Dogs field solid roster on wrestling mat

With about 25 wrestlers on the roster this winter, Whitefish is poised for a competitive season on the mat.

The team should fill all weight classes except for 98 pounds, fourth-year head coach Ryan Boyle said.

Whitefish will be led by captains Judah Prestegaard and Matthew Sampson.

“They put in the time in the weight room and worked hard in the off season,” Boyle.

They’re part of a fleet of returning junior wrestlers that will be expected to carry the load this season.

Just two first-year seniors are on the team in Hayden Eaton and Mozi Gerber. Both looked strong at practice on Monday and will fight for spots on the roster.

Returning wrestler Steven Quimby will wrestle at heavyweight.

Boyle expects the team will be competitive in the tough Northwestern A conference.

“This is the most solid team we’ve had in a long time,” Boyle said.

While no one wrestler is a favorite to mow through the league, the team as a whole is more competitive than ever, Boyle said.

Columbia Falls appears to be the clear-cut favorite in the league. The Wildcats host Whitefish on Dec. 6 for the season-opening dual.

“They’re just tough.” Boyle said of Columbia Falls.

Whitefish begins the season with five matches in eight days.

“We’ll figure out what we’re made of,” Boyle said. “I want to see the guys be in the matches and wrestle all three periods. We’ll see where we shake out.”