MatCats have tough go at Jug Beck Classic
The Columbia Falls wrestling team took 24th at the Jug Beck Classic in Missoula on Jan. 11-12.
Top wrestler for the MatCats was Shonn Roberts at 112 pounds. He took fourth, losing to Cameron Stevenson, 7-0, of University High in Spokane, Wash.
Roberts battled his way to the semifinals but lost a tough match to Bryson Beard, of Central Valley, Wash., 7-2. Roberts was undefeated going into the tournament. He had success in the early rounds, pinning some tough opponents.
Roberts was the only Columbia Falls wrestler to place in the top eight. The tournament is the toughest competition in Montana, combining different sports-class schools and including schools from Idaho and eastern Washington.
“It’s a brutal field down there,” coach Jessie Schaeffer said. “It was definitely a meat grinder. People left humbled.”
On Jan. 10, the MatCats lost a close dual to Polson, 45-36. Caleb Gravelin (112), Roberts, Josiah Osborne (130) and Cameron Peterson (171) all had wins.
The MatCats will look to regroup with some home duals this weekend. A junior varsity mixer will be held Friday starting at 6 p.m., and a dual will take place Saturday with Hamilton at 3 p.m. and Polson at 6 p.m.
“We’ve got to get (Jug Beck) past us and focus on getting ready for divisionals,” Schaeffer said.
The divisional tourney will take place Feb. 2 in Frenchtown.
Polson 45, Columbia Falls 36
98 – Thunder Morales, P, tech fall Jordan Hughes 2:36; 105 – Cody Hedeen, P, pinned Cameron Goodwin 1:43; 112 – Caleb Gravelin, C, dec. Tristen Caye 6-5; 119 – Shonn Roberts, C, pinned Carlos Quinones 1:19; 125 – Dylan Moll, P, pinned Seth McCall 2:39; 130 – Josiah Osborne, C, pinned Rhett Burland 1:06; 140 – Craig Feifter, P, pinned Chase Ramberg 3:36; 152 – Jared Young, P, pinned Cody Walters 4:30; 160 Tel Motichka, P, dec. Jacob Burgess 10-7; 171 – Cameron Peterson, C, dec. Josiah Edington 5-2; 215 Isaiah Williams, P, pinned Wade Motichka 3:18.
Polson won forfeit at 189. Columbia Falls won forfeit at 135, 145 and 285.