Houle named top wrestler at Buzz Lucey tournament
Senior Wildcat wrestler Kelly Houle continues to shine. Houle was named the most outstanding wrestler at the Buzz Lucey tournament in Eureka last week.
At 215, Houle scored pins in all his matches, including a pin of Brennan Fisher of Frenchtown in the championship round.
"It's the fourth time he's won that tournament," coach Jessie Schaeffer said.
Houle has wrestled Fisher before, but getting a pin that fast was impressive, Schaeffer added. Fisher is ranked second in class A in the 215 weight class.
The Cats had several other wrestlers in the final round, but none could muster wins. Sal Baccarro, 112, was downed by Suny Cheff of Frenchtown, 12-2. At 130 Dalton Rice of Whitefish won by decision over Kohl Thompson 8-2. At 152, Taylor Vaughn of Eureka pinned Jarrett Smith in 3:25 and at 160 Taylor Brown of Eureka won by decision over Joe Gross 7-2.
Thompson battled back brilliantly to make the final round. In the semis he was down by five in the second quarter, but was able to pin his opponent with about 10 seconds left.
Schaeffer said the win gave the team a boost.
In the consolation bracket, 98-pounder Seth McCall dropped Polson's Pat Sumner, 15-3, for third. At 119, Justin Whitman pinned Jesse Alfiero of Polson in 1:36. At 135 Cody Hader had a nice tournament and pinned Ricky Couture of Noxon in 2:47.
Hader battled back to take third after Couture had beat him earlier in the tournament.
"It was fun to watch him do well this weekend," Schaeffer said.
The Cats will practice twice a day over most of the break. They'll get a few days off for the holidays.
"It's a good time to make a turn and step it up a notch," Schaeffer said.
Frenchtown won the tournament with 247 points. The Cats took second with 170 points. The boys open next year with a tournament in Ronan Jan. 8-9.
Team Totals
Frenchtown 247, Columbia Falls 170, Glacier JV 141, Polson JV 107, Flathead JV 91, Libby 79, Eureka 72 1/2, Whitefish 69, Noxon 68, Plains 53, High River 30
Championship
98 - Glen Hensley, Ftwn, pinned Christian Knopp, Gla, 1:41; 105 - Zach Barber, Gla, pinned Kalleb Liehr, Fla, :53; 112 - Suny Cheff, Fla, maj. dec. Sal Bacarro, CF, 12-2; 119 - Tyler Stedman, Ftwn, pinned Kenneth Beech, Pla, 1:06; 125 - Zach Westre, Ftwn, dec. Mitch Haugen, Lib, 8-2; 130 - Dalton Rice, Whi, dec. Kohl Thompson, CF, 8-2; 135 - Wyatt Deering, Ftwn, pinned Kris Beech, Pla, 1:32; 140 - Brock Bleazard, Pol, dec. Mike Devlin, Pol, 5-4; 145 - Brad Nordahl, Ftwn, pinned Nick O'Dell, Whi, :58; 152 - Taylor Vaughn, Eur, pinned Jarrett Smith, CF, 3:25; 160 - Taylor Brown, Eur, dec. Joe Gross, CF, 7-2; 171 - Adam Moore, Nox, pinned Jarrod Wishert, Ftwn, 1:59; 189 - Russell Dorsman, Ftwn, dec. Randy Martin, Gla, 9-6; 215 - Kelly Houle, CF, pinned Brennan Fisher, Ftwn, :53; 285 - Joel Horn, Gla, pinned DeVante Wilson, Ftwn, 1;04.
Third/ Fourth
98 - Seth MCCall, CF, maj. dec. Pat Sumner, Pol, 15-3; 105 - Carson Wabaunsee, Ftwn, pinned Ian Edwards-Myslicki, Lib, :30; 112 - Cody Ishler, Ftwn, pinned Levi Erickson, Lib, 3:18; 119 - Justin Whitman, CF, pinned Jesse Alfiero, Pol, 1:36; 125 - Jacob Egley, Fla, pinned Brennan Armstrong, Ftwn, 3:51; 130 - Ben Metz, Ftwn, maj. dec. Davin Williams, Lib, 19-8; 135 - Cody Hader, CF, pinned Ricky Couture, Nox, 2:47; 140 - Ty Hedrick, Ftwn, dec. Cole Goodwin, Pla, 8-1; 145 - Austin Bowen, Fla, dec. Chris Cole, Pol, 5-4; 152 - Dawson Day, Gla, pinned Ely Indreland, Ftwn, 1:00; 160 - Geoff Streeter, Whi, dec. Lane Armstrong, Gla, 2-0; 171 - Caplean Weare, Nox, dec. Matt Izyk, HR, 9-2; 189 - Rocky Fisher, Nox, dec. Britt Block, Gla, 8-6; 215 - Josiah Glairmont, Pol, pinned Mack Sutherland, Gla, 1:58; 285 - Cody Martins, Nox, pinned Wolf Zinke, Whi, :43