Grapplers open season this week, look sharp
Blaise Cronk practices with Justin Windauer last week.
Hungry Horse News
The Columbia Falls wrestling team should be solid again this year.
“I’m excited about this season,” coach Jessie Schaeffer said recently.
Schaeffer said the program has excellent numbers, with 40 grapplers going out this year.
The team includes returning state champion Justin Windauer, who won the class A title at 138 pounds as a junior.
The MatCats will also look for good things from Brandon Role, Tyler Gilfry, Josiah Kilman, Trey Torpen, Blaise Cronk, Rowdy Crump and Traic Fainter, to name a few.
Fainter and Cronk are transfers.
The Cats are very strong from 126 to 152 pounds.
“We’re two deep (in those wight classes),” Schaeffer said.
He said in his 17 years of coaching, this is one of the most talented teams he’s had.
He said he expects this team to be right in the mix come state tournament time.
Sidney, Ronan, Miles City, Frenchtown all look to be tough this season. Sidney won the state title last year.
The team also welcomes a girls’ program this year, with 10 wrestlers giving it a shot.
They’ve been practicing with the second squad. Girls now wrestle separately from the boys after the Montana High School Association approved the sport in 2020.
Schaeffer is assisted by his brother Ben, Kodie Kenfield and Michael Hader.
The MatCats open the season this weekend in Polson at the Owen Invitational.