Polson wrestlers nip Frenchtown; claim Western A
BUTTE — Polson, led by three finalists — Bridger Wenzel (152), Hunter Fritsch (170) and Rene Pierre (113) — captured the team title on Saturday by the slimmest of margins over defending champion Frenchtown at the Western A divisional wrestling tournament.
Wenzel and Fritsch left the mats with individual titles while Pierre settled for second place.
Polson finished with a 221 total with Frenchtown one point behind.
“We were down by five (points) going into the last match of the tournament and Bridger Wenzel got us a pin,” Polson coach Matt Owen said.
That win was worth six points.
“We didn’t give him too much information about it,” Owen said of informing Wenzel he need a pin for Polson to win. “We just wanted him to win his match.
“We knew going in (it would be tight),” Owen continued. “It was back and forth all day long. We had our frustrating moments and high moments, but the kids just competed hard and got it done.”
Columbia Falls, 169 1/2, was third.
Frenchtown had two champions and two second-place finishers.
Columbia Falls had one champion — Colton McPhee (182) — with Jakob Freeman (205) and Taylor Gladeau (285) both taking second.
Libby, which finished sixth, had four finalists — Buddy Doolin (120), Zack Morrison (132), Jeff Offenbecher (138) and Hunter Hoover (152). They all finished second.
Whitefish, which was seventh, had one champ in Dakota Flannery (138).
The state meet in Billings begins Friday. Polson will have 15 wrestlers competing.
Western A Divisional
Saturday
At Butte Central
Team Totals
Polson 221, Frenchtown 220, Columbia Falls 169 ½, Corvallis 150, Browning 142, Libby/Troy 140, Whitefish 126, Dillon 108, Hamilton/Darby 96 ½, Ronan 77, Stevensville/Victor 52, Butte Central 0.
Matches
Top Eight Advance To State
103
Places
1 - Noah Huffaker of Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan
2 - Landen Stewart of Frenchtown
3 - Nathan Sproul of Whitefish
4 - Trevor Bartel of Ronan
5 - Mark Spencer of Corvallis
6 - Gavin Knutson of Polson
7 - Andrew Carmody of Hamilton / Darby
8 - Logan Bratch of Hamilton / Darby
Matches
1/2 - Noah Huffaker (Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan) 33-6, Fr. over Landen Stewart (Frenchtown) 42-6, So. (Fall 5:09)
3/4 - Nathan Sproul (Whitefish) 30-12, So. over Trevor Bartel (Ronan) 4-3, So. (Fall 2:12)
5/6 - Mark Spencer (Corvallis) 19-21, Fr. over Gavin Knutson (Polson) 19-13, . (Fall 3:36)
7/8 - Andrew Carmody (Hamilton / Darby) 13-15, Fr. over Logan Bratch (Hamilton / Darby) 7-16, So. (Dec 8-5)
113
Places
1 - Walker Dyer of Frenchtown
2 - Rene Pierre of Polson
3 - Eli Warner of Frenchtown
4 - Orion Barta of Columbia Falls
5 - Jackson Carson of Whitefish
6 - Carter Moran of Whitefish
7 - Tate Hanson of Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan
8 - Jc Larson of Browning
8 - Hannah Hurst of Hamilton / Darby
Matches
1/2 - Walker Dyer (Frenchtown) 47-0, Jr. over Rene Pierre (Polson) 20-6, . (MD 14-1)
3/4 - Eli Warner (Frenchtown) 36-8, So. over Orion Barta (Columbia Falls) 25-19, Fr. (MD 12-3)
5/6 - Jackson Carson (Whitefish) 18-15, Jr. over Carter Moran (Whitefish) 17-17, Fr. (Dec 9-3)
7/8 - Tate Hanson (Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan) 16-27, Fr. over Hannah Hurst (Hamilton / Darby) 18-23, Fr. (MD 11-1)
120
Places
1 - Jake Bibler of Frenchtown
2 - Buddy Doolin of Libby / Troy
3 - Kedrick Baker of Polson
4 - Nicholai Blanchard of Frenchtown
5 - Dean Kellogg of Whitefish
6 - Jimmy Schmitt of Corvallis
7 - Ashton Flamand of Browning
8 - Kellen Norman of Polson
Matches
1/2 - Jake Bibler (Frenchtown) 48-1, Jr. over Buddy Doolin (Libby / Troy) 37-11, Sr. (Dec 9-2)
