Strong start for Flathead grapplers in Butte

BUTTE ­­­­— Flathead’s Aidan Prieto (285) beat Butte’s Ty Raiha in a heavyweight clash to give the Braves a 39-33 win in their opening meet of the season at Butte High School on Friday.

“Great win out of the gate for our young Flathead wrestling team,” Flathead coach Jeff Thompson said. “For the first dual of the year to come down to heavyweight, you can’t ask for much more excitement.”

Freshmen Noah Poe-Hatten (152) and Cade Troupe (126) both earned wins against Butte upperclassmen.

Zaybin Stewart (205) lost a tight overtime heavyweight battle to Butte’s Kobe Moreno.

Thompson said Stewart “wrestled well.”

The Braves head next to Helena for the Helena Duals. Matches start at 10 a.m. today.

Flathead 39, Butte 33

103 — Trey Whitlock, B, pinned Dylan Kratofil, 1:29; 113 — Christian Sherman, B, pinned Nolan Cate 1:43; 120 — Kip Pumnea, B, pinned Cade Gardner 1:48; 126 — Cade Troupe, F, pinned Keagan Gransbery, 5:44; 132 — Asher Kemppainen, F, dec. Connor Konda, 7-5; 138 — Brendan Barnes, F, pinned Wiley Dallaserra 0:55; 145 Fin Nadeau, F, pinned Mason Christian 3:11; 152 — Noah Poe-Hatten, F, pinned Anthony Liva 1:44; 160 – 

Quinn Sullivan, B, pinned Chase Youso 5:17; 170 — Tanner Russell, F, pinned Dominick Scown 3:05; 182 — Kameron Moreno, B, pinned Paxton Boyce 2:28; 205 — Kobe Moreno (Butte) dec. Zaybin Stewart, SV-1 6-4; 285 — Aydan Prieto, F, pinned Ty Raiha 3:40.

Team score: Flathead 39, Butte 33