MatCats finish 19th at C.M. Russell Holiday Classic
The MatCat wrestlers went 18-23 against tough competition over the weekend to finish 19th at the C.M. Russell Holiday Wrestling Classic in Great Falls.
Led by Colten McPhee and Jakob Freeman, the Cats picked up 12 of their wins via fall at the tournament.
McPhee went 6-2 at the tournament, pinning his opponents five times and picking up the Cats’ most exciting win of the weekend, a sudden victory decision over Elijah Davis of Great Falls High. McPhee pinned Missoula Big Sky’s Mason Corcoran in 26 seconds in his final match to earn fifth in the 182-pound weight class.
Freeman went 4-3 at the tournament to finish sixth in the 205-pound weight class, picking up three of his wins via fall. Freeman fell to Glacier’s Colby Martin via fall in 3:56 in the fifth-place match.
Others picking up wins for the Cats at the tournament included Orion Barta (2-2), Ayden Role (2-2), Isaac Balla (1-2) and Allac Knapton (2-2).
The MatCats will be in action at home Thursday as they host Ronan and Bigfork.
C.M. Russell Holiday Classic:
113
Orion Barta (2-2) scored 8.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Orion Barta (Columbia Falls) 2-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Orion Barta (Columbia Falls) 2-2 won by fall over Hannah Hurst (Hamilton) 0-4 (Fall 2:17)
Champ. Round 3 - Orion Barta (Columbia Falls) 2-2 won by decision over Jackson Carson (Whitefish) 2-2 (Dec 6-0)
Quarterfinal - Dawson Powers (Whitehall) 3-3 won by fall over Orion Barta (Columbia Falls) 2-2 (Fall 5:45)
Cons. Round 6 - Cameron Wanner (Billings Skyview) 5-2 won by decision over Orion Barta (Columbia Falls) 2-2 (Dec 10-5)
120
Colten Hogan (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Colten Hogan (Columbia Falls) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Cade Gubler (Park (Livingston, MT)) 5-2 won by fall over Colten Hogan (Columbia Falls) 0-2 (Fall 1:06)
Cons. Round 2 - Colten Hogan (Columbia Falls) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Johnathan Herr (Laurel) 1-5 won by fall over Colten Hogan (Columbia Falls) 0-2 (Fall 2:52)
132
Zak Gray (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Zak Gray (Columbia Falls) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Adrian Garcia (Hamilton) 4-3 won by fall over Zak Gray (Columbia Falls) 0-2 (Fall 1:39)
Cons. Round 2 - Zak Gray (Columbia Falls) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Zane Walchuk (Ronan) 3-2 won by fall over Zak Gray (Columbia Falls) 0-2 (Fall 0:21)
138
Ayden Role (2-2) scored 6.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Ayden Role (Columbia Falls) 2-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Cameron Savaria (Billings Skyview) 5-2 won by decision over Ayden Role (Columbia Falls) 2-2 (Dec 5-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Ayden Role (Columbia Falls) 2-2 won by injury default over Mark Belcourt (CM Russell 3) 0-2 (Inj. 1:00)
Cons. Round 3 - Ayden Role (Columbia Falls) 2-2 won by fall over Brock Barkus (Valier) 3-6 (Fall 3:42)
Cons. Round 4 - John Cremer (Glasgow) 12-10 won in sudden victory - 1 over Ayden Role (Columbia Falls) 2-2 (SV-1 2-0)
145
Jaxon Heinz (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Jaxon Heinz (Columbia Falls) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Ron Barnhill (Conrad) 1-2 won by fall over Jaxon Heinz (Columbia Falls) 0-2 (Fall 2:49)
Cons. Round 2 - Jaxon Heinz (Columbia Falls) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Hunter Reum (Poplar) 19-8 won by fall over Jaxon Heinz (Columbia Falls) 0-2 (Fall 3:57)
152
Issac Balla (1-2) scored 6.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Issac Balla (Columbia Falls) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Issac Balla (Columbia Falls) 1-2 won by fall over Logan Gallagher (Billings West) 0-2 (Fall 5:59)
Champ. Round 3 - John Mears (Belgrade) 5-1 won by fall over Issac Balla (Columbia Falls) 1-2 (Fall 0:15)
Cons. Round 4 - Austin Vanek (Cut Bank) 13-5 won by fall over Issac Balla (Columbia Falls) 1-2 (Fall 0:54)
160
Bradley Darling (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Bradley Darling (Columbia Falls) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Noah Hurst (Hamilton) 5-4 won by fall over Bradley Darling (Columbia Falls) 0-2 (Fall 2:06)
Cons. Round 2 - Bradley Darling (Columbia Falls) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Josh Macy (Billings Skyview) 5-3 won by fall over Bradley Darling (Columbia Falls) 0-2 (Fall 2:19)
170
Allec Knapton (2-2) scored 9.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Allec Knapton (Columbia Falls) 2-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Allec Knapton (Columbia Falls) 2-2 won by forfeit over Mason Jacobsen (Chester/Joplin/Inverness) 0-2 (For.)
