Late boost keeps Flathead in trophy hunt

BILLINGS — Great Falls High has the first-day lead in Class AA at the State All-Class Wrestling meet at MetraPark, and that should be no surprise.

Flathead is hanging tough – with a few disappointments and a couple morale boosts – just a few points out of the trophy hunt.

“We lost some tough matches but you know, it’s a long tournament with lots of rounds left,” Flathead coach Jeff Thompson said. “We have 11 guys alive, and that’s pretty darned exciting.”

The Brave Brawlers matched Great Falls by putting seven wrestlers in Saturday’s morning’s semifinal round. They have 99 points; Great Falls has 127 followed by Billings Senior at 108.5 and Butte at 102.5.

“For the most part it’s going how we thought it would,” said Tanner Russell, who made the 170-pound semifinals along with teammate Garett Rieke. “I wish we had a couple more, though.”

Thompson regretted a couple surprise first-round losses – Chase Youso (160) and Zaybin Stewart (205) – but saw the positive.

“That must have lit a fire in them because they really came back in those consolation matches, and ended probably where they would have anyway,” Thompson said.

Joining Russell and Rieke in the semis are Asher Kemppainen (132), Brendan Barnes (138), Fin Nadeau (145), Noah Poe-Hatten (152) and Paxton Boyce (182).

Poe-Hatten won a 6-5 quarterfinal decision over Great Falls Donovan Mahoney, after trailing 4-2.

One notable quarterfinal loss was by freshman Cade Troupe at 126. Billings Senior’s Jayden Morales won a 3-0 decision. It was a tough match and the Saturday’s wrestlebacks don’t look any easier: Bozeman’s Tayt Rogers, a state finalist last year, awaits.

Providing a lift were Rieke and Russell, scoring pins on adjacent mats just seconds apart.

“Garett Rieke really came on – getting him in the semis along with Tanner is a neat thing,” Thompson said. “We really came back strong this afternoon.”

Glacier has one semifinalist: Freshman Teegan Vasquez, who dominated his two Friday bouts at 113.

Class A

Frenchtown put an impressive seven wrestlers into Saturday semifinals, and here’s the rub: Two-time defending champion Sidney qualified 11.

Which is why Frenchtown and Miles City are a distant second in the team race, with 83.5 points each. Sidney has 147.5.

Columbia Falls is the top Northwest Montana team, sitting in eighth at 44 points. The Wildcats advanced three to the semis: Justin Windauer (113 pounds), Lucas Thacker (145) and Josh Bertram (160). Libby pushed two through: Xander Spady at 126 and Troy Thompson at 145.

Spady has a tough bracket with Frenchtown’s three-time champ Jake Bibler on one side and Lewistown junior Cooper Birdwell, a two-time state champion, on the other.

Polson has nine wrestlers still competing but none made the semis. But even if they had 5-6 in, they – like the rest of the field – would still be looking up at the Sidney Eagles.

“That’s what we all knew was going to happen before the season started,” Polson coach Matt Owen said.

Class B/C

Eureka has four semifinalists including 152-pounder Hank Dunn, who gave his team a boost with a 7-2 decision over Glasgow’s Kaden Zimmerman in the quarters.

The two were ranked 1-2 all season before Zimmerman lost at divisionals to Huntley Project’s Wylie Lindeen, setting up the early matchup.

Then Mission-Charlo’s Darwin Adams beat Lindeen to make the semifinals.

Gunnar Smith (126) is still on track for a third state title, and Kyle Durden (132) and Nathan Schmidt (138) are also in the semis for Eureka.

No team qualified more but Huntley Project still has a pretty good lead in the team race, with 72 points to Glasgow’s 66. Eureka is fifth at 49.

“We don’t have as much in the tank as those teams that bring 16 wrestlers,” Eureka coach Dan Lemer said. “But we’ll give them heck. Tomorrow is the money round.”

Besides Adams, Miles Anderson (205) and Isaiah Allik (170) made the semis for Mission-Charlo. So did Troy’s Trae Thilmony at 120.

The final day of state wrestling action starts at 9:30 a.m. today.

