Ishler takes state wrestling championship

Nick Ianniello

Mineral Independent

In order to win a state championship wrestling match, a grappler has to put in years of hard work and determination, and in Alberton freshman Cody Ishler’s case, it takes a little bit of good luck too.

“I enjoy wrestling a lot and I’ve been doing it since I was five years old,” said recent state champ Ishler.

While Ishler has been participating in the Frenchtown Little Guy Wrestling Program since the age of five, until May 2008, the odds of him coming anywhere near a state championship wrestling title were slim to none.

While Ishler is an outstanding athlete, Alberton has never had a wrestling program for students. Were it not for a coop negotiated by the Alberton and Frenchtown School Boards, Ishler would likely have been playing basketball this winter.

This May however, both school boards agreed to allow Alberton wrestlers to join the Frenchtown Broncs Wrestling program.

Frenchtown Superintendent Randy Cline said that he had been approached by Debbie Ishler, Cody’s mother, about the coop and the two schools worked out a deal that would allow the Broncs to fill out their already tough wrestling team while providing Alberton students an opportunity to try a different sport.

Alberton’s coop participants had to pay a $10 participation fee and Alberton High School spent $250 paying fees to the Montana High School Association.

“I think it’s a great idea and I’m glad it worked out,” Ishler said about the coop.

Ishler, along with first time wrestler Roy Schutter, were the only two to join the team, but they both proved to be invaluable team members.

“He’s the total package for a state wrestling champ,” Broncs Head Coach Bob Henderson said.

Ishler had a banner season, placing in many of his meets throughout the season, and dominating the state wrestling tournament in Billings on Feb. 14.

While the Broncs took seventh place with several placing athletes, Ishler was the only member of the team to take home a first place title.

Ishler and his coach both agreed that the first matches of the tournament were no trouble for the 98-pound wrestler. Even in his final match Ishler appeared to be in total control until the final 30 seconds.

Ishler said he was ahead 5 – 0 when he lost his footing and his opponent put him onto the mat with only 30 seconds to go in the match. Not to be defeated easily, Ishler rolled through his opponent and managed to score again before the match was over, winning 7 – 5.

Ishler said he enjoys wrestling because t is an individual sport, and gives him an opportunity to push himself.

“It’s just me out there,” Ishler said.

Ishler said that he knew most of the Broncs wrestlers through Little Guy Wrestling, but he would really like to see more Alberton wrestlers taking part in the coop next season.

“Hopefully we can get some more Alberton kids to try out wrestling. I know the coach wants more Alberton kids trying out next year,” Ishler said.

For youngsters who are thinking about wrestling, Ishler said the best thing to do would be to start working with the Little Guy Wrestling Program.

“If you want to try wrestling, Frenchtown has a great program and it’s a great place to learn,” Ishler said.

With wrestling season winding down, Ishler said he doubts that he will try out for track this year, adding that he’ll likely just be preparing himself for football season in the fall.

Either way, Ishler has three more years of wrestling to go, and he will have a reputation to uphold as well.

“I’m going to have to improve and get better every year now,” Ishler said