Little guy wrestlers have good showing at state

The Superior Bobcat Little Guy wrestlers took 17 wresters to Columbia Falls on Saturday for the Western Montana State Championships and seven of those kids placed.

Wrestling in the beginner division, Jake Lapinski took home first place at 95 pounds. In the novice wrestler division at 100 pounds, his brother Nathan Lapinski took second place, while teammate Connor Voll got fourth. At 65 pounds, Logan Donally also nabbed a fourth place win on the mats.

In the middle division, Blaine Parkin scored fourth place overall at 65 pounds. Moving into the junior division at 80 pounds, Anthony Parkin secured a second place win. Fellow junior wrestler Tucker Smith also brought home a second place win at 95 pounds.

Coach Charlie Crabb said that it was a great way to end the short six week season.

"It was a good end to a good season," he said. "The kids wrestled really well and showed a lot of improvement throughout the season. The goal is always to finish better than when you started and we accomplished that goal."

On Friday, before the kids headed out to the State Championships, the elementary held a pep rally, "Wrestlemania," to showcase the wrestlers to the student body, staff, teachers and community. Jason Mclees said it was one of the first times that they had done that.

Scott Kinney said in an email to teachers that he wanted to do something special for the kids and to demonstrate their hard work. The idea came from Lisa Cooper, who teaches the first grade.

"I would like to do something special for these kids that have stuck it out for the past five weeks working their tails off wearing red, white and blue," he wrote. "I would like to hold a pep rally for the kids on Friday morning and for our team to put on a quick wrestling exhibition/clinic and then hold a team takedown dual in the gym. These guys have worked really hard this year and I would like to make a big deal about their success as they have truly come together as a team. "

So on Friday, the mat was set and the students from the elementary shuffled in. With music in the background and top quality hands-frees microphones, Kinney and Wayne Stanley introduced the team of wrestlers. He dubbed them each with a nickname, including, Logan "Technician" Donally, Mason "Frostbite" Frost, Jake "the snake" Lapinski and so on. After introducing the wrestlers, Tucker Smith and Bridger Lapierre, under Kinney's guidance, performed a demonstration match, showing different moves and point scorers to the audience.

Kinney noted how each wrestler shook hands before and after and also that even though the team competes against each other in practice and at some meets, "they're still respectful and friends. They have really good sportsmanship."

Then, they all the wrestlers were run through a quick takedown duel on the mat. The kids cheered so loudly and for all the wrestlers that you couldn't make out the name or sometimes here the referee call out to the wrestlers. It was a fun time. Crabb said he appreciated all the other coaches and helpers did to keep the kids motivated and having fun.

"I think the coaching staff did an excellent job of motivating the kids and making it a fun experience for everyone involved.," he said.