Champ. Round 3 - Allec Knapton (Columbia Falls) 2-2 won by major decision over Kaleb McKay (Helena High) 2-10 (MD 9-1)
Quarterfinal - Jace Rhodes (Billings West) 15-0 won by fall over Allec Knapton (Columbia Falls) 2-2 (Fall 1:54)
Cons. Round 6 - Kole McGrath (Butte) 11-7 won by fall over Allec Knapton (Columbia Falls) 2-2 (Fall 2:57)
182
Colten McPhee (17-2) placed 5th and scored 23.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls) 17-2 won by fall over Jaydn Hoff (Billings West) 4-2 (Fall 3:17)
Champ. Round 2 - Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls) 17-2 won by fall over Rylen Fisher (Great Falls High 3) 1-2 (Fall 0:20)
Champ. Round 3 - Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls) 17-2 won by fall over Isaiah Murch (Billings Senior) 5-5 (Fall 0:48)
Quarterfinal - Brenner Bushfield (Billings Skyview) 4-1 won by decision over Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls) 17-2 (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Round 6 - Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls) 17-2 won by fall over Jaydn Hoff (Billings West) 4-2 (Fall 0:44)
Cons. Round 7 - Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls) 17-2 won in sudden victory - 1 over Elijah Davis (Great Falls High) 5-2 (SV-1 5-3)
Cons. Semi - JR Seewald (Cut Bank) 12-3 won by decision over Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls) 17-2 (Dec 5-4)
5th Place Match - Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls) 17-2 won by fall over Mason Corcoran (Missoula Big Sky) 4-3 (Fall 0:26)
205
Jakob Freeman (14-4) placed 6th and scored 17.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Jakob Freeman (Columbia Falls) 14-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Jakob Freeman (Columbia Falls) 14-4 won by fall over Joseph Robinson (Missoula Big Sky) 1-2 (Fall 1:16)
Champ. Round 3 - Jakob Freeman (Columbia Falls) 14-4 won by fall over LeVarion Morin (Billings Senior) 4-6 (Fall 0:47)
Quarterfinal - Justin Mays (Ronan) 4-1 won by fall over Jakob Freeman (Columbia Falls) 14-4 (Fall 5:24)
Cons. Round 6 - Jakob Freeman (Columbia Falls) 14-4 won by fall over Josh Lee (Helena Capital) 3-2 (Fall 1:28)
Cons. Round 7 - Jakob Freeman (Columbia Falls) 14-4 won by decision over Jayden Salios (Browning) 5-2 (Dec 6-4)
Cons. Semi - Shane Gibson (Park (Livingston, MT)) 12-1 won by decision over Jakob Freeman (Columbia Falls) 14-4 (Dec 5-2)
5th Place Match - Colby Martin (Glacier) 11-5 won by fall over Jakob Freeman (Columbia Falls) 14-4 (Fall 3:56)
285
Cole Karlin (1-2) scored 6.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Cole Karlin (Columbia Falls) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Cole Karlin (Columbia Falls) 1-2 won by fall over Reece Buchanen (Hamilton) 0-4 (Fall 1:35)
Champ. Round 3 - Levi Malcolm (Billings West) 17-0 won by fall over Cole Karlin (Columbia Falls) 1-2 (Fall 0:33)
Cons. Round 4 - Michael Gulden (Helena High) 4-3 won by fall over Cole Karlin (Columbia Falls) 1-2 (Fall 0:30)