Tested Bulldog crew ready to hit the mats
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Mission-Charlo wrestling coach Lyle Cronk didn’t know anything about the group of inexperienced wrestlers he was coaching at the beginning of last year, but by the end of the year he knew they were tough – this year he is hoping that toughness will translate into success.
“It was a lot of fun to watch the development of our team last year. What they lacked in experience they seemed to make up for in effort and at the end of the year it really paid off for them,” Cronk said.
One of the few Bulldog wrestlers that had experience at the start of last year was Scotty Gilleard. The 135-pound junior rode this experience to a fourth-place finish at state last year and has placed in the final tournament the past two years. Cronk said that Gilleard is poised to make another strong run at the state tournament.
“Scotty has an excellent opportunity this year. He is in a great position to have success and is surrounded by the best practice partners he’s ever had. Scotty will certainly continue to be a leader on our team and I look forward to seeing him in the finals of several tournaments.” Cronk said.
Joel Lewis and Dillon Edwards, both seniors, will help Gilleard lead the young Bulldog team. Edwards and Lewis were two of the Bulldogs that had little experience at the start of last year, but continued to work and improved week-in, week-out. Edwards, who will wrestle at 105 pounds, won the divisional championship and Lewis placed fourth at the Western B-C Divisional Wrestling Tournament.
Russell Shultz, a 130-pound junior, placed fourth at divisionals last year and has made the state tournament both years he had wrestled. Chad Anderson, a 171-pound junior, came on strong at the end of last year to place third at divisionals after defeating Florence’s Tanner Cobb for the first time. Anderson exemplifies the toughness Cronk expects from his wrestler. He didn’t get discouraged after only winning one match his freshman year and strives to be a better wrestler.
Casey Nitschke, a 119-pound junior, and Barret Sargent, a 171-pound sophomore, both just missed out of making the state tournament last year. With a year of experience under their belt, the two are strong candidates to be wrestling in Hamilton at the end of the season.
Morgan Shultz, Cody Coulture and Jacen Petersen all experienced a lot of success in the Little Guy Wrestling Program and Cronk said he expects the three freshman to continue to be successful at the high school level.
The Bulldogs start the season Saturday in Polson. Then they host Eureka, Florence, Darby for a conference triangular Tuesday.
