Fifteen county wrestlers head to championships

Three Sanders County wrestling teams will send 15 wrestlers to the state championships after a big day at the Western B-C Divisional Tournament in Darby Saturday.

Two Thompson Falls wrestlers took first in their weight divisions, propelling the Bluehawks to a second place team finish and eight state qualifiers. Plains-Hot Springs edged Deer Lodge by a half point to take fifth at the tournament and the Savage Horseman will send six to state. Noxon finished 12th overall and will send one Red Devil to the state tournament in Billings Friday and Saturday.

Thompson Falls seniors Matt Hojem in the 115-pound division and Jason Shaw in the Heavyweight division each pinned their Arlee opponents in their respective championship matches to secure the top placing. More than first place was on the line in those matches as Hojem and Shaw also had the opportunity for redemption.

At senior night Jan. 24, Hojem and Shaw lost to Cole Rice and Keegan Fluke, both of Arlee. The opportunity for a rematch came up in the championships in Darby as Hojem wrestled Rice and Shaw took on Fluke. The rest is in the books.

John Garrison and Tate Cavill each took second for the Bluehawks at 171 pounds and 135 pounds respectively and Richard Lyons took third at 145 pounds. Rounding out the Bluehawk state qualifiers were Tanner Gascon, who took fourth at 119 pounds and freshman Brandon Olean who took fourth at 152 pounds. First year wrestler Bryant Normandeau took fourth at 189 pounds.

Thompson Falls coach Colby Cline said he wasn't expecting his team to be so close to Arlee or to first place at divisionals. "If you would have asked me a month ago, I would have been happy with fifth," Cline said. "The guys really stepped it up."

The Bluehawks finished with 154 points while Arlee scored 157.5 points to take first.

The Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen saw five wrestlers go to the championships with Kyle Steinebach pinning Vugar Garayev of St. Ignatius to take first at 145 pounds. Rio Crismore (98), freshman Kenneth Beech (105), Chris Stobie (160), and Mike Hines (189) each took second place in their weight classes. Austin Thompson took fourth in the 171-pound class to qualify for state.

Savage Horseman coach Kenny Marjerrison was pleased with how things went for his team in Darby. "We wrestled very well," Marjerrison said. "All those teams in front of us had full lineups. I was very happy with fifth considering we only sent seven wrestlers to the tournament."

Marjerrison said he was especially impressed with his 145-pound junior, Steinebach.

"He was a huge underdog," Marjerrison said. "They did some jerking around with the brackets and ended up putting him against a Thompson Falls kid who was supposed to beat Kyle."

Marjerrison said Steinebach won the match by pinfall in 1:06 before going on to take first. Marjerrison said he was proud of the way his team wrestled on Saturday because they finally wrestled as a team.

He said he likes Beech's and Steinebach's chances at state but he said it's really up to the wrestlers.

"State's an interesting place and everyone's very, very good," Marjerrison said. "Any of them are good enough; they just have to do it."

Noxon qualified one wrestler, freshman Adam Moore, who took fourth at 145 pounds. He will be the lone wrestler representing the Red Devils at the state tournament.

Despite only qualifying one wrestler for state, Noxon coach Kelly Moore said he thought the divisional tournament went well.

"We've come a long way," Moore said. "We're a young team and I've seen great improvement from all my guys."

Moore was happy to see good close competition at the tournament in Darby. He hopes Moore's state birth will help to inspire the freshman and his other young wrestlers.

"For a freshman to go to state is a privilege," Moore said. "It should be a good learning experience and hopefully will motivate him and the others to become better wrestlers."

Moore said he is happy with where his team is at right now and is confident in a successful future.

"We're trying to build a program up here in Noxon," Moore said. "Now my other kids are motivated."

The state wrestling meet will be held this weekend in Billings beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, and 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9.