Two Bluehawks medal at Corvallis

On Saturday, the Bluehawks racked up 128 points to finish third as a team, while two wrestlers, Shawn Sacchi and Erik Hilety, medaled at the Corvallis Invitational meet.

The home town team took first as Corvallis scored 241 points. Florence came in second with 182 in a field of 10 teams.

“We made some big improvments this week, all the kids are starting to look pretty good. We’re a completely different team than we were two weeks ago already,” said Thompson Falls head coach Colby Cline. “We’re just building every week to divisionals and state.”

Sacchi, 160 pounds, came away with his first high school tournament win while avenging a loss he suffered in Polson earlier this year.

“He looked really good,” Cline said. “Probably the best I’ve seen him wrestle in a long time.”

Erik Hilety, the other Bluehawk on the podium, took the 189-pound weight class.

Cline was pleased with his team’s performance from top to bottom. He cited improved conditioning, growing confidence and mounting tournament experience as the main catalysts for his teams success.

“We’ve stressed pride and fighting off your back, and not giving up points as easily,” he said. “The kids have done really well with that.”

Wade Gascon, who had previously wrestled at 105 made it down to 98 pounds for the first time where he figures to be a state contender.

Cline believes his team will finally be at full strength after Christmas break, when his final four wrestlers become eligible and his lone injured student athlete returns.

Ricky Romero, who suffered a shoulder injury early this year at practice, was cleared to wrestle by his doctors on Tuesday.

“He hasn’t wrestled a match for us yet, but he should do ok at 215,” said Cline.