WRESTLING: Bigfork looks to get divisional grapplers to state
Eureka won its first Western B/C divisional wrestling title last year for the first time in more than 20 years.
The Lions have no intentions of waiting that long again.
Eureka will be a heavy favorite to repeat as divisional champions on Saturday in Florence.
Wrestling begins at 9:30 a.m.
“This is definitely the best team we’ve had depth-wise and number-wise,” Eureka’s Danny Lemer, in his 11th season as head coach, said.
Prior to last season, Eureka’s last divisional title was in 1991.
The Lions have no returning divisional champions in their lineup for the weekend, but six wrestlers have passed the 30-win mark this season — Kahden Bakkila (36-5), a junior at 120; Jonathan Schmidt (38-4), a sophomore at 126; Josh Schmidt (35-3), a senior at 138; Cannan Smith (38-10), a junior at 145; Garrett Graves (37-5), a sophomore at 170; and Kaelan Yanak (31-10), a junior at 285.
Eureka posted a 13-4 mark in duals this season.
“Nothing special,” Lemer said of words of advice for his wrestlers.
“This is what they have worked for all season.”
Lemer said the status of junior James Dunn (29-6) is 50/50 for the weekend. Dunn suffered a concussion at the Thompson Falls Invitational and has not been cleared to wrestle.
He weighs in at 138 pounds.
If he can’t go, Eureka might be open at that weight class.
Lemer is hoping to advance half his wrestlers to the divisional finals.
Eureka is currently ranked No. 2 in the state coaches poll behind Colstrip.
Bigfork’s top divisional hopes rest with Castor Conley (22-10), a sophomore at 120; Conner Meyer (23-15), a senior at 132; and Matt Ferrier (15-9), a sophomore at 160. Those three have the best records on the squad.
“Kind of mixed,” Bigfork coach David Laird said of Conley’s season thus far.
“He’s had some good wins, some disappointing mistakes that led to losses, but overall he’s doing well. I’m glad he has two more years to keep working.”
Conley will move up to 126 for the divisional.
Laird said Meyer “has improved immensely since the beginning of the season. He’s learning good techniques and I’m hoping he’s peaking at the end.”
Laird said Ferrier has been impressive in his first year on the mats.
“A strong kid, a really good athlete,” Laird said.
“I hope he sticks with it.
“If everybody shows up to wrestle and does exactly what they are suppose to be doing, there is a chance we could take a few to state,” Laird said.
“If things go our way, we wrestled hard, kids could place higher at divisional.”
Libby will nine wrestlers on the mats and no seniors in the lineup.
“We have a pretty young group, pretty inexperienced,” Libby coach Kelly Morford said.
“It’s been a growing process this season for sure. The one thing I’m happy with is a lot of kids had in the upper 30 or 40 matches this season. That’s been important for us.”
Buddy Doolin (38-9), a freshman at 103, has the most wins for the Loggers.
“We knew coming in (he would contribute),” Morford said.
“He had a successful career in Little Guy. He’s solid on his feet, one of those guys who always has good body position and knows where he is at.”
Laine Young (31-19), a sophomore at 138, has the second most wins.
“A really tough weight class all year for him,” Morford said.
“In matches he’s lost, he’s been close. In the last couple weeks he has taken a big jump forward. He’s ready to make a good run at the end of the season.”
Dylan Parrish (29-14), a junior at 160, and Reed Christensen (29-21), a junior at 132, are closing in on 30 wins.
“Parrish has been battling a sickness,” Morford said.
“He has a good chance to wrestle for a title this weekend and place at state.”
Morford said Christensen has managed to beat a couple wrestlers in the late going who he lost to earlier this season.
“One of those kids who works hard, has never made the state tournament before,” Morford said.
“I know he has his mind set on it this year.”
Western B/C Divisional
At Florence
Saturday
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
Schools competing — Arlee, Bigfork, Florence-Carlton, Libby, Eureka, Noxon, Plains/Hot Springs, Ronan, St. Ignatius/Charlo, Superior, Thompson Falls.
Top four finishers in each weight class advance to state, Feb. 12-13 in Billings
Divisional Lineups
Bigfork Vikings
120 - Sophomore - Castor Conley (22-10)
126 - Senior - Keaton O’Conner (10-12)
132- Senior - Conner Meyer (23-15)
138 - Senior - Shade Youso (15-18)
152 - Senior - Clint Williams-Keo (5-18)
152 - Junior -Braden Tovey (5-13)
160 - Sophomore - Matt Ferrier (15-9)
170 - Sophomore - Jaden Dillon (0-0)
205 - Sophomore - Drayson Hengartner (0-0)
Eureka Lions
113 - Freshman - Josh Goff (15-15)
120 - Junior - Kahden Bakkila (36-5) Ranked 4th in the state
126 - Sophomore - Jonathan Schmidt (38-4) Ranked 5th
126 - Freshman - Nate Cargill (4-11)
132 - Freshman - James Fehr (17-18)
138 - Senior - Josh Schmidt (35-3) Ranked 6th
138 - Junior - James Dunn (29-6) ranked 4th
145 - Junior - Cannan Smith (38-10)
152 - Senior - Jarrett Pecora (28-9)
160 - Junior - Colby Hammack (23-18)
160 - Junior - Levi Garcia (15-12)
170 - Sophomore - Garrett Graves (37-5) Ranked 5th
170 - Junior - Bridger Syzmoniak (8-9)
182 - Junior - Austin Sherwood (15-8)
205 - Junior - Joe Fehr (20-11) Ranked 4th
205 - Sophomore - Sam Johnson (10-13)
285 - Junior - Kaelan Yanak (31-10) Ranked 5th
Libby Loggers
103 - Freshman - Buddy Doolin (38-9) - Ranked 5th in the state
103 - Freshman - Colten Clemons (15-18)
113 - Sophomore - Mason Sams (22-25) - Returning State Qualifier
132 - Junior - Reed Christensen (29-21)
138 - Sophomore - Laine Young (31-19) - Returning State Qualifier
152 - Sophomore - Tim Carvey (27-17)
152 - Sophomore - Tanner Wood (25-23)
160 - Junior - Dylan Parrish (29-14) - Returning State Qualifier - Ranked 5th
205 - Sophomore - Clancy Gout (19-15)