CFHS matmen have more experience, depth this season

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Led by defending state champion Michael Hader and two other medal winners in last year's finale, Columbia Falls will have a stronger varsity wrestling team — from top to bottom — than last season.

The Wildcats, with about 30 wrestlers out for the sport, open the 2007-08 season on Saturday at the Polson Invitational. Twelve schools are expected to have wrestlers on the mats, including class AA Flathead as well as Whitefish and Polson from the Northwest A Conference. Libby and Ronan teams will be in action elsewhere.

CFHS had a very young squad last year and was never able to fill all 15 weight classes. The Cats finished fourth at the divisional tournament and 12th at state. Havre is the defending class A state champion. Frenchtown was second and Polson third last season.

Hader was the 140-pound state champion in 2006-07. He earned a 6-3 decision over Alex Martin of Hamilton in the title match. Martin returns this season for the Broncs. Hader finished with a 33-2 overall record.

Hader, Cody Kolodejchuk and Clayton Patterson were divisional champs last season. Kolodejchuk was second at state at 130, and Patterson placed fifth at 105. All three are seniors this year.

"We're keeping the kids excited about the sport," third-year Cats head coach Jessie Schaeffer said. "We have the potential to do some really neat things at conference [divisionals] and we could be in the top four at state."

While other teams in the Northwest A are struggling to have a full lineup — like CFHS was last season — the Cats have more depth this time around. Four or five forfeits given up in each dual was common last year.

According to Schaeffer, Polson, Libby and Ronan are "always tough."

"It'll come down to numbers in the program and keeping lineups healthy," Schaeffer said of the team aspect.

The Cats should be two-deep at several weight classes, and being able to enter four extra wrestlers beyond the regular lineup will be an open door for CFHS at divisionals.

Kelly Houle and Dave Caron return as Schaeffer's assistants, and they're joined by Ben Schaeffer, Jessie's younger brother. Ben is a long-term substitute teacher in School District 6.

Jessie Schaeffer pointed to very good work ethic when asked about this year's team.

"They're getting the job done. They're more supportive of each other," he said, comparing the Cats to last season's squad, made up mostly of freshmen and sophomores.

Part of that is more maturity by the wrestlers, and seasoning on the mat, according to Schaeffer.

The Cats had wrestle-offs on Tuesday to determine who would fill the weights for the Polson tourney, and there is good competition at many classes.

Hader will wrestle at 152 to start the season and could drop to 145 later.

"Michael's a solid, tough kid, both physically and mentally," Schaeffer said. "He's a student of the sport."

Hader's mentality held him back early last season, but he overcame that as he piled up individual victories.

"He's wrestling his match," Schaeffer said of Hader at this point in his career.

According to the coach, Kolodejchuk is a "hard-nosed and physical" wrestler who will be on the mat at 130 and 135. Schaeffer said Patterson, whose goal is to wrestle at 119 this season, is "better at getting aggressive. He's putting aggressiveness and technique together."

Other returnees who placed in the top four at divisionals last season are senior Casey Stewart, juniors Kodie Kenfield and Travis Pete, and sophomores Jarrett Smith, Kelly Houle and Virgil Matt.

Schaeffer said that Matt is physical and is "going to make some noise" this season. Stewart is expected to "step it up" and Houle has "matured a lot," according to the coach. Schaeffer said the team-oriented Kenfield, who wrestled at heavyweight most of last season, will go at 215 this season. Nate Woods, a junior, fills the heavyweight slot for the Cats this year.

After the Polson tourney to open the season, the Cats host Ronan next Tuesday. Ronan lost five seniors from last year, when the Chiefs dominated CFHS in dual action. Junior varsity matches start at 6:30 p.m. with the varsity dual to follow.