MatCats win divisional crown

Coach Jessie Schaeffer has said all season long his wrestling team was dangerous. The MatCats proved him right on Groundhog Day, winning the Northwest Class A Divisional Tournament, beating second-place Frenchtown 255 to 218 1/2. This was Columbia Falls’ first divisional win since 2000.

“The men rose to the occasion and did everything we asked them to,” Schaeffer said. “It was fun coaching in their corner.”

Six wrestlers beat opponents they hadn’t beaten this year. That was the difference, Schaeffer said.

“They came together when they needed to,” he said. “That was a huge accomplishment.”

The MatCats had individual championships from Cameron Linstead (105), Shonn Roberts (112) Josiah Osborne (130), Bryan Shaffer (145) and Jacob Burgess (160).

The MatCats also had third-place finishes from Jordan Hughes (98), Kaleb Gravelin (112), Seth McCall (125), Cameron Peterson (171), Matt Erhart (215) and heavyweight Spencer Ross. Chase Ramberg took second at 140.

Some of the wins were against their own teammates. Osborne, for example, pinned Colton Gove for the 130-pound title, and McCall pinned Dalton Nelson for third place.

The top four wrestlers in each weight class qualify for the state tournament at the Rimrock Arena in Billings this weekend. All told, the MatCats will send 18 to state where they’ll try to make their mark.

“We have some kids with a great opportunity” to get on the podium, Schaeffer said.

Columbia Falls 255, Frenchtown 218 1/2, Libby 136, Polson 133, Whitefish 87.

Individual results

Championship

98 – Cody Warner, Ftn, maj. dec. Caleb Bagnell, Ftn, 11-0.

105 – Cameron Linstead, CF, pinned Cady Hadeen, Pol, :17.

112 – Shonn Roberts, CF, pinned Tyler Ishler, Ftn, 1:16.

119 – Carlos Quinones, Pol, pinned Haze Bell, CF, 5:13.

125 – Zach Crace, Lib, pinned Dylan Moll, Pol, :36.

130 – Josiah Osborne, CF, pinned. Colton Gove, CF, :11.

135 – Mitch Haugen, Lib, dec. Cody Lemons, Ftn, 11-5.

140 – Craig Feistner, Pol, pinned Chase Ramberg, CF, 3:03.

145 – Bryan Schaffer, CF, dec. Jack Nerison, Ftn, 6-5.

152 – Logan Fisher, Ftn, dec. Garret Chapel, Lib, 11-9.

160 – Jacob Burgess, CF, dec. Austin Bailey, Lib, 5-1.

171 – David Anderson, Ftn, dec. Austin Bailey, Lib, 5-1.

189 – Sam Gordon, Ftn, pinned Aaron Vick, CF, 1:07.

215 – Zach Dolezal, Lib, dec. Rand Pritzkau, Ftn, 3-1.

Hwt – Wolf Zinke, Wfh, dec. Jordan Zuraff, Ftn, 7-5.

Third-fourth

98 – Jordon Hughes, CF, pinned James Buckley, Wfh, :36; 105 – Cameron LInstead, CF, pinned Cody Hadeen, Pol, :17; 112 – Kaleb Gravelin, CF, dec. Jaben Wenzel, Pol, 10-6; 119 – Jon Blachard, Ftn, dec. Alex Helgeson, Pol, 5-4; 125 – Seth McCall, CF, pinned Dalton Nelson, CF, 1:31; 130 – Matt Barton, Wfh, pinned Emmitt Schmidt, Wfh, 2:46; 135 – Skyler Higareda, Lib, dec. Wyhatt Price, Wfh, 9-3; 140 – Matthew Sampson, Wfh, dec. Kody Wilson, Ftn, 3-1; 145 – Judah Prestegaard, Wfh, dec. Ricky Roach, Lib, 3-1; 152 – Madison McWhirter, Wfh, dec. Cody Walters, CF, 8-3; 160 – Tel Motichka, Pol, dec. Josh Bowers, Lib, 7-2; 171 – Cameron Peterson, CF, dec. Tel Seemann, Pol, 6-3; 189 – Mike Corrigan, Pol, pinned Patrick Valentin, Lib, 1:48; 215 – Matt Erhart, CF, dec. Isaiah Williams, Pol, 9-8; Hwt – Ross Spencer, CF, dec. Nathan Brennett, Ftn, 5-0.

Fifth-sixth

98 – Thunder Morales, Pol, dec. Colter Krass, Wfh, n/a; 112 – Trison Caye, Popl, dec. Dylan Roby, Lib, n/a; 119 – Skyler Bowerman, Wfh, de. Ian Edwards-Myslicki, Lib, n/a; 125 – Trystan Armstrong, Wfh, dec. Ryan Stenerson, Ftn, n/a; 135 – Taylor Mitchell, CF, dec. Noah Fouty, Pol, n/a; 145 – Keith Clark, Ftn, dec. Alex Yeadon, Lib, n/a; 171 – Josiah Edington, Pol, dec. Kyle Boiwerman, Wfh, n/a; 215 – Joshua McGough, Lib, dec. Matt Gulbrandson, Wfh, n/a.