December 24, 2009
Four Bulldogs dominate in Deer Lodge, Petersen earns Most Outstanding Wrestler
Aaric Bryan/Valley Journal
Bulldog grappler Travis Dumont stretches out Blue Hawk Shawn Sacchi at the Superior Invitational two weeks ago. Dumont pinned all his opponents to win the 160-pound
championship at Deer Lodge.
Valley Journal
DEER LODGE — Four Bulldog wrestlers won championships at the Ron Fuhrman Tournament in Deer Lodge Saturday and did it in high fashion.
All four Mission-Charlo wrestlers to take home gold from the tournament pinned all their opponents at the tournament and the mixer with Deer Lodge, Drummond, Shelby and Superior the night before.
Jame Petersen, who was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the tournament, started the weekend with a second-period pin of Deer Lodge’s Bobby Ray, who finished second in the state last year. The 145-pound Charlo senior also pinned Warden Barabus Horton at the mixer. At the tournament Saturday, Petersen pinned Warden Frank Stolp and Drummonds’ Austin Martell, with both pins coming in the first period.
With Ray moving down to a lighter weight and only eight teams entered at the tournament, the competition wasn’t the stiffest Petersen will face, but Mission-Charlo coach Lyle Cronk said, “It was nice to see him make short work of what competition he had there.”
It was Petersen’s second championship in three tries this season. He finished second at the Superior tournament last week, losing to Frenchtown’s Brad Nordahl in the championship for his only loss of the season.
Charlo sophomore Casey Nitschke won the first championship of his career with a first-period pin of Jefferson’s Lucas Fergusson. All of the 119-pounder’s three pins came in the first period.
“Casey had an outstanding day wrestling. He wrestled tough with three pins on the weekend and all them coming in the first period. It’s great to see him step up and dominate his opponents,” Cronk said.
Mission senior Travis Dumont won the 160-pound class. Dumont pinned Butte wrestlers Blake Kraus and Bryant Hansen at the tournament and also pinned Shelby’s Ryan Parker at the mixer.
In his first tournament of his career, Mission-Charlo heavyweight Nick Dinnell showed no jitters; winning the championship with a pin of Butte’s Nick Matich. Dinnell also pinned Deer Lodge’s Mike Beck and Shelby’s Tanner Vorrhles over the weekend.
Cronk said winning the first tournament you enter is unique, but added Dinnell is a unique wrestler.
“He’s 275 pounds. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s athletic and he does a good job. He’s patient and wrestles smart,” Cronk said, adding that the Mission senior is a hard worker and studies every match.
Both Scotty Gilleard and Chad Anderson finished second for the Bulldogs. Gilleard lost to Superior’s Mason Chatterley 15-4 in the finals. Gilleard also lost to Chatterley at the mixer and at last week’s tournament in Superior and is somebody he’s going to have to beat if he wants to be divisional champion.
“It’s actually good to have somebody to rival against. It really shows you what you have to work on,” Cronk said.
Anderson defeated teammate Barret Sargent in overtime to earn a spot in the 171-pound championship, where he lost to Shelby’s Rylan Hansen.
The Bulldogs finished in second at the tournament with 148 points. Butte won the tournament with a score of 169.5 points. Western B-C’s Drummond finished in third with 120 points.
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