Mat Cats crown four champs, place second at Eureka

Sal Baccaro, Justin Whitman, Kelly Houle and Kodie Kenfield captured individual championships, leading the Columbia Falls wrestlers to second place at the Buzz Lucey Memorial Tournament on Saturday in Eureka.

The Mat Cats finished just 43 1/2 points behind Class AA power Flathead. The Braves won the title with 220 1/2 points, and CFHS was second with 177. Glacier was third (107 1/2), Polson fourth (106) and Whitefish fifth (94).

Baccaro pinned Jake Kinkle of Flathead in 3:55 for the 98-pound crown. Whitman earned a decision over Jake Steuben of Flathead at 105. In the 189-pound title match, Houle shut out

Tyler Komenda of Flathead in a 7-0 decision. Kenfield pinned Derek Crittenden of Whitefish in 2:59 for the 215-pound title.

Joe Gross was in the 152-pound title match, but lost a 10-7 decision to Kaleb Prestegaard of Whitefish.

“All five in the finals had exceptional tournaments,” Mat Cats head coach Jessie Schaeffer said. “They wrestled hard.”

Schaeffer singled out Whitman for his effort.

The Mat Cats had five other place-winners at Eureka.

Placing third were Adam Richardson (119), Jarrett Smith (145) and Cody Bartos (285). Hunter Fishel (112) and Brady Richardson (125) were both fourth.

Schaeffer was pleased that the Mat Cats had 10 wrestlers in placing rounds, and seven of them won their last match.

“The last two or three practices we’ve been very positive,” the coach said. “It’s exciting for the team. We wanted to try to get a real good confidence booster for the kids before Christmas break.”

The Mat Cats had three regular starters missing in last Thursday’s 42-36 loss to the Flathead junior varsity at CFHS.

Winning by fall for the Mat Cats were Baccaro, Houle, Kenfield and Bartos. Smith won a 4-3 decision, scoring a takedown against Steven Mantel with 20 seconds to go in the final period.

Gross earned a 7-5 decision over Drew Kammerezel, who was fifth at state last year.

Baccaro won by fall over Kinkel in 1:25. Houle pinned Tyler Komenda with nine seconds left in the first period. Kenfield also won with a quick fall, sticking Teff Rudolph in 1:17. Bartos pinned Eric Hatterman in 3:51.

Brady Richardson picked up a forfeit win.

The Mat Cats have added a dual to the schedule coming out of the holiday break. They take on Glacier on Saturday, Jan. 3 in Kalispell. JV matches start at noon, followed by varsity action around 1 p.m.