State All-Class

Wrestling Tournament

at Billings MetraPark

Friday-Saturday

Class AA

Team Scores

Great Falls High 127, Billings Senior 108.5, Butte 102.5, Flathead 99, Bozeman 94.5, Billings West 84, Helena Capital 65, Missoula Big Sky 61.5, Billings Skyview 57, Glacier 48, Great Falls CMR 30, Missoula Sentinel 27, Belgrade 21.5, Helena High 14, Missoula Hellgate 6.

Individual results

103

First round – Aaron Liscum, Great Falls, dec. Josh Melton, Glacier, 9-5; Daylan Forshee, Senior, pinned Dylan Kratofil, Flathead, 2:47; Jase Van Pelt, Billings West, pinned Connor Johnson, Glacier, :56.

Wrestlebacks – Melton, Glacier, pinned Kratofil, Glacier, 2:58; Jason Mandy, Helena, pinned Johnson, Glacier, 2:00; Holden Howe, Billings Senior, dec. Melton, Glacier, 5-2.

113

First round – Teegan Vasquez, Glacier, pinned Duncan Herring, Great Falls, :31; Austin Phatavong, Great Falls, pinned Thomas Putnam, Glacier, 1:10; Cade Gardner, Flathead, pinned Levi Giles, Great Falls Russell, :25; Wyatt Van Pelt, Billings West, forfeit over Nolan Cate, Flathead.

Quarterfinals – Vasquez, Glacier, pinned Phatavong, Great Falls, 3:02; Jalen Vladic, Billings Senior, pinned Gardner, Flathead, 1:55.

Wrestlebacks – Putnam, Glacier, dec. Herring, Great Falls, 14-9; Kameron Amende, Bozeman, inj. Default over Cate, Flathead; Gardner, Flathead, pinned Amende, Bozeman, :47; Nate Preston, CMR, dec. Putnam, Glacier, 8-6.

120

First round – Dre Coles, Great Falls, pinned Cody Frost, Glacier, :34.

Wrestlebacks – Frost, pinned JT Gehring, Helena, 1:35; Kip Pumnea, Butte pinned Frost, Glacier, 4:15.

126

First round – Cade Troupe, Flathead, pinned Zach Ewalt, Great Falls CMR, :11; Jayden Ramirez, Billings Senior, pinned Hunter Magness, :42; Irish Furthmyeer, Great Falls, pinned Dillon Yeadon, 1:42; Taylor Wiers, Bozeman, tech. fall over Bridger Beach, Glacier.

Quarterfinals – Ramirez, Senior, dec. Troupe, Flathead, 3-0.

Wrestlebacks – Ewalt, Great Falls CMR, pinned Magness, Glacier, 4:17; Gavin Vetter, Butte, pinned Yeadon, Flathead, 4:07; Beach, Glacier, pinned Cole Wines, Capital, 2:55; Troupe, Flathead, pinned Beach, Glacier, 2:11.

132

First round – Asher Kemppainen, Flathead, pinned Tyler Skinner, Great Falls, 4:32; Lance Fretwell, Glacier, dec. Caleb Partridge, 8-2.

Quarterfinals – Kemppainen, Flathead, maj. Dec. Jackson Bakken, Sentinel, 12-3; Avery Allen, Bozeman, pinned Fretwell, Glacier, :34.

Wrestlebacks – Archer Throckmorton, Great Falls, dec. Fretwell, Glacier, 7-3.

138

First round – Brendan Barnes, Flathead, dec. Felix Petersen, Bozeman, 6-1; Gentry Lamb,Skyview, pinned Aaron Gaitan, Flathead, 1:10.

Quarterfinals – Barnes, Flathead, dec. Shawn Miller, Billings Senior, 4-2.

Wrestlebacks – Logan Scott, Billings West, pinned Gaitan, Flathead, 4:38.

145

First round – Fin Nadeau, Flathead, pinned Nowa Marcotte, CMR, 1:04; Cache Hilliard, Great Falls, pinned Eric Gardner, Flathead, 2:16.

Quarterfinals – Nadeau, Flathead, pinned Quinton Spring, CMR, 1:10.

