MatCats tune up for divisonals
Zak Gray handles his opponent during a meet against Libby on Saturday. (Teresa Byrd/Hungry Horse News)
By TERESA BYRD
Hungry Horse News
Wildcat wrestling had a solid week of competition, finishing their last regular meets of the season with an away dual against Frenchtown on Thursday and a home dual against Libby on Saturday.
Despite dropping Thursday’s dual to the highly-ranked Broncs 48-18, the MatCats “wrestled them well,” said head coach Jessie Schaeffer. The team garnered wins in a couple key matchups including Wildcat Isaiah Roth’s (145) 4-0 decision over Zane Martin, and Lucas Thacker’s 5-3 decision over Frenchtown’s Gavin McLean, the state’s top-ranked 160 pounder for class A. The Wildcats entered the dual down three brawlers.
The Wildcats wrestled at home on Saturday for a mixer that morphed into a dual against Libby after Dillon, Butte Central and Whitefish canceled due to health concerns. The Cats defeated the Loggers 42-28 and “all-in-all we wrestled pretty solid,” said Schaeffer. A highlight of the matchup was Justin Windauer’s (132) pin of Libby’s senior Zack Morrison.
“Windauer had an explosive, aggressive match,” said Schaeffer. “A lot of action. … It’s always fun watching him go out and wrestle.”
Saturday’s dual was the last home meet for the Wildcats’ three seniors, Josh Bertram, Zak Gray and Thacker.
“Thanks to our seniors,” said Schaeffer. “It’s definitely sad to see them on the mat for the last time here at Columbia Falls High School. Thanks for their hard work and their dedication to our program and the effort and work ethic they put into it.”
The Wildcats travel to Libby on Saturday with an expected full lineup to compete in the divisional tournament.
Columbia Falls (18) vs. Frenchtown (48)
103: Landen Stewart (FREN) over Cash Byrd (COFA) (Fall 0:30)
113: Corbin Long (FREN) over Tyler Gilfry (COFA) (Dec 8-2)
120: Nic Blanchard (FREN) over Logan Riley (COFA) (Fall 1:45)
126: Justin Windauer (COFA) over Gabe Mobley (FREN) (Fall 3:50)
132: Orion Barta (COFA) over Porter Tollefson (FREN) (Fall 3:23)
138: John Warner (FREN) over Ty Allen (COFA) (Dec 7-0)
145: Isaiah Roth (COFA) over Zane Martin (FREN) (Dec 4-0)
152: Smokey Stoker (FREN) over Trey Torpen (COFA) (Fall 2:55)
160: Lucas Thacker (COFA) over Gavin McLean (FREN) (Dec 5-3)
170: Noah Rausch (FREN) over Rowdy White (COFA) (Fall 2:30)
182: Canyon Shope (FREN) over (COFA) (For.)
205: Brody Harris (FREN) over (COFA) (For.)
285: Philip Herald (FREN) over (COFA) (For.)
Columbia Falls (42) vs. Libby/Troy (28)
103: Cash Byrd (COFA) over (LITR) (For.)
113: Tyler Gilfry (COFA) over Xavier Reatz (LITR) (Fall 3:20)
120: Josiah Kilman (COFA) over Marley Erickson (LITR) (Fall 1:14)
126: Orion Barta (COFA) over Zekiah Meyers (LITR) (Fall 3:19)
132: Justin Windauer (COFA) over Zack Morrison (LITR) (Fall 1:59)
138: Xander Spady (LITR) over Ty Allen (COFA) (MD 10-1)
145: Isaiah Roth (COFA) over Elijah Edwards (LITR) (Fall 3:42)
152: Cody Crace (LITR) over Trey Torpen (COFA) (Fall 0:46)
160: Jace DeShazer (LITR) over Lucas Thacker (COFA) (Fall 2:32)
170: Tucker Masters (LITR) over Rowdy White (COFA) (Fall 1:34)
182: Josh Bertram (COFA) over Coby Booker (LITR) (Fall 0:21)
285: Aydan Williamson (LITR) over (COFA) (For.)