Anders Thompson fifth at Super 32 Challenge

Anders Thompson, a senior at Flathead High School, took fifth place at 190 pounds at the prestigious Super 32 Challenge, a folkstyle wrestling tournament in Greensboro, N.C.

Thompson, one of seven Montanans to compete at the Greensboro Coliseum, went 7-2 at the tournament this past weekend. Both losses came to Karson Tompkins, the seventh-ranked high schooler in the nation who is headed to the Air Force Academy.

Thompson, who is headed to Wyoming to wrestle for the Cowboys, was the lone Montanan to place in Greensboro. Only wrestlers who placed in the top four of their previous state tournament were eligible.

“There are 160 nationally-ranked kids in the boys bracket, if that gives you an idea,” Flathead coach Jeff Thompson, who is Anders’ dad, said. “It is the toughest folkstyle high school tournament of the year.”

Montana’s contingent included Gunnar Thompson, twin to Anders, who wrestled at 175; Makael Aguayo of Billings West, the 103-pound state champ as a freshman who wrestled 120; three-time state champion Keyen Hernandez from West, at 120; Belgrade’s two-time state champion Mason Gutenberger, also at 120; Nolan Brown of Belgrade, a state finalist last year, at 113; and incoming freshman Cael Florchinger of Great Falls, who wrestled at 106.

Anders Thompson was a State AA finalist at 170 the past two seasons.

“If you want to be at the next level, this is where you need to be,” Jeff Thompson said. “The best against the best.”