Wrestlebacks – Wyatt Schneider, Capital, pinned Gardner, Flathead, 2:57.

152

First round – Noah Poe-Hatten, Flathead, pinned Adrian Najar, Billings, West, 3:32.

Quarterfinals – Poe-Hatten, Flathead, dec. Donovan Mahoney, Great Falls, 6-5.

160

First round – Caden Gilmond, Glacier, pinned Will Romano, Bozeman, 3:06; Logan Gallagher, Billings West, dec. Chase Youso, Flathead, 7-5.

Quarterfinal – Dougie Swanson, Big Sky, dec. Gilmond, 7-2.

Wrestlebacks – Youso, Flathead, pinned Nathan Kojetton, Skyview, 3:30; Youso, Flathead, pinned Luke Brewer, Billings Senior, 2:11; Gilmond, Glacier, maj. Dec. Ian Isaacson, Capital, 14-6.

170

First round – Charlie Desmarias, Billings Senior, pinned Kael Willis, Glacier, 1:53; Garett Rieke, Flathead, inj. Default over Coy Cohenour, Bozeman; Tanner Russell, Flathead, pinned Dilen Barrington, Skyview, 3:57; Thomas Crofts, Glacier, pinned Kaelen Patten, Bozeman, 2:50.

Quarterfinals – Rieke, Flathead, pinned Quintin Greer, Great Falls, 5:00; Russell, Flathead, pinned Crofts, Glacier, 1:23.

Wrestlebacks – Willis, Glacier, dec. Hayden Allie, Billings Senior, 4-2; Dominik Scown, Butte, pinned Willis, Glacier, 2:10; Crofts, Glacier, pinned Tucker Zanto, Capital, 1:43.

182

First round – Paxton Boyce, Flathead, pinned Armand Fair, Billings Senior, :58; Rylen Fisher, Great Falls, forfeit over Gaige Winter, Flathead.

Quarterfinals – Boyce, Flathead, pinned Myles McCleman, Butte, :39.

Wrestlebacks – Winter, Flathead, pinned Jake Sweatland, Hellgate, :58; Bradden Rowles-Ortiz, Bozeman, pinned Winter, Flathead, 1:36.

205

First round – Xaden Cunningham, Belgrade, dec. Zaybin Stewart, Flathead, 7-4; Elijah Davis, Great Falls, pinned Tommy Williams, Flathead, :32; Hunter Morse, Billings West, maj. Dec. Caden Seymour, Glacier, 14-4.

Wrestlebacks – Stewart, Flathead, pinned Titan Purdom, Capital, 2:39; Seymour, Glacier, pinned Williams, Flathead, 1:33; Stewart, Flathead, pinned Jaydn Hoff, Billings West, 2:11; McCade O’Reilly, Bozeman, dec. Seymour, Glacier, 10-3.

285

First round – Camryn Vergeront, Glacier, pinned Zayne Konkol, Belgrade, 1:57; Ethan Deroche, Great Falls, pinned Timber Richberg, Flathead, :51.

Quarterfinals – Josh Lee, Capital, dec. Vergeront, Glacier, 8-1.

Wrestlebacks – Zach Tierney, Butte, pinned Richberg, Flathead, 1:00; Vergeront, Glacier, pinned Dakota Friesen, Hellgate, :33.

Class B/C

Team Scores

1 Huntley Project (Worden) 72.0; 2 Glasgow 66.0; 3 Cut Bank 55.5; 4 Whitehall 55.0; 5 Eureka 49.0; Columbus/Absarokee/Park City 47.5; 7 Circle 46.5; 8 Townsend 45.0; 9 Mission/Charlo 42.0; 10 Shepherd  34.5; 11 Colstrip 33.0; 11 Superior/Alberton 33.0; 13 Fort Benton/Big Sandy 30.0; 14 Manhattan 28.0; 15 Fairfield 27.0; 16 Malta/Whitewater 26.0; 17 Florence-Carlton 25.0; 17 Thompson Falls 25.0; 19 Jefferson (Boulder) 22.0; 20 Poplar 21.0; 21 Simms 18.5; 22 Anaconda 18.0; 23 Baker 17.0; 24 Shelby 16.0; 25 Conrad 15.5; 26 Chinook 12.0; 26 Forsyth 12.0; 28 Chester-Joplin-Inverness 11.0; 28 Valier 11.0; 30 Deer Lodge 10.0; 31 Red Lodge 9.0; 32 Cascade 8.0; 33 Arlee 7.0; 33 Three Forks 7.0; 35 Plains/Hot Springs 6.0; 36 White Sulphur Springs 4.0; 36 Wolf Point 4.0; 38 Harlem 3.0; 38 Highwood 3.0; 40 Bigfork 0.0; 40 Great Falls Central 0.0.

