, 1:58.
152 pounds
Championship — Parker Adler, POLS, p. Cooper Hoffman, BDCT, 1:49.
Third place — Drew Schmitt, CORV, p. Seth Cheff, RONA, 2:45.
Fifth place — Dustin Copeland, HADA, dec. Robert Bertelsen, WHIT, 8-1.
Seventh place — Dawson Young, LITR, maj. dec. Christian Wyant, FREN, 12-3.
160 pounds
Championship — Brent Tezak, BDCT, wins by injury forfeit (Michael Edwards, FREN).
Third place — Dan Cheff III, RONA, dec. Braydon Stone, COFA, 7-2.
Fifth place — Hyme Anderson, HADA, p. Tim Carvey, LITR, 1:39.
Seventh place — Daniel Collins Bishop, RONA, dec. Joseph Anderson, BROW, 10-8.
170 pounds
Championship — Ben Windauer, COFA, p. Hunter Fritsch, POLS, 2:46.
Third place — Emmit Augare, BROW, p. Charlie Bullcalf, BROW, 1:37.
Fifth place — Canyon Shope, FREN, SV-1, Tanner Wood, LITR, 10-8.
Seventh place — Ash Norris wins by inj. forfeit (Hunter Riley, STVI).
182 pounds
Championship — Colten McPhee, COFA, maj. dec. Justin Mays, RONA, 15-4.
Third place — Ryan Longtime Sleeping, BROW, p. Tate Jones, FREN, 4:38.
Fifth place — Noah Humphrey, POLS, p. Fisher Billsborough, COFA, 4:15.
Seventh place — Ethan Borden, LITR, p. Hunter Probst, BDCT, 1:56.
205 pounds
Championship — Kyle Anderson, HADA, dec. Jakob Freeman, COFA, 7-3.
Third place — Levi Downard, FREN, p. Wesley Pablo, RONA, 0:57.
Fifth place — Cody Miller, FREN, p. Joe Schildt, BROW, 1:46.
Seventh place — Jasper Drake, POLS, p. Jacob Woods, STVI, 1:41.
285 pounds
Championship — Taylor Gladeau, COFA, dec. Kyler Koski, COFA, 3-0.
Third place — Wacey Zuback, BROW, p. Jesse Mecham, FREN, 1:39.
Fifth place — Sam Mocabee, RONA, p. Tyler Woods, STVI, 1:34.
Seventh place — Cyrus Sweedman, LITR, p. Tucker Ewalt, CORV, 1:30.