3/4 - Kedrick Baker (Polson) 15-6, . over Nicholai Blanchard (Frenchtown) 26-15, So. (Fall 1:57)
5/6 - Dean Kellogg (Whitefish) 28-14, Sr. over Jimmy Schmitt (Corvallis) 25-14, Sr. (Fall 4:22)
7/8 - Ashton Flamand (Browning) 3-2, So. over Kellen Norman (Polson) 2-3, Fr. (Fall 2:20)
126
Places
1 - Dante Venema of Corvallis
2 - Trapper McAllister of Ronan
3 - Luke Huffaker of Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan
4 - Kellen Robbins of Stevensville / Victor
5 - Maysn Cowell of Polson
6 - Noah Cooke of Whitefish
7 - Julian Strait of Ronan
8 - Tyren Stidham of Polson
Matches
1/2 - Dante Venema (Corvallis) 40-4, Sr. over Trapper McAllister (Ronan) 15-7, So. (Fall 1:35)
3/4 - Luke Huffaker (Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan) 32-13, Sr. over Kellen Robbins (Stevensville / Victor) 20-13, Sr. (Fall 4:12)
5/6 - Maysn Cowell (Polson) 24-11, . over Noah Cooke (Whitefish) 15-27, Fr. (Fall 0:47)
7/8 - Julian Strait (Ronan) 5-7, Fr. over Tyren Stidham (Polson) 12-9, Fr. (Fall 1:43)
132
Places
1 - Michael Golden of Hamilton / Darby
2 - Zack Morrison of Libby / Troy
3 - Adrian Garcia of Hamilton / Darby
4 - Thomas Peters of Columbia Falls
5 - Jarod Farrier of Polson
6 - Benji Opat of Corvallis
7 - Carter Brown of Corvallis
8 - Jeff Madman of Browning
Matches
1/2 - Michael Golden (Hamilton / Darby) 34-2, Sr. over Zack Morrison (Libby / Troy) 40-12, So. (Fall 0:37)
2/4 - Adrian Garcia (Hamilton / Darby) 20-6, Sr. over Thomas Peters (Columbia Falls) 26-20, . (Fall 2:23)
5/6 - Jarod Farrier (Polson) 16-13, . over Benji Opat (Corvallis) 24-11, Sr. (For.)
7/8 - Carter Brown (Corvallis) 37-13, Sr. over Jeff Madman (Browning) 19-15, Jr. (Fall 2:10)
138
Places
1 - Dakota Flannery of Whitefish
2 - Jeff Offenbecher of Libby / Troy
3 - Triston Davis of Corvallis
4 - Ayden Role of Columbia Falls
5 - Smokey Stoker of Frenchtown
6 - Allan Allsop of Corvallis
7 - Aaron Springer of Stevensville / Victor
8 - Tristan Riel of Stevensville / Victor
Matches
1/2 - Dakota Flannery (Whitefish) 38-5, Jr. over Jeff Offenbecher (Libby / Troy) 26-9, Jr. (Fall 5:56)
3/4 - Triston Davis (Corvallis) 35-12, Jr. over Ayden Role (Columbia Falls) 31-17, . (Fall 4:42)
5/6 - Smokey Stoker (Frenchtown) 22-24, So. over Allan Allsop (Corvallis) 16-12, Sr. (Fall 2:06)
7/8 - Aaron Springer (Stevensville / Victor) 8-24, Fr. over Tristan Riel (Stevensville / Victor) 7-26, Jr. (Dec 7-3)
145
1 - Trey Thompson of Libby / Troy
2 - Bridger Williams of Hamilton / Darby
3 - Randon Weidow of Corvallis
4 - Chance Kittson of Browning
5 - Caleb Pierre of Polson
6 - Peter Gibson of Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan
7 - Isaac Balla of Columbia Falls
8 - Carlitos Bertelsen of Whitefish
Matches
1/2 - Trey Thompson (Libby / Troy) 45-7, Jr. over Bridger Williams (Hamilton / Darby) 21-14, Jr. (Fall 3:24)
3/4 - Randon Weidow (Corvallis) 29-17, Sr. over Chance Kittson (Browning) 30-10, So. (Fall 3:28)
5/6 - Caleb Pierre (Polson) 16-14, . over Peter Gibson (Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan) 28-19, Jr. (Fall 3:31)
7/9 - Isaac Balla (Columbia Falls) 23-32, . over Carlitos Bertelsen (Whitefish) 21-25, Jr. (Fall 3:17)
152
Places
1 - Bridger Wenzel of Polson
2 - Hunter Hoover of Libby / Troy
3 - Camren Ross of Whitefish
4 - Derrik Gasvoda of Corvallis
5 - Adam Vang of Frenchtown
6 - Tristin Lowell of Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan
7 - Zane Nordwick of Libby / Troy
8 - Lawrence Birdrattler of Browning
Matches
1/2 - Bridger Wenzel (Polson) 24-4, . over Hunter Hoover (Libby / Troy) 25-12, Fr. (Fall 1:49)
3/4 - Camren Ross (Whitefish) 29-15, So. over Derrik Gasvoda (Corvallis) 20-20, Jr. (Fall 1:39)
