Mat Cats open at Whitefish

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Like many other high school, junior high and middle school sports, wrestling is a numbers game. When you have the wrestlers to fill all, or nearly all of the 13 weight classes, you can be very competitive as a team.

Columbia Falls gave up from 12 to 30 points in each dual last season in forfeits, and was only able to win three of the Mat Cats' eight conference duals. But with 36 wrestlers out for the sport as of Monday compared to 29 last year, CFHS is better able to fill the weight classes. In addition, the Mat Cats have more depth throughout the lineup this season.

Jessie Schaeffer returns for his fourth year as head coach. Returning assistant coaches are Dave Caron, Kelly Houle and Ben Schaeffer. Their team opens with a dual at Whitefish on Friday. The junior varsity matches start at 6:30 p.m., followed by varsity action. CFHS competes in the varsity-only Polson Invitational on Saturday.

Of the 36 wrestlers, 14 are freshmen. That bodes well for the future of the Mat Cat program.

"The focus is on that group," Jessie Schaeffer said of the frosh. "We'll try to hold them together for four years. We want to keep them hooked on the sport and not burn them out."

There are 10 sophomores out for wrestling, making three-fourths of the team freshmen and sophomores.

Schaeffer and his assistants have only four seniors on the squad. They are Kodie Kenfield, Russell Plevel, Brady Richardson and Travis Pete. Kenfield was in the varsity lineup throughout last season, and Plevel was on the divisional tournament team. Pete and Richardson did not wrestle last year.

Junior Kelly Houle is the only returning state place-winner for the Mat Cats. He will fill the 189-pound slot this season.

Wrestle-offs for varsity spots against Whitefish were held Wednesday. Here are the potential wrestlers in each weight class:

98 pounds — Sal Baccaro (soph). 105 — Open. 112 — Justin Whitman (frosh). 119 — Hunter Fishel (soph), Adam Richardson (frosh), Alex Peterson (frosh). 125 — Brady Richardson (sr). 130 — Virgil Matt (soph). 135 — Travis Pete (sr). 145 and 152 — Shawn Whitman (soph), Jarrett Smith (jr), John Woody (jr), Nick Toavs (soph), Dylan Corbett (frosh), Cole Thompson (frosh). 160 — Joe Gross (jr), Will Joubert (jr). 171 — Open. 189 — Kelly Houle (jr), Doug Woodworth (soph). 215 — Kodie Kenfield (sr), Jacob Babcock (frosh). 275 — Cody Bartos (soph), Quinton Millward (soph), R.J. Webber (frosh).

Junior Aaron Howland, a first-year wrestler, will go at 171 pounds later. Freshman Travis Province will eventually fill the 105-pound slot.

"We have a little more depth this year," Schaeffer said. "These individuals are pushing each other a little more."

Schaeffer is very pleased with what's happening in the wrestling room.

"The work ethic is the best I've seen since I've been here," he said. "As far as mat experience, we're a little low. When you have hard work and a coachable attitude you have kids who are ready to go."

In terms of the conference, Schaeffer believes Ronan and Polson will reload after substantial graduation losses. CFHS should be among the top three teams in the league.