Bulldog wrestlers nearing divisionals in top form

Last week Whitefish wrestling went 2-2 in its duals, but the week was highlighted by a handful of superb performances from individuals and a team victory over Ronan.

The Bulldogs first competed with Browning and Bigfork on Friday evening. Whitefish won the Browning dual 48-21 as several Browning kids were out for various reasons. Then Whitefish took on Bigfork, losing 48-25.

“We had Bigfork who’s got a great team this year, really good to see them have some wrestlers out,” Whitefish head coach Danny Neff said. “The last few years they’ve only had four to eight wrestlers, now they have a pretty full lineup. It’s good for us to see the different competition.”

The next day Whitefish hosted another triangular with Columbia Falls and Ronan. Against CFalls, the Bulldogs were barely edged by their opponent 33-30. Neff said the dual featured a great outing from wrestler Jack Akey, who bumped up a weight class and ended up outlasting Wildcat Trey Torpen with a 6-3 win by decision for the Dogs.

“Columbia Falls was a close dual, going into it we had to make some moves, play that chess game by putting certain kids into certain places,” Neff said. “(Jack) ended up pulling out a good win which kind of put us on that stool of we might be able to win this.”

Against Ronan, a team that had previously beat Whitefish earlier this season, the Bulldogs showed up big on the mat. Whitefish’s Ashton Akey pinned Ronan’s Tristan Fisher with only 15 seconds to spare in the 205 weight class. Ashton Akey had previously lost to the same wrestler earlier this year and the comeback was great to watch according to Neff.

Jack Akey and Carter Moran lost their matches, but were able to avoid the pin which helped Whitefish to keep its lead by not giving up a full six points.

“It’s those matches… that’s an 18 point swing right there,” Neff said of those performances. “And we ended up winning by 15. So it’s just staying off your back and doing it for your teammates that wins those close duals.”

“We really stressed that after the dual, it’s not just one person, it’s the entirety of the team that wins these duals,” he added.

Whitefish seniors Angelo Castro and Camren Ross both went 4-0 last week as they continue to be a constant force for the Bulldogs.

Ross beat two ranked wrestlers, both by decision, on Saturday. He won 8-4 over Columbia Falls’ Lucas Thacker who bumped up a weight class and is ranked in the 160 pound class. Then against Ronan he beat Daniel Collins Bishop, 8-1. Collins Bishop is ranked in the 170 pound weight class for Class A.

“Camren’s never beat Daniel Collins Bishop so that was nice to see; he competed really well, kind of controlled that match for the entire six minutes,” Neff said. “Camren just has a motor on him, it’s going to be tough for anybody to really beat him because he can outlast and his endurance is just so much better than most kids in the state.”

Whitefish heavyweight Brian Sweeney also had a good week going 4-0 and Nathan Sproul in the 113 division went 3-1, losing a battle in overtime against Columbia Falls.

Whitefish wrestling wraps up the regular season this week with duals against Bigfork, Eureka, Dillion, Butte Central and Columbia Falls. Divisionals will be in Libby over Feb. 26-27.

Whitefish 34, Ronan 19

103: Ian Dillard, Ronan, won by forfeit. 113: Nathan Sproul, Whitefish, won by forfeit. 126: Angelo Castro, Whitefish, dec. Trevor Bartel, 10-5. 132: Beaudean Decker, Ronan, won by forfeit. 138: Landon Bishop, Ronan, dec. Carter Moran, 6-4. Caleb Cheff, Ronan, major dec. Jack Akey, 8-0. 152: Henry Bennetts, Whitefish, won by forfeit. 160: Rylee Creasey, Whitefish, won by forfeit. 170: Camren Ross, Whitefish, dec. Daniel Collins Bishop, 8-1. 205: Ashton Akey, Whitefish, pinned Tristan Fisher, 5:45. 285: Brian Sweeney, Whitefish, major dec. Max Morency, 9-1.

Columbia Falls 33, Whitefish 30

103: Cash Byrd, Columbia Falls, won by forfeit. 113: Tyler Gilfry, Columbia Falls, dec. Sproul, 7-5. 120: Logan Riley, Columbia Falls, won by forfeit. 126: Castro, Whitefish, pinned Josiah Kilman, 5:18. 132: Justin Windauer, Columbia Falls, won by forfeit. 138: Ty Allen, Columbia Falls, pinned Moran, 1:02. 145: Isaiah Roth, Columbia Falls, pinned Rylan McDaniel, 1:03. 152: Jack Akey, Whitefish, dec. Trey Torpen, 6-3. 160: Creasey, Whitefish, pinned Rowdy White, 2:42. 170: Ross, Whitefish, dec. Lucas Thacker, 8-4. 205: Ashton Akey, Whitefish, won by forfeit. 285: Sweeney, Whitefish, pinned Josh Price, 3:16.

Bigfork 48, Whitefish 25

103: Traic Fainter, Bigfork, won by forfeit. 113: Sproul, Whitefish, pinned Json Merringer, :26. 120: Angus Anderson, Bigfork, won by forfeit. 126: Castro,. Whitefish, won by forfeit. 132: Ryder Nollan, Bigfork, won by forfeit. 138: Eli Tidwell, Bigfork, pinned Moran, :56. 145: Shelton Woll, Bigfork, pinned Akey, 1:20. 152: Patrick Wallen, Bigfork, won by forfeit. 160: Creasey, Whitefish, pinned Vaughn Pendlay, 3:49. 170: Ross, Whitefish, major dec. Joseph Farrier, 15-1. 182: Evan Tidwell, Bigfork, won by forfeit. 205: Isaac Bjorge, Bigfork, pinned Akey, 1:50. 285: Sweeney, Whitefish, dec. Fletcher Postelwait, 4-2.

Whitefish 48, Browning 21

103: Hall, Browning, won by forfeit. 113: Nathan Sproul, Whitefish, won by forfeit. 126: Angelo Castro, Whitefish, won by forfeit. 132: Campos, Browning, won by forfeit. 138: Carter Moran, Whitefish, won by forfeit. 145: Jack Akey, Whitefish, won by forfeit. 152: Henry Bennetts, Whitefish, pinned Keene, 4:41. 160: Running Crane, Browning, dec. Rylee Creasey, 5-4. 170: Valen Lewis-Ingerson, Whitefish, won by forfeit. 182: Camren Ross, Whitefish, pinned Walker, 1:41. 205: Whiteman, Browning, pinned Ashton Akey, 5:34. 285: Brian Sweeney, Whitefish, pinned Whitcomb, :25.