5/6 - Adam Vang (Frenchtown) 15-28, Fr. over Tristin Lowell (Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan) 13-27, Jr. (Fall 3:46)
7/8 - Zane Nordwick (Libby / Troy) 17-24, Fr. over Lawrence Birdrattler (Browning) 14-20, So. (Dec 12-7)
160
Places
1 - Cooper Hoffman of Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan
2 - Kyler Pancake of Stevensville / Victor
3 - Noah Hurst of Hamilton / Darby
4 - Ryan Kipp of Browning
5 - Tucker Masters of Libby / Troy
6 - Robert Bertelsen of Whitefish
7 - Garrett Croft of Polson
8 - Kaleb Unger of Polson
Matches
1/2 - Cooper Hoffman (Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan) 33-4, Jr. over Kyler Pancake (Stevensville / Victor) 28-5, Sr. (Fall 1:58)
3/4 - Noah Hurst (Hamilton / Darby) 24-9, Jr. over Ryan Kipp (Browning) 33-7, Sr. (Dec 5-2)
5/6 - Tucker Masters (Libby / Troy) 36-17, So. over Robert Bertelsen (Whitefish) 29-16, Sr. (Inj. 0:00)
7/8 - Garrett Croft (Polson) 16-13, . over Kaleb Unger (Polson) 2-3, Jr. (Dec 8-3)
170
Places
1 - Hunter Fritsch of Polson
2 - Ryan Running Crane of Browning
3 - Allec Knapton of Columbia Falls
4 - Charlie Bullcalf of Browning
5 - Jake Houlihan of Frenchtown
6 - Lucas Thacker of Columbia Falls
7 - Ethan Chavez of Corvallis
8 - Jamison Webster of Ronan
Matches
1/2 - Hunter Fritsch (Polson) 21-1, . over Ryan Running Crane (Browning) 21-22, Sr. (Fall 0:36)
3/4 - Allec Knapton (Columbia Falls) 14-9, So. over Charlie Bullcalf (Browning) 22-22, Jr. (Fall 4:32)
5/6 - Jake Houlihan (Frenchtown) 16-20, So. over Lucas Thacker (Columbia Falls) 16-11, . (Dec 8-4)
7/8 - Ethan Chavez (Corvallis) 3-11, So. over Jamison Webster (Ronan) 9-14, Fr. (Fall 2:59)
182
Places
1 - Colten McPhee of Columbia Falls
2 - Tate Jones of Frenchtown
3 - Logan Adler of Polson
4 - Tommy Cambell of Browning
5 - Jonah Hinterding of Frenchtown
6 - DJ Laycock of Columbia Falls
7 - Daniel Rigney of Libby / Troy
8 - Jesse LittleBoy of Ronan
Matches
1/2 - Colten McPhee (Columbia Falls) 48-3, over Tate Jones (Frenchtown) 37-10, Jr. (Dec 3-2)
3/4 - Logan Adler (Polson) 18-7 over Tommy Cambell (Browning) 17-7, Jr. (Fall 1:26)
5/6 - Jonah Hinterding (Frenchtown) 6-4, Jr. over DJ Laycock (Columbia Falls) 1-3, Jr. (Fall 2:06)
7/8 - Daniel Rigney (Libby / Troy) 15-26, Sr. over Jesse LittleBoy (Ronan) 3-8, So. (MD 12-3)
205
Places
1 - Justin Mays of Ronan
2 - Jakob Freeman of Columbia Falls
3 - Jayden Salios of Browning
4 - Levi Downard of Frenchtown
5 - Preston Hales of Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan
6 - Aaron O`Roake of Polson
7 - Ashton Akey of Whitefish
8 - Persephone Sandoval of Ronan
Matches
1/2 - Justin Mays (Ronan) 19-6, Sr. over Jakob Freeman (Columbia Falls) 42-9, . (Fall 5:16)
3/4 - Jayden Salios (Browning) 23-6, . over Levi Downard (Frenchtown) 37-9, Sr. (MD 14-5)
5/6 - Preston Hales (Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) / Twin Bridges / Sheridan) 24-16, Jr. over Aaron O`Roake (Polson) 16-13, . (Fall 2:15)
7/8 - Ashton Akey (Whitefish) 6-31, Fr. over Persephone Sandoval (Ronan) 5-6, Sr. (Dec 3-0)
285
Places
1 - Wacey Zuback of Browning
2 - Taylor Gladeau of Columbia Falls
3 - Cody Miller of Frenchtown
4 - Jasper Drake of Polson
5 - Harley Wise of Corvallis
6 - Jake Woods of Stevensville / Victor
7 - Reece Buchanen of Hamilton / Darby
8 - Tommy Phelps of Columbia Falls
Matches
1/2 - Wacey Zuback (Browning) 30-8, Sr. over Taylor Gladeau (Columbia Falls) 29-4, . (Dec 5-4)
3/4 - Cody Miller (Frenchtown) 35-10, Sr. over Jasper Drake (Polson) 13-13, . (Fall 1:24)
5/6 - Harley Wise (Corvallis) 13-31, Sr. over Jake Woods (Stevensville / Victor) 14-11, Jr. (Inj. 0:00)
7/8 - Reece Buchanen (Hamilton / Darby) 19-22, So. over Tommy Phelps (Columbia Falls) 1-3, So. (Fall 2:06)