Flathead teams are ready to defend wrestling titles

Flathead’s Brave Brawlers have another State AA title in sight at Billings MetraPark, but it won’t be easy.

Not that it ever is.

“On paper, looking at our draws and looking at Billings Senior, it’s going to be tight,” Flathead wrestling coach Jeff Thompson said. “We just have to do our job and compete.”

Flathead has done that all campaign, in duals and tournaments. The Brave Brawlers advanced 24 wrestlers to state, including six Western AA champions: Chase Youso (205 pounds), Fin Nadeau (145), Cade Troupe (152), Anders Thompson (170), Aiden Downing (113) and

Glacier put 19 wrestlers in the state tournament, led by 132-pound junior Teegan Vasquez, who’s gunning for a third state crown. One teammate made the Western AA finals – Royce Conklin at 170 – and five more placed in the top four.

The second year of the All-Class Girls tournament looks like a Flathead repeat, given there are 31 Bravettes headed to Billings. Hania Halverson (21-1 at 120) leads the way, along with Lily McMahon at 126, Lily Conover at 132, Skye Shelmerdine at 113, McKenna McCarthy at 152, Lucie Libby at 205 and Boston Howell and Alliyah Stevens at heavyweight.

Glacier’s girls team is sending 14, including one senior: Audrey Goodsell, who is 8-2 at 170. Juniors Jasmine Cartwright and Madisyn Frazier at 145, sophomore Emily Pedron (21-6) at 120 and freshman Brooke Yeadon (18-7 at 103) are among the Wolfpack leaders.

A year ago, as host of the tournament, the Flathead boys edged Senior by 7.5 points. It would be nice to have a bigger cushion, but the Brawlers can only do so much about how much the Broncs, or Butte Bulldogs, or Billings West Bears score.

“Each and every tournament this year, we’ve felt the same way,” Thompson said. “And this team has stepped up and impressed us every time. We have the potential and firepower. We just have to wrestle to our ability.”

State A

Following a second-place finish at the Western A Divisional the Columbia Falls Matcats are ranked No. 3 in the state, in the Class A coaches poll released this week.

Frenchtown is No. 1, with four-time defending champion Sidney No. 2.

Columbia Falls is led by 138-pounder Justin Windauer, a top seed, but the Cats also saw Tyler Gilfrey get a divisional title at 120, Josiah Kilman win at 132 – and opponents shouldn’t sleep on 170-pounder Brandon Roll.

Browning’s Brendyn Whiteman is a favorite at 205, after taking fourth at that weight a year ago; Ronan freshman Ridge Cote is a top seed and owner of a 45-1 record at 113.

Libby’s Jace DeShazer is ranked No. 2 at 182 and teammate Aydan Williamson is ranked No. 3 at 285

Other threats to place include Landon Bishop (145) and Koy McAllister (126) for Ronan.

State B-C

Thompson Falls takes in four wrestlers with final-session goals: Trae Thilmony at 145, Eli Ratliff, who’s 28-5 and Western B-C champion at 152; Shane Reishus (22-5) at 160 and Max Hannum (23-5) at 170.

Thilmony is going for a third straight state crown. Ratliff and Hannum were fourth at state last year.

Eureka’s Johnny Fehr, sixth at 205 a year ago, is coming back at the same weight with a 25-5 record and a divisional crown. Plains’ David Schultze, a senior, won the Western 138-pound title.

Bigfork has four wrestlers going, led by Traic Fainter at 103 and Vaughn Pendlay at 160. Both finished fourth at divisionals.