Bobcats, Broncs send wrestlers to state

Nick Ianniello

Mineral Independent

At least three wrestlers from Mineral County will be traveling to Billings next weekend to compete in the Montana State Divisions B and C Wrestling Tournament after placing at this week’s divisional seeding tournament in Mission.

Mason Chatterly and Taylor Gatchel of the Superior Bobcats Wrestling Team both placed in the top four in the tournament, as did Cody Ishler from Alberton who has been wrestling with the Frenchtown Broncs as part of a wrestling coop program with Frenchtown High School.

“It’s been great for us. Cody has really scored a lot of points for us,” Frenchtown Broncs Wrestling Head Coach Bob Egnderson said about the coop.

Wrestlers from Superior and Alberton faced off against grapplers from 13 different schools. More than 130 wrestlers showed up to compete in the event.

Ishler took first place in the 98-poind weight class at the tournament, beating out all other challengers.

“He’s done a great job. He’s a very smart kid that picks up thing very quickly and he’s very athletic,” said Egnderson.

This is Ishler’s freshman year on the wrestling squad but already he has made his way into the state tournament and done much to impress the Frenchtown coach.

“Cody came in as a tough little guy wrestler but he’s really improved in not only his wrestling ability but also in what I like to call ‘mat smarts,’” Egnderson said. “That’s awareness of the clock and awareness of where he’s at on the mat. There’s just been an overall improvement in all areas of wrestling from him. Right now he’s come further than I expected.”

Ishler wrestled for Frenchtown along with another Alberton freshman, Roy Schutter. Schutter did not compete in the divisional tournament, but Egnderson said that he has been a big asset for the team throughout the season as well.

“I hope we can continue to keep this coop going. They’ve got a great staff and a great sports program over there at Alberton,” Egnderson said.

Superior Bobcats Head Coach Charlie Crabb said that he is excited to be able to send both Gatchel and Chatterly, two wrestlers that have placed in several events throughout the season, to the state championship match.

“They both finished strong,” Crabb said.

Chatterly, a junior, and Gatchel, a sophomore, are part of a very young team this year and Crabb said they made up for their lack of experience with hard work a great attitude.

“They wrestled great. It was a young team and there were some tough weight classes out there so I’m proud of them,” Crabb said.

Chatterly finished in third place in the 125-pound weight class and Gatchel finished in second place in the 112-ound weight class at the divisional tournament, and the pair will head for Billings on Thursday.

“There are some pretty good wrestlers from all across the state so they’ll have to wrestle pretty tough if they want to place” Crabb said.

The Bobcats also placed three wrestlers in fifth place. If a wrestler in their weight class backs out of the tournament the fifth place wrestlers may be bumped up and get an opportunity go to state.

Junior Garrett Stephens, who wrestled in the 130-pound weight class, lost a match in overtime to wind up in the fifth place slot for his weight class. Freshmen Dan Taron, who wrestled in the 119-pound weight class, and Mackenzie Crabb, who wrestled in the 130-pound weight class, also took fifth place in their weight classes.