Brave Brawlers cruise to crosstown win
The Brave Brawlers hit the mat pinning Saturday and by the time the big fellas wrestled — Timber Richberg getting a third-period fall over Glacier’s Rocco Beccari — the first dual of the season had been decided.
Flathead ended several months of anticipation with a 57-12 victory at crosstown rival Glacier, losing just two matches.
“These guys,” began Flathead coach Jeff Thompson. “Basically, they’re mat rats. They’ve been waiting 8-9 months for this, and they really just wanted to wrestle. They wanted to compete with someone else outside of the practice room.”
The dual started at 138 pounds, where freshman Anders Thompson scored a second-period pin of Hunter Magness. The Brawlers won the next eight matches as well, including one by default, before Glacier’s Josh Melton broke through with a pin of Dylan Kratofil at 113.
Flathead’s Logan Stansberry, another freshman, followed with an 8-0 decision over Glacier’s Thomas Putnam.
Jeff Thompson was happy to see three freshmen, including David Naldret at 103, win their first varsity matches, and singled out Stansberry.
“To go against a junior that’s a pretty tough kid, that’s a big win for him,” he said. “That’s a ranked kid.”
Richberg had to cut eight pounds to get down to the 285-pound limit at his class, and got the fall over Beccari in 5 minutes, 10 seconds.
“You’re talking two big men out there, getting after it,” Thompson said. “Two big, tough heavyweights.”
Glacier’s Melton got his pin in 3:14; teammate Teegan Vasquez, a defending state champion, got a fall in 2:42 over Gade Gardner at 126.
"We can work on winning more of those 50-50 positions and finishing the periods stronger." Glacier coach Ross Dankers said of his Wolfpack. “It was good to get that first competition out of the way for the guys. Flathead is definitely a title contender.”
The Brawlers were already a factor before getting Ryan Nelson, who transferred from Vashon, Washington in the summer. Nelson was second at 170 pounds at last year’s Washington Class 1A state tournament.
He won by default Saturday; in all Flathead dropped just five matches all day between junior varsity and the varsity teams, Thompson said.
Flathead boys 57, Glacier 12
103 - Davin Naldret, Flathead, d. Garrett Roach, 10-4.
113 - Josh Melton, Glacier, pinned Dylan Kratofil, 3:14.
120 - Logan Stansberry, Flathead, d. Thomas Putnam, 8-0.
126 - Teegan Vasquez, Glacier, pinned Cade Gardner, 2:42.
132 - Asher Kemppainen, Flathead, pinned Seth Doolan, 5:04.
138 - Anders Thompson, Flathead, pinned Hunter Magness, 3:53.
145 - Cade Troupe, Flathead, pinned Lance Fretwell, 0:57.
152 - Fin Nadeau, Flathead, pinned Kyle McCollam, Glacier, 3:32.
160 - Noah Poe-Hatten, Flathead, major dec. Royce Conklin, 13-2.
170 - Chase Youso, Flathead, tech. Fall T.J. Gannon, 17-2.
182 - Ryan Nelson, Flathead, won by default.
205 - Gaige Winter, Flathead, pinned Connor Crock, 3:53.
285 - Timber Richberg, Flathead, pinned Rocco Beccari, 5:10.
Elsewhere
Mike McChesney Memorial Duals
at Florence
Bigfork 54, Anaconda 16
103-Traic Fainter (BF) won by forfeit
113-Nate Blodnick (Ana), pinned Jason Merringer, :24
120-double forfeit
126-Angus Anderson (BF), pinned Collin Simpson, :38
132-Jimmy Lovett (Ana) won by forfeit
138-Eli Tidwell (BF) won by forfeit
145-Tommy Sawyer (Ana), maj dec Shelton Wall, 13-2
152-Vaughn Pendlay (BF) pinned Joe Williams, 1:03
160-Archie Brevik (BF) pinned Justin Jette, :56
170-Joseph Farrier (BF) won by forfeit
182-Dale Relyea (BF) pinned Carter Sampson. :58
205-Evan Tidwell (BF) won by forfeit
285-Fletcher Postlewait (BF) won by forfeit
Bigfork 30, Whitehall 43
103-Traic Fainter (BF) pinned Isaac Skogen, :51
113-Jason Merringer (BF) won by forfeit
120-Dane Hoover (WH) won by forfeit
126-Angus Anderson (BF), pinned Dallon Lanes 1:03
132-Wesley Biggers (WH) won by forfeit
138-Eli Tidwell (BF) pinned Michael Reiff, :12
145-Trenton Walker (WH) pinned Shelton Wall, 3:19
152-Dallen Hoover (WH) pinned Vaughn Pendlay, 2:56
160-Kyle Denny (WH), maj dec Archie Brevik, 11-0
170-Miles Hoerauf (WH) pinned Joseph Farrier, 4:58
182-Dale Relyea (BF) pinned Justin Kuehl, :40
205-James Dubois (WH), pinned Evan Tidwell, :52
285-Leo Scafani (WH) dec Fletcher Postlewait, 4-1
Other scores
Whitehall 45, Florence 24,
Florence 48, Anaconda 24