103

First round — Leeann Hoch (Shepherd) pinned Pancho Ibenez (Eureka), 3:49.

Wrestlebacks — Pancho Ibenez (Eureka) pinned Elijah Greene (Cut Bank), 0:37; Pancho Ibenez (Eureka) dec. over Guy Williams (Columbus/Absarokee/Park City), 7-0.

126

First round — Ashton Christman (Huntley Project) pinned Austin Warren (Eureka) 4:36; Gunnar Smith (Eureka) pinned Garrett Buckalew (Colstrip), 3:23.

Wrestlebacks — Dylan Kamps (Three Forks) pinned Austin Warren (Eureka) 2:24.

Quarterfinal — Gunnar Smith (Eureka) pinned Tommy Sawyer (Anaconda), 2:39.

138

First round — Nathan Schmidt (Eureka) pinned Bayley Genereux (Fort Benton/Big Sandy), 1:25.

Quarterfinal — Nathan Schmidt (Eureka) pinned Trentin Walker (Whitehall), 1:12.

145

First round —Chance Muller (Eureka) pinned Colten Barsness (Cut Bank), 1:54.

Quarterfinal — Cole Becker (Circle) maj. dec. over Chance Muller (Eureka), 8-0.

152

First round — Hank Dunn (Eureka) pinned Kasen Kovatch (Valier), 0:58.

Quarterfinal— Hank Dunn (Eureka) dec. over Kaden Zimmerman (Glasgow), 7-2.

170

First round— Will Lane(Townsend)) 38-9 pinned Joseph Farrier (Bigfork), 1:54.

Wrestlebacks — Hunter Decker (Simms) maj. dec. over Joseph Farrier (Bigfork), 13-5.

Class A

Team scores

Sidney 147.5, Miles City 83.5, Frenchtown 83.5, Laurel 72, Lewistown 71.5, Havre 69.5, Glendive 47, Columbia Falls 44, Livingston 43, Browning 39, Hamilton 38.5, Corvallis 34, Polson 34, Libby 32, Hardin 30, Dillon 25.5, Whitefish 17, Billings Central 16, Stevensville 11, Ronan 9, East Helena 3, Lockwood 3, Butte Central 0.

103

Round 1­—Kaden Wise (Sidney/Fairview) won by forfeit over Dale Blickhan (Columbia Falls), For.; Joey Bender (Havre) pinned Cael Schwindt (Libby/Troy), 1:56; Damen McCord (Lewistown) pinned Braedon Illif (Polson), 3:44.

Wrestlebacks — Cael Schwindt (Libby/Troy) pinned Dale Blickhan (Columbia Falls), 0:16; Braedon Illif (Polson) pinned Haiden Oakland (Miles City), 0:53; Brayden Linville (Livingston) pinned Braedon Illif (Polson),4:24; Noah Michaelson (Laurel) pinned Cael Schwindt (Libby/Troy), 2:16.

113

First round — Justin Windauer (Columbia Falls) won by forfeit over Keith Pretty Weasel (Hardin), For..; Austin Berry (Dawson County), maj. dec. over Josiah Kilman (Columbia Falls), 11-2; Zander Dean (Sidney/Fairview) pinned Irish Cenicola (Polson), 1:15; Mick Chagnon (Havre) pinned Gavin Knutson (Polson), 1:01.

