Quintet of Mat Cats qualifies for state

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Columbia Falls got on a roll at the Northwestern A Conference Divisional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at the Ronan Events Center and left the building with five champions and 10 state qualifiers.

Seniors Michael Hader, Cody Kolodejchuk and Clayton Patterson, junior Kodie Kenfield and sophomore Kelly Houle earned top seeds at the State All-Class Wrestling Tournament on Friday and Saturday at MetraPark by winning Divisional titles. The Mat Cats had six wrestlers in championship matches and won five of them.

Divisional favorite Ronan won the team title with 211 points. Polson was second with 188.5, followed by Libby with 142.5, Columbia Falls 134 and Whitefish 81.

Freshman Sal Baccaro came on strong for the Mat Cats, finishing second. Sophomore Shawn Whitman and freshman Cody Edstrom were both third. Sophomore Joe Gross and freshman Cody Barto finished fourth.

"They performed kind of how we expected," Mat Cats coach Jessie Schaeffer said. "The kids wrestled solid, smart matches."

Schaeffer agreed that the Mat Cats closed the tournament out strong.

"I felt very pleased and very proud of the kids in the championship round," the coach said. "Every one of our finalists had outstanding tournaments."

Hader, ranked second in the state in class A at 152 pounds, won an 11-4 decision over Seth Wright of Libby for the Mat Cat's third straight Divisional crown — despite seeing stars late in the match when his face was slammed to the mat.

"I just didn't wrestle very well the third period," Hader said.

Kolodejchuk (140), a defending Divisional champ, met Matt Starr of Whitefish in the finals. Starr had pinned the Mat Cat in their only other clash this season. But Kolodejchuck avenged the loss, earning a 10-8 decision. Schaeffer called it one of Kolodejchuk's best career matches.

"Winning at Divisionals and State is when it really matters," Kolodejchuk said after beating Starr.

Defending Divisional champion Patterson (119) shut out Jacob Young of Polson, winning a 4-0 decision in the finals.

Patterson said his goal was to get on top of Young early and control the match.

Kenfield (215) wrestled well on his feet in the finals, building a 5-1 lead and earning a 7-4 decision over Whitefish's Jake Scheel, who had beaten Kenfield earlier in the season.

"He wrestled a smart, aggressive, physical match," Schaeffer said of Kenfield.

Kenfield said the key was going out knowing he could win the match.

Houle (189) would have to beat Justin Graham of Libby for the fourth time this season to take a Divisional title, and he did just that. After giving up a reversal that tied the score, Houle scored on an escape with 32 seconds to go for a 5-4 win.

Baccaro (98) led Jesse Alfiero of Polson early 3-2, but Alfiero recovered to take the lead and won an 8-4 decision.

It was a superlative effort by Baccaro, who got two takedowns against Alfiero.

"It's always fun to see that kind of growth over a short period of time," Schaeffer said.

Whitman (130) earned a third seed by pinning Skilur Dilley of Libby in 2:05. Edstrom (105) was in a three-wrestler class and has a third seed. Gross (145) was decisioned by Tanner Benedict of Whitefish 4-2 for third place as Benedict scored on a takedown in overtime. Barto (285) was pinned by Kevin McDowell of Whitefish and was also fourth.

Hader, Kolodejchuk and Patterson return to state after placing there last season.

"I'm excited to see where we are sitting [in brackets]," Schaeffer said. "We have to have a couple of upsets to get some kids in the finals."

The state tournament begins with the Parade of Champions at 9:40 a.m. Friday. First-round action begins at 10 a.m. The consolation finals start at 3 p.m. Saturday. The championship finals are set for 6 p.m. in the MetraPark arena.

Ticket prices: Adults — all-tournament, $20; single day, $12; single session after 7 p.m., $7. Students — all-tournament, $16; single day, $10; single session after 7 p.m., $5.

For individual state pairings, go to www.mhsa.org.

Here are quotes from the CFHS Divisional champions about the state tournament:

MICHAEL HADER (152) won a state championship at 140 pounds last year as a junior.

"Going in I feel really good. There is one kid I lost to twice," Hader said. "But I've beaten him really bad so hopefully I can go in there and get it done."

What is most important to Hader at state?

"Just confidence going in. I just need to be confident and be ready every match," he said.

Last year, Hader earned a 6-3 decision over Alex Martin of Hamilton in the championship match. Martin is in the state bracket again this year, but at 145 pounds.

CODY KOLODEJCHUK (140), a senior, earned second place at 130 pounds at state last year.

"My expectations of myself is to win state. Last year I took second. I lost by a point to Beau LaSalle of Havre. This time I'm looking to take it," Kolodejchuk said. "I'm still basically wrestling the same kids. It's interesting to see what's going to happen."

What will it take for Kolodejchuk to have a chance for a state championship?

"To keep my head in focus and not get caught up on who's bracketed where, just go out there and wrestle my match," he said.

CLAYTON PATTERSON (119) placed fifth at state at 105 pounds last year as a junior.

Patterson's mindset is to improve on last year's state finish.

"I'm going to go for the top two, top three," Patterson said, who wants to prove that he's been working hard during his four years of high school.

"I have to stay solid on my feet and keep driving into him," Patterson said of his opponents at state. "

KODIE KENFIELD (215), a junior, wrestles at state in the same weight class as last year.

Kenfield had the edge with his footwork in winning a Divisional title over Jake Scheel, the Whitefish wrestler who had beaten the Mat Cat in their last meeting.

Can Kenfield get into the championship round at the state tournament?

"If I wrestle to my full potential I believe I can," he said. "I've got to be mentally ready for it all."

KELLY HOULE (189) returns to state after wrestling at 160 pounds last year.

Houle gave up a reversal that tied his Divisional championship match against Justin Graham, the Libby wrestler he had beaten three times earlier this season. Houle got an escape with 32 seconds to go for a 5-4 win and a Divisional crown.

Houle is confident going into the state tournament.

"My goal is to get in the finals," Houle said.