MatCats pummel Bulldogs, 81-0

The Columbia Falls wrestling team had a strong start to its season last week, hammering the hapless Whitefish Bulldogs in a Dec. 6 home dual 81-0. The next day, the MatCats traveled to Polson and took second in the tournament there, beaten only by Class AA Missoula Sentinel.

Against the Bulldogs, the MatCats had pins by Winfield West, Mason Fetters, Shonn Roberts, Haze Bell, Bryan Shaffer, Cody Walters, Jason Williams and Andrew Burgess. Zayne Brunz was the only wrestler to have a decision, defeating Bulldog Judah Prestegaard 2-0. The Bulldogs also gave up four forfeits.

In Polson, Roberts and Shaffer won individual titles. Roberts beat Torren Lawson of Florence 12-3 in the 126-pound weight class, while Shaffer beat Riley Jessop of Corvallis in the 152-pound weight class in overtime. The final score was not available.

Heavyweight Spencer Ross lost in the championship to Missoula Hellgate’s Colin Hammock, 5-3. The MatCats also had third-place finishes from 98-pounder Winfield West and 138-pounder Colton Gove. At the Wes Hines junior varsity tournament Dec. 7, the MatCats had first-place finishes from Hunter Peterson, Chase Ramberg, Dalton Nelson, Taylor Mitchell and Colton Sweeney.

Coach Jessie Schaeffer was pleased with the team’s great start.

“It’s very promising,” he said. “We’re showing great intensity, but we also have a lot to work on.”

He noted that last year, the MatCats had three placers in Polson, this year they had nine.

The boys are on the road Thursday in Dillon and then travel to the Mining City Duals in Butte this weekend.

98 — Eli Scheeler, CF, won by forfeit; 106 — Open; 113 — Winfield West, CF, pinned James Buckley, 3:27; 120 Mason Fetters, CF, pinned Sage Cornelius, :21; 126 — Shonn Roberts, CF, pinned Christian Newby, :44; 132 — Haze Bell, CF, pinned Kaleb Venemen, :52; 138 — Colton Gove, CF, won by forfeit; 145 — Zayne Brunz, CF, dec Judah Prestegaard, 2-0; 152 — Bryan Shaffer, CF, pinned Matthew Sampson, 3:41; 160 — Cody Walters, CF, pinned Marcus Jackson,1:50; 170 — Jason Williams, CF, pinned Travis Catina, 3:04; 182 — Ike Schweikert, CF, won by forfeit; 195 — Andrew Burgess, CF, pinned Matt Carr, 2:53; 220 — Mikey Dennison, CF, won by forfeit; HWT — Spencer Ross, CF, won by forfeit.

Polson Invitational

98 pounds

Championship – Caleb Bagnell, FRT, pinned Justin Gibson, GLA, 3:24.

Third place – Blaine Parkin, SUP, pinned Lena Babcock, TF, :17.

106 pounds

Championship – Jake Hegel, MSH, dec. Cody Warner, FRT, 6-2.

Third place – Winfield West, CF, dec. Thunder Morales, POL, 4-2.

113 pounds

Championship – Garrett White, EUR, maj. dec. Anthony Parkin, SUP, 16-0.

Third place – Taylor Martin, POL, pinned James Buckley, WF, :40.

120 pounds

Championship – Zach Durden, EUR, dec. Chase Connor, COR, 4-3.

Third place – Jace Kovalicky, MSH, pinned Kaleb Gravelin, CF, 4:00.

126 pounds

Championship – Shonn Roberts, CF, maj. dec. Torren Lawson, FLO, 12-3.

Third place – Coltin Cox, HAM, dec. Josh Schmidt, EUR, 4-2.

132 pounds

Championship – Dylan Shulte, MSH, dec. Tylor Olson, COR, 6-0.

Third place – Carlos Quinones, POL, inj. def. Cody Decker, GLA.

138 pounds

Championship – Brandon Dumont, RON, dec. Easton Albert, HAM, 7-0.

Third place – Colton Gove, CF, dec. James Dunn, EUR, 9-2.

145 pounds

Championship – Cody Lemons, FRT, pinned Bridger LaPierre, SUP, 1:09.

Third place – Chandler Paulson, MHS, dec. Colton Bray, TF, 7-2.

152 pounds

Championship – Bryan Shaffer, CF, dec. Riley Jessop, COR, overtime score n/a.

Third place – Chance Stack, MHS, dec. Arik Lybeck, GLA, 9-7.

160 pounds

Championship – Wyatt Jessop, COR, maj. dec. Wyatt Miller, EUR, 12-3.

Third place – Jacob Ferkin, GLA, maj. dec. Cody Walters, CF, 12-2.

170 pounds

Championship – Jacen Peterson, SI, maj. dec. Justin Harbison, MHS, 13-4.

Third place – Zach Tompkins, HAM, dec. Tel Motichka, POL, n/a.

182 pounds

Championship – Sam Burdette, COR, pinned Tele Seemann, POL, n/a.

Third place – Steven Bravo, SI, pinned Lauren Christopher, RON, :35.

195 pounds

Championship – Michael Bumgarner, HAM, pinned Philip Whitney HAM JV, 1:34.

Third place – Jake Rebish, MSH, pinned Andrew Burgess, CF, 3:00.

220 pounds

Championship – Jaydn Wilson, MSH, pinned Keenan Hendrickson, FLO, 3:53.

Third place – Rand Pritzkau, FRT, pinned Mikey Dennison, CF, :43.

Heavyweight

Championship – Colin Hammock, MSH, dec. Spencer Ross, CF, 5-3.

Third place – Zach Dennehy, GLA, pinned Cole Schmidt, COR, 3:25.