Wrestlebacks— Devon O’Neill (Billings Central/Joilet) maj. dec. over Josiah Kilman (Columbia Falls), 11-2; Johnathan Williams (Corvallis) pinned Irish Cenicola (Polson), 4:21; Gavin Knutson (Polson) dec. over Seth Allen (Hamilton) 6-4; Jesse Anson (Hamilton) dec. over Gavin Knutson (Polson), 7-2.

Quarterfinal — Justin Windauer (Columbia Falls), pinned Jesse Anson (Hamilton/Darby), 2:50.

120

First round — Orion Barta (Columbia Falls) pinned Tucker Ellison (Miles City), 3:35.; Maysn Cowell (Polson) pinned Jeff Kordonowy (Billings) 1:12; Kaiden Cline (Sidney/Fairview) pinned Carter Moran (Whitefish), 3:51.

Wrestlebacks— Johnathan Herr (Laurel) pinned Carter Moran (Whitefish), 2:15; Kanyon Stoker (Corvallis) won by injury default over Maysn Cowell (Polson), Inj. 0:00; Johnathan Herr (Laurel) pinned Orion Barta (Columbia Falls), 0:42.

Quarterfinal — Eli Warner (Frenchtown) pinned Orion Barta (Columbia Falls), 3:56; Kason Olson (Lewistown) dec. over Maysn Cowell (Polson), 9-6.

126

First round—  Xander Spady (Libby/Troy) pinned Jake Murnion (Miles City), 1:20; Kedrick Baker (Polson) pinned Aden Winder (Laurel), 1:35; Sean Mehling (Hardin) maj. dec. over Jackson Carson (Whitefish), 11-0; Cody Harrington (Dawson County) pinned Leroy Orel (Whitefish), 1:11.

Wrestlebacks — Jackson Carson (Whitefish) pinned Max Brown (Laurel), 3:43; Leroy Orel (Whitefish) pinned Peterson Watkins (Ronan),0:53; Jackson Carson (Whitefish) pinned Cody Harrington (Dawson County), 4:40; Kedrick Baker (Polson) pinned Roman Duke (Frenchtown), 0:50; Sean Mehling (Hardin) maj. dec. over Leroy Orel (Whitefish), 14-0.

Quarterfinal — Xander Spady (Libby/Troy) dec. over Kedrick Baker (Polson), 5-4.

132

First round — Jordan Darby (Sidney/Fairview) pinned Ty Allen (Columbia Falls), 3:45; Dillion Ray (Laurel) won by forfeit over Kellen Norman (Polson), For.

Wrestlebacks — Ty Allen (Columbia Falls) won by forfeit over Kellen Norman (Polson), For.; Zane Schroeder (Frenchtown) dec. over Ty Allen (Columbia Falls), 4-2.

138

First round — Kayden Howe (Hardin) pinned Zane Nordwick (Libby/Troy), 3:06; Kolton Reid (Sidney/Fairview) won by tech fall over Tyren Stidham (Polson), 18-2; Cade Gubler (Livingston) pinned Kolter Kidrick (Whitefish) 3:31.

Wrestlebacks — Cole Anson (Hamilton/Darby) won by tech fall over Zane Nordwick (Libby/Troy), 17-2; Nate Davis (Corvallis) dec. over Tyren Stidham (Polson), 8-4; Kolter Kidrick (Whitefish) pinned Eli Carlos (Dillon) 3:25; Colton Picco (Lewistown)pinned Kolter Kidrick (Whitefish), 2:42.

145

First round — Aden Graves (Sidney/Fairview) pinned Trey Torpen (Columbia Falls), 0:49; Kaid Campbell (Miles City) pinned Jaren Keene (Polson), 2:46.

Wrestlebacks — Jace Guptill (Hardin) 26-25 pinned Jaren Keene (Polson), 2:44; Aaron Wells (Browning) pinned Trey Torpen (Columbia Falls), 3:52.

152

First round — Lucas Thacker (Columbia Falls) maj. dec. over Tommy Reske (Dawson County), 15-3; Trey Thompson (Libby/Troy) pinned Randy Tommerup (Havre), 3:45; Kade Graves (Sidney/Fairview) pinned Caleb Pierre (Polson), 2:37; Dalton Tvedt (Miles City) pinned Rylee Creasey (Whitefish), 1:45.

