Flathead runs dual streak to 77 in Butte
BUTTE — The Flathead Brave Brawlers won three more duals Friday — running their streak to 77, the second-best in Montana high school history — to put themselves in prime position at the Mining City Duals.
Flathead, Butte, Great Falls High and Billings West all have byes into the second round of Saturday’s championship bracket. The Brawlers will face either Gallatin or Columbia Falls.
Glacier, wrestling in Pool 3, went 1-2 Friday. Columbia Falls went 2-1 — beating Glacier 46-30 — to advance alongside Great Falls High.
Flathead started the day with a 78-0 win over Frenchtown, then beat South Freemont (Idaho) 66-12 and Polson 76-6. The Brave Brawlers cruised while using multiple wrestlers at some weight classes, but several grapplers had unbeaten days.
Kohen Riley (190), Lane Chivers (165), Brett Chivers (150), Aiden Downing (144), Daniel Evert (138), Hunter Arriaga (132), Dayton Naldret (110), Clifford Nance (175), Dane Lake (157) and Aiden Lake (103) all won two and oftentimes three matches.
Flathead moved past Sidney (76) in consecutive duals wins; way out there at No. 1 is Butte High, which won 112 straight during his 1980-90s run of state championship.
For Glacier, Aiden Sweat (110) won three times, including one forfeit, and Niko Coles went 3-0 with 3 pins at 165. Mark Ahner went 2-1 at 190.
The MatCats of Columbia Falls also beat Missoula Hellgate while losing to the Great Falls Bison. Dylan Delorme (165) scored a pair of pins for Columbia Falls, as did Bradley Beck at 132. Winslow Peter (175) had two wins plus a forfeit; Rowdy Crump won three matches, two by pin.
Ronan lost three tightly contested duals in Pool 4, but several Chiefs had nice days. Koda King (165) picked up three pins, as did Dominique McKay at 175). Brady Huot had two points and a major decision at 190. Ridge Cote won twice at 132 as well.
Mining City Duals
Friday and Saturday, Butte
Friday results
Pool 2
Flathead 78, Frenchtown 0
South Freemont 60, Polson 24
Flathead 66, South Freemont 12
Frenchtown 67, Polson 9
Flathead 76, Polson 6
South Freemont 48, Frenchtown 35
Pool 3
Glacier 54, Hellgate 15
Great Falls 55, Columbia Falls 22
Great Falls 49, Glacier 30
Columbia Falls 54, Hellgate 6
Columbia Falls 46, Glacier 30
Great Falls 72, Hellgate 0
Pool 4
Missoula Big Sky 42, Ronan 34
Butte 51, Ronan 29
Billings Skyview 47, Ronan 36
Pool 5
Billings Senior 66, Browning 17
Browning 41, CMR JV 39
Sentinel 52, Browning 27