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Bulldog wrestlers head to state

by Daniel McKay
Whitefish Pilot | February 7, 2017 1:52 PM

After a successful outing at the Divisional Tournament, 10 Bulldog wrestlers will head to Billings this weekend for the Class A State Wrestling Tournament.

Anwar Mirza (103), Nathan Buckley (113), Carlitos Bertleson (120), Eli Taylor (126), Sidney Cooke (126), Dakota Flannery (132), Jack Eisenbarth (132), Robert Bertleson (138), Malik Heydon (160) and Travis Catina (205) all grabbed top eight or better finishes in Dillon on Friday and Saturday.

“It was probably the best tournament they’ve wrestled so far, as far as the whole team overall,” head coach Ryan Boyle said. “We’ve taken 10 before a couple times, but this is a good group right here.”

Columbia Falls took first in team standings in Dillon with 227 points, just beating Polson’s 203. Whitefish finished eighth overall with 80.5 points. Catina was the lone champion for the Bulldogs, and Heydon and Flannery both took second in their weight classes.

Boyle said now the focus is preparing his wrestlers for the bigger stage while also keeping the new environment from “psyching them out.”

“It’s just so much bigger. There’s three different tournaments going on at once, 12 mats going. Everything’s heightened,” he said. “As soon as you step on the mat and get in the arena, the intensity’s turned up a couple of notches and you got to get going right away.”

The tournament kicks off at 8 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 and extends into Saturday for championships. All matches will be held at the MetraPark arena in Billings. For more information, including day one pairings, visit www.mhsa.org/page/show/2173446-post-season/.

Western A Divisional

Saturday At Dillon

Team Totals

1, Columbia Falls 227; 2, Polson 203; 3, Frenchtown 193; 4, Corvallis 179; 5, Stevensville 148; 6, Dillon 138; 7, Hamilton 131; 8, Whitefish 80.5; 9, Butte Central 53.

Individuals

103 pounds

Semifinals — Walker Dyer, Fren, pin Roy Russell, BC, 5:19; Kedrick Baker, Pols, pin Caleb Olsen, Stev, 4:14.

Finals — Dyer, Fren, pin Baker, Pols, 4:53.

Third place — Russell, BC, dec. Kellen Robbins, Stev, 14-10.

Fifth place — Olsen, Stev, pin Anwar Mirza, WF, 1:25.

Seventh place — Will Flowers, Cor, pin Garhet Salminen, CF, 4:40.

113 pounds

Semifinals — Jake Bibler, Fren, maj. dec. Austin Nelson, CF, 13-2; Michael Golden, Ham, maj. dec. Mateo Quinones, Pols, 9-0.

Finals — Bibler, Fren, dec. Golden, Ham, 7-4.

Third place — Nelson, CF, pin Quinones, Pols, 1:37.

Fifth place — Triston Davis, Cor, pin Kelson Bauman, Fren, 2:25.

Seventh place — Luke Huffaker, Dil, pin Nathan Buckley, WF, 1:16.

120 pounds

Semifinals — Winfield West, CF, maj. dec. Zach Blanchard, Fren, 11-3; Dante Venema, Cor, dec. Benji Opat, Cor, 8-2.

Finals — Venema, Cor, dec. West, CF, 8-3.

Third place — Opat, Cor, dec. Blanchard, Fren, 7-5.

Fifth place — Elliot Vanosdell, Stev, pin Carlitos Bertlesen WF, :37.

Seventh place — Auston Stevens, Fren, pin Owen Targerson, Pols, 2:31.

126 pounds

Semifinals — Bridger Wenzel, Pols, pin Bridger Williams, Ham, 4:56; Clay Fisher, BC, pin Ayden Role, CF, 2:54.

Finals — Fisher, BC, dec. Wenzel, Pols, 10-4.

Third place — Williams, Ham, dec. Role, CF, 7-4.

Fifth place — Owen Indreland, Fren, pin Eli Taylor, WF, 2:30.

Seventh place — Allan Allsop, Cor, pin Sidney Cooke, WF, 4:48.

132 pounds

Semifinals — Riley Gurr, Fren, pin Dakota Flannery, WF, 1:36; Kwin Stoddard, Dil, dec. Hunter Peterson, CF, 9-8 (OT).

Finals — Gurr, Fren, pin Stoddard, Dil, 2:00.

Third place — Peterson, CF, pin Flannery, WF, 2:41.

Fifth place — Aaron Christensen, Cor, dec. Adrian Garcia, Ham, 6-1.

Seventh place — Easton Sempf, CF, pin Jack Eisenbarth, WF, 1:37.

138 pounds

Semifinals — Parker Adler, Pols, pin Will Wissenbach, Cor, 4:13; Cade Livoti, Fren, dec. Brandon Thomas, CF, 7-2.

Finals — Adler, Pols, pin Livoti, Fren, 3:35.

Third place — Cooper Hoffman, Dil, dec. Wissenbach, Cor, 8-6.

Fifth place — Nathan Hader, CF, dec. Thomas, CF, 9-5.

Seventh place — Robert Bertlesen, WF, pin Caden Brown, Ham, 2:37.

160 pounds

Semifinals — Kye McCollaum, Cor, pin Malik Heydon, WF, 1:28; Hunter Fritsch, Pols, maj. dec. Colton McPhee, 15-7.

Finals — Fritsch, Pols, pin McCollaum, Cor, 2:36.

Third place — McPhee, CF, pin Heydon, WF, :45.

Fifth place — Hunter Allen, Fren, def. Bridger Nelson, Dil, by forfeit.

Seventh place — Theron Nelson, BC, win by forfeit.

205 pounds

Semifinals — Justin Hinson, Ham, pin Jordan Thomas, Stev, 1:25; Travis Catina, WF, dec. Levi Downard, Fren, 9-3.

Finals — Catina, WF, dec. Hinson, Ham, 9-6.

Third place — Chase Krone, Stev, pin Thomas, Stev, 4:08.

Fifth place — Downard, Fren, dec. Jasper Drake, Pols, 6-0.

Seventh place — Kordell Walker, Pols, pin Bailey Hayes, Ham, 1:40.