Dogs send 8 to state wrestling tourney

The Bulldogs will send eight wrestlers to the Class A state tournament this Friday in Billings.

Whitefish had two individuals make the finals at the competitive Northwest A divisional tournament in Libby last weekend. Matthew Sampson placed second at 152 pounds and Steven Quimby took second as a heavyweight.

Four wrestlers made the podium in third place. James Buckley placed third at 113 pounds, Judah Prestegaard at 145 pounds, Marcus Jackson at 160 pounds, and Matt Carr at 195 pounds.

Placing fourth were Dillon Thorsteinson at 106 pounds and Travis Catina at 182 pounds.

The top four wrestlers in each weight class qualify for state.

Whitefish coach Ryan Boyle was pleased with the team’s results in Libby.

“To come out with eight guys going to state — we feel really good about that,” he said.

“And some of the guys that didn’t get in wrestled their best.”

He noted Skyler Bowerman who placed fifth.

“He was in a tough bracket, but he wrestled his best all year.”

Four of the eight going to Billings wrestled at state last year and have experienced the electric atmosphere of the all-class tournament.

“They should be over the hype and know what they have to do,” Boyle said. “They have to get over the whole hype thing and just wrestle — go out there and score points.”

The key to getting those points will be to take advantage of opportunities, Boyle said.

“They have to realize they won’t have a second chance of putting a guy away,” he said. “They can’t let guy get back in the match.”

The coach expects a few wrestlers will have a shot at placing.

“I believe they are more focused, they believe in themselves and they’re hungry,” he said. “I expect to get some hardware.”

Northwest A Divisonal at Libby

Team scores — 1. Columbia falls 237.5; 2. Frenchtown 182; 3. Polson 141; 4. Libby 86.5; 5. Whitefish 74.

Place winners

98 — 1. Caleb Bignell, FRT; 2. Manny Guzman, CF.

106 — 1. Cody Warner, FRT; 2. Winfield West, CF; 3. 3. Thunder Morales, Pol; 4. Dillon Thorsteinson, WF.

113 — 1. Mason Fetters, CF; 2. Jaron Morgan, Pol; 3. James Buckley, WF; 4. Cody Hedeen, Pol.

120 — 1. Kalob Gravelin, CF; 2. Jaben Wenzel, POL; 3. Preston Downard, FT; 4. Dylan Roby, LIB.

126 — 1. Shonn Roberts, CF; 2. Carlos Quinones, POL; 3. Tyler Ishler, FT; 4. Skylar Knutson, POL.

132 — 1. Haze Bell, CF; 2. Skyler Higareda, LIB; 3. Bryce Williams, FT; 4. Wyatt Green, CF.

138 — 1. Zach Crace, LIB; 2. Jonathon Blanchard, FT; 3. Colton Grove, CF; 4. Chase Ramberg, CF.

145 — 1. Cody Lemons, FT; 2. Zayne Brunz, CF; 3. Judah Prestegaard, WF; 4. Storm Kemppainen, CF.

152 — 1. Bryan Shaffer, CF; 2. Matthew Sampson, WF; 3. Brayden Thom, LIB; 4. Dylan Parrish, LIB

160 — 1. Cody Walters, CF; 2. Tyler king, FT; 3. Marcus Jackson, WF.

170 — 1. Garret Chapel, LIB; 2. Tel Motichka, POL; 3. Doug Womack, FT; 4. Jason Williams, CF

182 — 1. Tele Seemann, POL; 2. Ike Schwieker, CF; 3. Cole Allen, FT; 4. Travis Catina, WF.

195 — 1. Mike Corrigan, Pol; 2. Nathan Bennett, FT; 3. Matt Carr, WF; 4. Andrew Burgess, CF.

220 — 1. Rand Pritzkau, FT; 2. Isaiah Williams, POL; 3. Mikey Denison, CF.

285 — 1. Spencer Ross, CF; 2. Steven Quimby, WF.