MatCats take third at Ronan duals

The Columbia Falls boys wrestling team took third at the Western Montana duals in Ronan Saturday. The MatCats were edged out by Hamilton in the semifinal round by three points, which knocked them out of championship contention.

Polson won the event, beating Hamilton 43-25. The MatCats, which have won the tournament several times in the past few years, took third, beating host Ronan 48-28.

Coach Jessie Schaeffer was a bit disappointed in the team, which has beaten Polson head-to-head earlier this season.

“We didn’t go into the (Hamilton dual) with the fire and intensity we should have,” he said.

Still, the young squad is improving.

“The lineup is starting to get where we need it to be,” he said. “It’s a lot of work to be in the top three in the state.”

That’s the goal of the squad. Havre at the state tournament is the odds-on Class A favorite, but the Cats have taken third for two years running now and look to be in the mix again this year. They’re getting some good performances lately. Hunter Peterson at 132 is wrestling very well, as is Storm Kemmppainen and Ben Windauer.

The MatCats are on the road against Polson Thursday and then travel to Missoula for the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic Friday and Saturday.

Columbia Falls 48, Ronan 28

103 - Austin Nelson (CFS) pin Zane Walchuck (RON) 2:59; 113 - Hunter Peterson (RON) pin Winfield West (CFS) 5:00; 120 - Noah Cheff (RON) pin Ayden Role (CFS) 2:34; 126 - Ben Windauer (CFS) pin Seth Cheff (RON) 1:10; 132 - Hunter Peterson (CFS) pin Ashtin Courville (RON) 4:38; 138 - Brandon Thomas (CFS) open; 145 - Jared Neiss (RON) pin Kaleb Gravelin (CFS) 3:54; 152 - Colten Sweeney (CFS) pin Justin Mays (RON) 1:17; 160 - Jesse Herrera (RON) maj. dec. Troy Meyer (CFS) 12-1; 170 - Storm Kemppainen (CFS) pin Steven Michal (RON) :57; 182 - Kail Cheff (RON) pin Miguel Garate (CFS) 3:27; 205 - Jarod Freeman (CFS) pin Gray Cook (RON) 3:00; 285 - Kyler Koski (CFS) pin Ray LittleBoy (RON) 2:59