MatCats take second in Polson

With champions in three weight classes, the Columbia Falls wrestling squad took second place at the Owen Invitational in Polson last week.

Ben Windauer pinned Parker Adler of Polson at 145 pounds; Mason Fetters pinned Cody Garrison of Thompson Falls at 152 pounds and Storm Kemppainen dropped Jase Sorenson of Thompson Falls 8-1 at 170 pounds.

Heavyweight Kyler Koski took second as he was pinned by Kalen Yanak of Eureka in the final round.

The MatCats also had fourth-place finishes from Winfield West (120) and Hunter Peterson (132). West lost a tight match by a 3-2 decision against Owen Brown of Ronan. Peterson lost by pin to Cameron Hegel.

Missoula Sentinel won the meet with 155.5 points, while the MatCats had 146 points.

But coach Jessie Schaeffer noted the scoring was wrong — Sentinel was awarded points from a wrestler who was disqualified.

The Cats, in reality, were just 2.5 points behind.

Even so, it was the team’s best finish in 11 years and a great way to start the season, he said.

“We had a good showing,” he said.

Kemppainen had a particularly good weekend, pinning last year’s state champion Manny Rivera in the semis. Fetters also had a great tourney, as he pinned all his opponents.

Eureka was third. The MatCats are on the road Thursday to compete in the Dillon mixer, where they wrestle Sidney and Dillon, and then have the Mining City Duals in Butte Friday and Saturday.