AA: Flathead qualifies 22 for state; Glacier 17
MISSOULA — Flathead qualified 22 wrestlers for the upcoming state tournament and Glacier totaled 17 at the conclusion of the Western AA seeding tournament at Missoula Big Sky on Saturday.
Flathead advanced 24 last year at this event, which was held in Kalispell, while Glacier qualified 12.
“Lots of highs and lows for the Braves today,” Flathead coach Jeff Thompson said.
“The positives are that the Braves qualified 22 out of 23 wrestlers today. Also, we had three champions, seven in the top three (places) and 11 in the top (four).”
Thompson said Fin Nadeau (132) beat a returning state finalist in the finals, Brendan Barnes (126) wrestled his best tournament ever and Tanner Russell (170) won in a battle at 170. All claimed individual titles.
“Fifteen of our placers are underclassman and getting them that experience to wrestle in the Big Show will help them so much next year,” Thompson said.
“Ridge Troupe at 152 had one great day on the mat. Seniors Ross Cahoon and Braden Comier wrestled their hearts out placing fourth and leaving everything on the mats. Michael Downing at heavyweight won the last match in the tourney in OT.”
Glacier enjoyed a strong showing as well.
“I am super proud of the leap forward the program took today,” Glacier coach Ross Dankers said.
“From top to bottom, we wrestled with a lot of intensity and determination. We came into today with a great mindset team-wide and it showed. To go three for three in the finals was a great feeling.
“Cody Frost (113) took his wrestling to the next level today, and it was really fun to witness,” Dankers said.
“Colby (Martin, 205) looks like he is starting to pull away from the competitors that were hanging with him earlier in the year. Tre (Krause, 285) showed some real grit coming off a month of rehabilitation from a knee injury, his first day back on the mat coming out on top. It is going to be a lot of fun bringing 17 guys to the big dance.”
Western AA Seeding Tournament
Saturday
At Big Sky High School
No Team Totals Kept
Top eight finishers qualify for state
First-place matches
103: Zach Martin, Big Sky, pin Tony Silveria, Big Sky, 2:51; 113: Cody Frost, Glacier, pin, Isaac Ayers, Big Sky, 2:23; 120: Isaac Romero, Helena High, dec. Carson DesRosier, Helena Capital, 5-2; 126: Brendan Barnes, Flathead, pin, Justin Kovalicky, Sentinel, 5:56; 132: Fin Nadeau, Flathead, dec. Trevin Welzien, Big Sky, 7-3; 138: Lee Lambrecht, Helena Capital, pin, Reece Eckley, Sentinel, 3:27; 145: Hunter Meinzen, Big Sky, tech. fall, Blake Jolma, Sentinel, 16-1, 5:22; 152: Dougie Swanson, Big Sky, dec. Bridger Hall, Hellgate, 9-2; 160: Devin Crawford, Helena, dec. Jett Rebish, Big Sky, 4-3; 170: Tanner Russell, Flathead, dec. Noah Kovick, 6-4; 182: Wyatt Shinn, Big Sky, dec. Jacob Manibusan, Helena High, 8-4; 205: Colby Martin, Glacier, inj. def. Zane McCormick, Helena Capital, 4:00; 285: Tre Krause, Glacier, pin, Josh Lee, Helena Capital, 0:42.
Third-place matches
103: Nathan Elmose, Helena High, pin, Thomas Putnam, Glacier, 2:53; 113: Bryson Danzinger, Sentinel, dec. Dylan Miller, Glacier, 7-2; 120: Carter Johnson, Big Sky, maj. dec. Tristan Little, Glacier, 13-0; 126: Dayne Martin, Big Sky, pin Braden Comer, Flathead, 1:59; 132: Dominic Battello, Flathead, pin Jace Mannix, Sentinel, 2:22; 138: Jaden MacNeil, Flathead, pin Isaac Skillicorn, Big Sky, 5:24; 145: Luke Joy, Sentinel, maj. dec. Tristen Hauerwas, Big Sky, 8-0; 152: Ridge Troupe, Flathead, dec. Caden Willis, Glacier, 6-5; 160: Tristyn Gilliam, Helena Capital, dec. Zaybin Stewart, Flathead, 10-4; 170: Mason Corcoran, Big Sky, maj. dec. Josh Smalley, Big Sky, 14-2; 182: Camrin Doty, Sentinel, pin, Paxton Boyce, Flathead, 2:09; 205: Tyler Little, Helena Capital, dec. Ross Calhoon, Flathead, 10-6; 285: Michael Downing, Flathead, TB-1, Michael Gulden, Helena High, 4-3.
Fifth-place matches
103: Jordan Tack, Hellgate, dec. Andrew Senn, Helena Capital, 6-1; 113: Jacob Hickman, Hellgate, pin Colton Wieczorek, Flathead, 4:53; 120: Novik Thomas, Sentinel, pin Kyle McCollam, Glacier, 3:33; 126: Lance Fretwell, Glacier, Jackson Bakken, Sentinel, 9-2; 132: Wyatt Schneider, pin Helena Capital, Ricardo, Hewitt, Glacier, 2:58; 138: Jesse Horner, Sentinel, dec. Chase Youso, Flathead, 4-0; 145: Bo Meyer, Flathead, pin Justice Seamons, Helena High, 2:00; 152: Colby Howell, Helena High, win by forfeit, Conall Powers, Sentinel; 160: Finn Sullivan, Flathead, pin Thomas Crofts, Glacier, 3:36; 170: Kaleb McKay, Helena High, pin Jaron Scott, Glacier, 2:09; 182: Jake Slagel, Helena Capital, SV-1 Joseph Robinson, Big Sky, 5-3; 205: Sebastian Koch, Flathead, pin Ruger Young, Helena High, 0:22; 285: Camryn Vergeront, Glacier, pin Zac Evans, Helena High, 0:48.
Seventh-place matches
103: Jason Mandy, Helena High, pin Drew Kernan, Glacier, 4:38; 113: Lane O’Shea, Helena Capital, dec. Nathaniel Yargo, Helena High 11-5; 120: Eric Bott, Flathead, win by forfeit Dillon Yeadon, Flathead; 126: Cameron Wyant, Helena High, pin Traeton Duty, Helena Capital, 3:25; 132: Tyler Tobel, Helena Capital, pin Ira Williams, Sentinel, 2:47; 138: Royce Conklin, Glacier, inj. def. Dayton Evans, Big Sky, 0:00; 145: CJ Morris, Flathead, pin Kael Willis, Glacier, 4:26; 152: Cole Sandberg, Big Sky, pin Chance Sheldon-Allen, Flathead, 1:00; 160: Ethan Eppard, Hellgate, dec. Rory McLaverty, Sentinel, 2-1; 170: Gaige Winter, Flathead, pin William Dauwe, Sentinel, 0:36; 182: Jonathan Holcomb, Flathead, pin Kristopher Musick, Sentinel, 1:21; 205: Justin Olson, Glacier, dec. Josh Gunter, Sentinel, 7-1; 285: DJ Jackson, Big Sky, pin Ramsey Knowles, Sentinel, 1:58.