Wrestlebacks — Rylee Creasey (Whitefish) dec. over Randy Tommerup (Havre), 7-1; Ethan Cramer (Hamilton) pinned Caleb Pierre (Polson), 2:00; Tyler Emineth (Laurel) maj. dec. over Rylee Creasey (Whitefish), 12-0.

Quarterfinal — Lucas Thacker (Columbia Falls) dec. over Cody Todd (Billings Central/Joilet), 10-4.

160

First round — Brenan Hager (Miles City) dec. over Cody Crace (Libby/Troy, 9-3; Tucker Masters (Libby/Troy) maj. dec. over Aaron Foster (Billings Central/Joilet), 13-5; Duane Otto II (Lewistown) pinned Logan Adler (Polson), 0:49; Nelson Crisafulli (Dawson County) won by forfeit over Sean Calahan (Polson), For.; Jacoby Mattern (Dawson County) maj. dec. over Camren Ross (Whitefish),10-2.

Wrestlebacks — Camren Ross (Whitefish) pinned Wyatt Hansen (Havre) 2:24; Logan Adler (Polson) won by injury default over Cody Crace (Libby/Troy), Inj. 0:00; Camren Ross (Whitefish) dec. over Chance Kittson (Browning), 8-1; Tucker Masters (Libby/Troy) pinned Logan Adler (Polson), 1:51.

170

First round — Josh Bertram (Columbia Falls) pinned Lyom Bullard (Livingston) 0:37; Cole Younger (Laurel) pinned Garrett Croft (Polson), 5:25.

Wrestlebacks — Logan Adler (Polson) won by injury default over Cody Crace (Libby/Troy), (Inj. 0:00); Brennyn Running crane (Browning) won by forfeit over Sean Calahan (Polson), For.; Garrett Croft (Polson) pinned Lyom Bullard (Livingston), 4:03; Easton Hopes (Sidney) dec. over Garrett Croft (Polson), 10-3.

Quarterfinal — Josh Bertram (Columbia Falls) pinned Cole Younger (Laurel), 3:34.

182

First round — Jaiden Gibson (Miles City) pinned DJ Laycock (Columbia Falls), 5:08; Braydon Stone (Columbia Falls) pinned Micheal Marley (Dawson County), 1:29; Hunter Pittsley (Polson) pinned Donald Maurer (Laurel), 2:50.

Wrestleback— Hunter Pittsley (Polson) pinned Ben Holtzen (Corvallis), 4:33; Tommy Cambell (Browning) dec. over DJ Laycock (Columbia Falls), 6-1.

Quarterfinal —Josh Bertram (Columbia Falls) pinned Cole Younger (Laurel), 3:34; Canyon Shope (Frenchtown) pinned Hunter Pittsley (Polson), 1:47; Cameron Younger (Laurel) pinned Braydon Stone (Columbia Falls), 1:26.

205

First round — Jett Jones (Sidney/Fairview) pinned Tyler Smith (Libby/Troy), 0:18; Landon Farrar (Lewistown) pinned Aaron O`Roake (Polson), 1:52; Connor Ulschak (Laurel) pinned Kai Nash (Whitefish), 0:31.

Wrestlebacks— Aaron O’Roake (Polson) pinned Kai Nash (Whitefish), 2:58; Preston Hales (Dillon) pinned Aaron O’Roake (Polson), 0:49.

285

First round — Kirby Basta (Dawson County) pinned Aydan Williamson (Libby/Troy), 4:46; Alexander Mathewson (Polson) dec. over Trey Schepens (Sidney/Fairview), 9-4; Dylan Morris (Lewistown) dec. over Brian Sweeney (Whitefish), 1-0.

Wrestlebacks — Aydan Williamson (Libby/Troy) pinned Brian Sweeney (Whitefish), 0:59; Alexander Mathewson (Polson) dec. over Austin Therriault (Lockwood), 8-3; Gabe Walker (Miles City) pinned Aydan Williamson (Libby/Troy), 3:58.

Quarterfinal — Brodey Skogen (Sidney/Fairview) pinned Alexander Mathewson (Polson), 0:50.