WRESTLING: Four Bigfork grapplers headed to state tournament
FLORENCE —Four Vikings notched top four finishes at Saturday's Western B/C divisional tournament, qualifying each for the upcoming state tournament.
Bigfork finished seventh as a team at the event. Connor Meyer was second at 132 pounds and Matt Farrier finished second at 160 pounds for the Vikings. Castor Conley won a 9-8 decision to finish third at 126 and Drayson Hengertner won by pin to finish third at 205 pounds.
The Eureka wrestling team will send 10 wrestlers to the state tournament after securing their second straight tournament title.
The Lions finished with a final team score of 199.5 and won four individual championships. Thompson Falls finished second with 182.5 points and Ronan third with 159.
Kahden Bakkila kicked off the championship round with a bang for Eureka, winning the 120-pound title by pin in 5:12. Jonathan Schmidt followed with the 126-pound title in the next match, winning by pin in 2:22. Garrett Graves won the 170-pound class by pin in 5:15 and Joe Fehr the 205-pound class by pin in 1:15.
Cannan Smith, at 145 pounds, and Kaelan Yanak, at heavyweight, finished second. Josh Schmidt finished third at 138 and Jarrett Pecora (152), Levi Garcia (160) and Austin Sherwood (182) finished fourth to secure spots at the All-Class State Tournament, which begins Friday at the Rimrock Auto Arena at the MetraPark in Billings.
Libby, which finished sixth as a team, will be sending four wrestlers to the Metra, with Buddy Doolin (103), Laine Young (138) and Clancy Gout (205) finishing second in their classes. Reed Christiensen finished third at 132 pounds, winning a 10-7 decision in the consolation final.
WESTERN B-C DIVISIONAL
Saturday
At Florence
Team scores — 1, Eureka 199.5; 2, Thompson Falls 182.5; 3, Ronan 159; 4, Mission-Charlo 112; 5, Florence 109; 6, Libby-Troy 101.5; 7, Bigfork 74; 8, Plains-Hot Springs 73; 9, Arlee 63; 10, Superior 58.
Championship
103 – David Crowe, TF, p. Buddy Doolin, LIB, 3:59.
113 – Hunter Peterson, RON, md. Kaleb Frank, TF, 15-2.
120 – Kahden Bekkila, EUR, p. Bailey Weible, M-C, 5:12.
126 – Jonathan Schmidt, EUR, p. Peyton Irvine, TF, 2:22.
132 – Cody Garrison, TF, p. Connor Meyer, Big, 3:07.
138 – Dean Klakken, FLO, p. Laine Young, LIB, 2:42.
145 – Jared Neiss, RON, p. Cannan Smith, EUR, 3:05.
152 – Jase Sorenson, TF, d. Trent Dennison, M-C, 8-6.
160 – Bridger LaPierre, SUP, d. Matt Fairrier, BIG,
170 – Garrett Graves, EUR, p. Kyle Milner, TF, 5:15.
182 – Gus Bosley, M-C, d. Alex Bertollt, ARL, 13-6.
205 – Joe Fehr, EUR, p. Clancy Gout, LIB, 1:15.
285 – Ethan Goss-Dickie, M-C, d. Kaelan Yanak, EUR, 4-1.
Third place
103 – Garrett Jones, TF, p. Zane Walchuk, RON, 3:34.
113 – Gavin Martin, RON, p. Daniel Uli, P-HS, 1:44.
120 – Cole Gilleard, M-C, d. Jack Mitchell, SUP, 8-3.
126 – Castor Conley, BIG, d. Skyler Titsworth, ARL, 9-8.
132 – Reed Christensen, LIB, d. Jethro Thorne, FLO, 10-7.
138 – Josh Schmidt, EUR, tf. Kyler Pancake, FLO, 4:35 (15-0).
145 – Jake Lile, P-HS, p. TJ Knoll, ARL, 2:02.
152 – James Detienne, P-HS, p. Jarrett Pecora, EUR, 4:05.
160 – Jesse Herrera, RON, p. Levi Garcia, EUR, :23.
170 – Spencer Jones, FLO, p. Steven Michal, RON, 1:40.
182 – Jace Pancake, FLO, d. Austin Sherwood, EUR, 12-7.
205 – Drayson Hengertner, BIG, p. Gray Cook, RON, 3:35.
285 – Ray Little Boy, RON, p. Braden Melland, TF, 2:57.
Fifth place
103 – Colten Clemons, LIB, by forfeit.
113 – Mason Sams, LIB, d. Noah Brown, FLO, 11-7.
120 – Kane McAllister, RON, p. Josiah Vanderwall, P-HS, 2:23.
126 – Anthony Dulac, FLO, def. Blaine Parkin, SUP, by forfeit.
132 – Kaleb Ververis, SUP, p. James Fehr, EUR, 1:18.
138 – Shade Youso, BIG, p. Tristian Fountain, TF, 1:56.
145 – Sam Ostwald, TF, p. Tucker McLees, SUP, 1:00.
152 – Tim Carvey, LIB, md. Tanner Wood, LIB, 12-1.
160 – Colby Hammack, EUR, def. Kane Lawson, P-HS, injury.
170 – George Shick, ARL, p. Austin Cooper, TF, :58.
182 – Sean Carroll, TF, by forfeit.
205 – Sam Johnson, EUR, def. Austyn Meinzen, FLO, injury.
285 – Ethan Christopher, RON, p. Chris Anderson, M-C, :31.