MatCats take second at divisionals
In a show of sportsmanship, Tyler Gilfry helps Sean Davis up after he pinned Davis in the championship. (Bob Windauer photos)
Hungry Horse News
The Columbia Falls wrestling team did great at the Western A divisional tourney in Frenchtown Saturday.
The MatCats took second, with individual championship titles by Tyler Gilfry (120), Josiah Kilman (132) and Justin Windauer (138).
Host Frenchtown won the overall title, while Ronan took third.
Coach Jessie Schaeffer was pleased with the performances.
“We’re wrestling well and we’re competing,” he said. He said the team has learned how to battle through the tight matches and tough practices as the postseason is in full swing.
All told, the MatCats qualified 17 for the state A Tourney in Billings this Friday and Saturday.
Gilfry pinned Sean Davis of Corvallis at the 1:22 mark; Kilman pinned Koda King of Ronan at the 1:13 mark; and Windauer pinned Jason Davis of Corvallis at the 4:19 mark.
Schaeffer noted in the Gilfry match against Davis he was able to get a lock and throw which led to the pin.
“(Gilfry’s) starting to do things right,” Schaeffer said.
He noted that Kilman also had a great tourney and Windauer now has his sights on a state title.
“He’s wrestled everyone but the Miles City kid,” Schaeffer noted. “His opportunity to get into the finals is really good.”
Frenchtown is the favorite to win the event and Sidney looks like a good bet for second, but third will come down to wrestlebacks and a host of teams, including the Cats, have a shot.
The boys will leave about 6 a.m. Thursday morning and then will practice with Lockwood Thursday night, Schaeffer said.
Other results for the MatCats included:
Jaxson Sterling (103) won by injury default over Colton Morgan of Hamilton to take fifth; while MatCat Cash Byrd took fourth after a loss to Xavier Reatz of Libby.
Logan Riley (130) won by decision over James Kenelty of Ronan, 5-3.
Bryan Osborne (145) won by injury default over Henry Bennetts of Whitefish for fifth.
Trey Torpen (160) won by decision over Brady Hout of Ronan, 10-6 for fifth.
Brandon Role (170) took second in a 5-1 decision loss to Tristan Fisher of Ronan. Rowdy White (170) took third, pinning Jaren Keene of Polson.
Tucker Gonzales (182) was fourth after a pin by Derrick Saltzman of Hamilton.
Josh Price (205) was eighth after a pin by Lincoln Burrough of Polson.
Logan Speed (285) pinned Adam Shirley of East Helena to take seventh. In addition, Rowdy Crump (145) suffered an injury in the semifinals and ended up sixth. He’ll be evaluated by a doctor on whether he can compete at state, Schaeffer noted.