Bulldog wrestling headed to state, seven place in divisionals

by WHITNEY ENGLAND
Whitefish Pilot | February 8, 2023 1:00 AM

Whitefish wrestlers had a good showing at the Western A Divisional tournament on Friday and Saturday, qualifying seven wrestlers for state.

The Bulldog senior Kadin Brown led the way over the two-day tournament with a third-place finish in the 113-pound division. Whitefish coach Danny Neff says Brown was a leader and sparkplug for the team.

“Kadin Brown really showed up to wrestle, it was exciting to watch him compete this weekend,” said Whitefish coach Danny Neff. “He had a tough third-fourth place match against a Ronan individual and ended up getting a pin. He was kind of our leader throughout the weekend. I was really excited to see him bet to business and show some grit.”

Brown pinned Ronan’s Luc Cheff in 2:20 in the third-place match and will head to compete in the State Tournament next weekend in Billings. Brown won his first two matches and then lost by a 10-2 major decision in the semifinals. He came back in the consolation semis to pin Browning’s Prestin Connelly which helped him to the placing round.

Another high placer was Whitefish’s only female wrestler Sam Bennetts who took fourth place on the girls side at 120 pounds. Bennetts lost on an 8-2 decision to Ronan’s Juliette Cheff in the third-place match. Only the top four placers in her division qualify for the state tournament and in fourth place, the freshman will be heading to Billings.

“Sam Bennetts wrestled pretty well and then would have a couple matches where she didn’t look herself… but she got the job done and we’re looking forward to seeing her compete at state,” Neff said.

At 126, Landree Aurand came sixth after having to forfeit his final match due to an injury. Henry Bennetts placed fifth at 160 pounds. At 182, Kitar Olsen placed sixth and at 205 Kai Nash was sixth, all qualifying to compete at the state tournament next weekend.

Jackson Dorvall placed eighth in the 145-pound division.

The All-Class State Wrestling Tournament will be held Friday and Saturday in Billings.

Western A Boys Divisional

Polson (Linderman Gym) Saturday

Team scores — Columbia Falls 290, Frenchtown 275.5, Ronan 220, Corvallis 149, Libby/Troy 138, Hamilton 131.5, Dillon 102, Browning 89, Whitefish 74, East Helena 56, Polson 31, Stevensville 28, Butte Central 17.

Individual results

103: Championship — Isaac Stewart (Frenchtown) dec. Traic Fainter (Columbia Falls) 9-3. 3rd Place — August Courville (Ronan) p. Riley Osborn (Libby) 2:39. 5th Place — Andrew Frecker (Dillon) forfeit over Ian Dillard (Ronan).

113: Championship — Logan Barnes (Dillon) major dec. Corbin Long (Frenchtown) 13-2. 3rd Place — Kadin Brown (Whitefish) p. Luc Cheff (Ronan) 2:20. 5th Place — Travis Nygard (Frenchtown) dec Prestin Connelly (Browning) 4-0.

120: Championship — Ridge Cote (Ronan) p. Ryder Hansen (Frenchtown) 1:32. 3rd Place — Todd Whitescarver (Stevi) dec. Pita Fish (Browning) 6-2. 5th Place — Neal Brandon (Dillon) major dec. Tyson Lake (Ronan) 9-0.

126: Championship — Tyler Gilfry (Columbia Falls) injury def. over Hunter Barnes (Dillon) 2:28. 3rd Place — Ben White (Corvallis) forfeit over Cole Johnson (Frenchtown). 5th Place — Sean Davis (Corvallis) forfeit over Landree Aurand (Whitefish).

132: Championship — Jesse Anson (Hamilton) major dec. Dylan Delorme (Columbia Falls) 12-2. 3rd Place — Seth Allen (Corvallis) dec. Marley Erickson (Libby) 6-4 OT. 5th Place — Blake Hoerner (Columbia Falls) p. James Holmes (Butte Central) :56.

138: Championship — Winslow Peters (Columbia Falls) dec. Jason Davis (Corvallis) 9-6. 3rd Place Math — Chris Rathjen (Columbia Falls) p. James Kenelty (Ronan) 4:55. 5th Place — Zekiah Meyers (Libby) forfeit over Fortino Silva (Ronan).

145: Championship — Tahj Wells (Browning) dec. Koda King (Ronan) 8-5. 3rd Place — Billy Gustafson (Columbia Falls) dec/ Will James Courville (Ronan) 8-3. 5th Place — Nate Davis (Corvallis) dec. Connor Benson (Libby) 4-2.

152: Championship — Josiah Kilman (Columbia Falls) dec. Blaise Cronk (Columbia Falls) 4-3. 3rd Place — Hank Hagenbarth (Dillon) p. Brody Hardy (Frenchtown) :22. 5th Place — Daniel Peterson (Polson) dec. Dominque McKay (Ronan) 8-6.

160: Championship — Justin Windauer (Columbia Falls) forfeit over Landon Bishop (Ronan). 3rd Place — Jonny Williams (Corvallis) p. Branch Martin (Frenchtown) 4:44. 5th Place — Henry Bennetts (Whitefish) dec. Tel Holland (Dillon) 4-0.

170: Championship — Andrew Frederick (Hamilton) p. Dillon Warner (Frenchtown) :47. 3rd Place — Rowdy Crump (Columbia Falls) p. James Warner (Libby) 1:28. 5th Place — Brady Hout (Ronan) p. Aiden Toniazzo (Hamilton) 2:29.

182: Championship — Noah Rausch (Frenchtown) major dec. Brandon Role (Columbia Falls) 15-3. 3rd Place — Matthew Niemi (Libby) p. Clayton Beall (Hamilton) 1:50. 5th Place — Nathan Hansen (Frenchtown) p. Kitar Olsen (Whitefish) 2:16.

205: Championship — Jace DeShazer (Libby) major dec. Derrick Saltzman (Hamilton) 18-6. 3rd Place — Bryce Weidow (Corvallis) p. Trevor Lewis (Hamilton) :59. 5th Place — Brody Harris (Frenchtown) p. Kai Nash (Whitefish) 2:03.

285: Championship — Brendyn Whiteman (Browning) dec. Philip Herald (Frenchtown) 7-1. 3rd Place — Austin Brush (Frenchtown) p. Layne Powers (East Helena) 1:44. 5th Place — Adam Shirley (East Helena) p. Jackson Davis (Ronan) 2:44.

Western A Girls Divisional

Polson (Linderman Gym) Saturday

Team scores — Ronan 181, Polson 134.5, Browning 114, Corvallis 93, Fren 83, Columbia Falls 63, Dillon 50, Hamilton 41, East Helena 40, Whitefish 14.

Individual results

120: Championship — Rebel Montanez (Fren) p. Destiny Finley (Ronan), 5:44. 3rd Place —Juliette Cheff (Ronan) dec. Sam Bennetts (Whitefish), 8-2. 5th Place — Tyler Gibson (Dillon/Sheridan/Twin Bridges) p. Paris Jerome (C Falls), 2:13. 7th Place — Rain Underbear (Brow) inj. def. Emily Williams (Brow), Inj. 0:00.