Rising stars
Local Little Guys shine in season finale
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
COLUMBIA FALLS — It’s said winning programs don’t rebuild, they just reload. If that’s the case, after last weekend’s Western Montana Little Guy Wrestling Championship, the area’s high school teams should be good for years to come.
Six local Little Guy Wrestlers walked away from Columbia Falls Saturday with championships and plenty more placed in the top four at the final Little Guy event of the season.
In the novice division Saturday, Ronan’s Noah Cheff picked up his fourth Little Guy championship by defeating Lolo’s Connall Powers in the 60-pound championship. Cheff took down Hamilton’s Drew Brockman in overtime in the semifinals to advance to the championship.
Polson’s 70-pounder Jaron Morgan defeated Blue Devil Bryant Brown to pick up his first championship. The night before in the beginners’ championship Pirate Bo Kelley picked up the 70-pound championship. Pirate 65-pounder Strann Seeman snared a silver and 85-pounder Seth Lake took bronze at the beginner tournament.
Bulldog 158-pounder Zane Hafliger pinned Polson’s Anthony Camel in the final match to win his first Little Guy championship.
In the junior division, both Mission-Charlo and Ronan had a pair of champions. Bulldog Morgan Schultz defeated Dillon’s John Rickard to win the 85-pound class. Bulldog 140-pounder Ryce Hedwood defeated Dillon’s Dakotah Heard to win the championship.
Chief Brandon Dumont beat Eagle Wrestling Club’s Ryan Glenn to win a loaded 119-pound class, which was split in two groups. Dumont was one of four local wrestlers to place in the weight class. Teammate Jake Stenstrom finished second in the 119B-class and Bulldog Pascao Green beat Pirate Troy Meyer in the consolation match.
Chief Ronnie Cleland defeated Kalispell’s Mitchell Stivers to win the 189-pound class.
Bulldog Trent Dennison, Chief Graydon Irish and Pirates Hunter Fritsch, Robbie Cordis-Robinson and Camel all took home silver from the tournament in the novice division.
The Pirates had four wrestlers finish in third in the novice division: Rene Pierre (55), Cameron Rinke-Brown (75) Jonah Burke (140) and Haden Smith (110) all earned bronze. Chief 124-pound wrestler Gus Bosley also won his consolation match.
Warrior fifth-grader Marcus Moran came out of nowhere to defeat the number-one seeded Tucker Nadeau, from Bigfork, and go on to place fourth in the novice, 95-pound class.
Though no local wrestler won in the middle division, both Mission-Charlo and Arlee had a pair of wrestlers make it to the championship match.
Bulldog Bridger Coffman finished second in the 110-pound class and teammate Steven Bravo took silver in the 120-pound class.
Arlee sixth-grader Alex Bertollt finished second for the second week in a row in the 130-pound class. Teammate Calvin Hendren finished second in the 187-pound class.
After finishing in fourth the past two years, Mission-Charlo’s Dante McDougal shut out Plains Russell Kujala 7-0 in the consolation match for the best finish of his young career. Polson’s Dillon Brooks finished fourth in the 100-pound class.
In the junior division, Pirates Carlos Quinones (100) and Chris Gieber (160) each finished in second. Warrior 215-pounder Logan Potts also earned a silver medal.
Chief Austin Hakes defeated Hamilton’s Michael Baumgarner in the consolation match to finish in third in the 140-pound class. Ronnie Cullis finished in fourth in the 152-pound class.
