Bulldog wrestling makes it 7 in a row
After starting the season losing their first three duals by six points or less, the Whitefish wrestling team has turned the tables.
The Bulldogs have strung together a winning streak, securing team victories in the last seven duals. Head coach Danny Neff says they have managed this win streak not only by stellar individual performances from several athletes but also by moving wrestlers to different weight classes depending on the opponent and creating camaraderie across the team.
“We’re getting some of that momentum and keeping it,” Neff said. “It’s really nice to see the guys go out there and compete.”
Last week Whitefish traveled to Thompson Falls to match up with the Thompson/Noxon team and also Arlee. The Bulldogs easily defeated Arlee, 54-11. Thompson Falls/Noxon didn’t stand much of a chance either as Whitefish came out on top 42-24.
The next day the Bulldogs hit the road to compete in Browning. Whitefish defeated Browning 42-27 and then had a close meet with Hamilton that ended in favor of the Bulldogs 39-30.
According to Neff the dual with Hamilton was close to the end, and because Whitefish didn’t have a full lineup he was anticipating that it would be tough to win. The meet featured key pins from Camren Ross, Carter Moran, Jack Akey and a 14-13 win by decision from Luke Ryan. Moran had a couple of tough days losing two matches before facing Hamilton, but Neff was impressed he was able to bounce back to get a pin. The six points were key to Whitefish winning the dual.
Akey’s match with Hamilton’s Carter Morgan that ended in six points for Whitefish was also important. Akey went up against the same wrestler he had lost to the week prior at the Bulldogs’ home dual with Hamilton, but this time he pinned the guy.
“We were just talking about how he needs to redeem himself, (Carter Morgan from Hamilton) is a tough kid but we knew we could beat him,” Neff said. “So we decided not to switch up the order… we ended up getting a pin out of Jack which was huge. It kind of changed the dual outcome for us; all the kids were really excited to see that.”
Whitefish senior captain Camren Ross at 170 pounds went 4-0 on the weekend and is 10-1 so far this season. Nathan Sproul in the 120 pound weight class went 3-1, only losing to a tough Hamilton opponent. At the 136 pound division, Luke Ryan returned to the mat for the Bulldogs. Ryan has been out with a concussion but managed to go 4-0 and grind out a tough win over Hamilton’s Hannah Hurst.
This week the Bulldogs have Rylee Creasey, who was one of Whitefish’s wrestlers to qualify for state last year, returning to the mat after being away for an extended time period. Neff explained that Creasey and Ross often work together during practice so having him back will be an advantage in several ways.
“Really excited to get Rylee Creasey back, he’s planning on competing at that 160 mark,” Neff said. “He just brings a lot of character to the team and he works hard.”
The Bulldogs are headed to Ronan on Thursday for a triangular with Ronan and Polson. Whitefish has not wrestled the Chiefs yet this season, but Neff is looking forward to seeing some new competition. He said Whitefish will also be looking for some redemption against Polson as they lost by six points to them earlier this season.
“Just a few matches can change that score outcome,” Neff said of their earlier dual with Polson. “And we’re really looking forward to our home duals against Eureka and Libby this Saturday. That’s another one, we lost to Eureka by two and we’d like to see them again.”
The Bulldogs home triangular against Eureka and Libby will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Whitefish 42, Browning 27
103 Chris Hall (Browning) over Unknown (For.)
120 Nathan Sproul (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
126 Luke Ryan (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
132 Quenton Campos (Browning) over Unknown (For.)
138 Rylan McDaniel (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
145 David Sharp (Browning) over Carter Moran (Whitefish) (Dec 9-2)
152 Jack Akey (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
160 Henry Bennetts (Whitefish) over Jaren Keene (Browning) (Fall 4:48)
170 Brennyn Running Crane (Browning) over Valen Lewis-Ingerson (Whitefish) (Fall 2:35)
182 Camren Ross (Whitefish) over Jace Augare (Browning) (Fall 3:49)
205 Waylon Bull Calf (Browning) over Ashton Akey (Whitefish) (Fall 1:10)
285 Kai Nash (Whitefish) over James Whitcomb (Browning) (Fall 1:25)
Whitefish 39, Hamilton 30
113 Hannah Hicks (Hamilton ) over Unknown (For.)
120 Jesse Anson (Hamilton ) over Nathan Sproul (Whitefish) (Fall 5:02)
126 Luke Ryan (Whitefish) over Hannah Hurst (Hamilton ) (Dec 14-13)
132 Logan Bratsch (Hamilton ) over Unknown (For.)
138 Carter Moran (Whitefish) over Malachi Jackson (Hamilton ) (Fall 5:01)
145 Rylan McDaniel (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
152 Jack Akey (Whitefish) over Carter Morgan (Hamilton ) (Fall 0:45)
160 Henry Bennetts (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
170 Valen Lewis-Ingerson (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
182 Camren Ross (Whitefish) over Trevor Lewis (Hamilton ) (Fall 4:56)
205 Derrick Saltzman (Hamilton ) over Ashton Akey (Whitefish) (Fall 3:20)
285 Cadogan Wheat (Hamilton ) over Kai Nash (Whitefish) (Fall 2:41)
138 Extra: Rylan McDaniel (Whitefish) over Maddy Ward (Hamilton ) (Fall 0:58)
Whitefish 54, Arlee 11
120Nathan Sproul (Whitefish) over Tyrel Thomas (Arlee) (Fall 1:40)
126 Brady Boll (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
132 Luke Ryan (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
138 Rylan McDaniel (Whitefish) over Drew Knoll (Arlee) (Fall 3:48)
145 Colt Crawford (Arlee) over Carter Moran (Whitefish) (Fall 3:10)
152 Jack Akey (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
160 RJ Knoll (Arlee) over Henry Bennetts (Whitefish) (TF 24-9 5:27)
170 Camren Ross (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
182 Valen Lewis-Ingerson (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
205 Ashton Akey (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
285 Kai Nash (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
Whitefish 42, Thompson Falls/Noxon 24
120 Nathan Sproul (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
126 Luke Ryan (Whitefish) over Westin Brown (Fall 1:12)
132 Brady Boll (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
138 Carter Moran (Whitefish) over Walker Morfield (Fall 1:26)
145 Elijah Ratliff (Thompson Falls/Noxon) over Jack Akey (Fall 0:50)
152 Shane Reishus (Thompson Falls/Noxon) over Henry Bennetts (Fall 3:52)
160 Max Hannum (Thompson Falls/Noxon) over Unknown (For.)
170 Camren Ross (Whitefish) over Josh Baldwin (Fall 2:33)
182 Dane Chojnacky (Thompson Falls/Noxon) over Valen Lewis-Ingerson (Fall 0:22)
205 Ashton Akey (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)
285 Kai Nash (Whitefish) over Unknown (For.)