Wrestlers battle at tournament

THOMPSON FALLS – Sanders County wrestlers wrestled well over the weekend earning top spots for their teams at the Ted Kato Invitational in Thompson Falls.

Thanks to a number of top finishes from throughout their lineups both Thompson Falls and Plains ended the tournament with impressive team point totals.

Thompson Falls Bluehawks Wrestling, the tournament’s hosts, were able to take first place in the tourney, compiling 171 team points to take home the top prize.

The Savage Horsemen team from Plains-Hot Springs also had an impressive day on the mats, with the team’s wrestlers earning 133 team points to take second place in the county tournament.

Thompson Falls earned first place finishes from Kaleb Frank in the 103-pound weight class, Peyton Irvine at 113-pounds, Cody Garrison at 120-pounds, Wesley Gilroy at 126-pounds and Kyle Milner in the finals of the 160-pound bout.

The five first place finishers helped Thompson Falls compile the top point total at the tournament and earn the team victory on the day.

Thompson Falls Head Coach Ian Taylor was pleased with his team’s performance and attributed the tournament win to a strong week of practice.

“The team had a good week of practice. The kids were mentally and physically prepared to wrestle at the tournament,” Taylor said.

Taylor was impressed with his whole lineup throughout the day.

He also noted it was the first time the team had won their home tournament in the last several years.

“There were a lot of positives. Almost all the kids had something good going during the day,” Taylor said.

Up next for the Bluehawks will be a quad meet on the road in Superior.

The meet is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

Savage Horsemen Head Coach Kenny Marjerrison was also pleased with his team’s performance during the weekend tournament.

“The team did pretty well, of course there is a couple things we need to work on but on the whole they wrestled well,” Marjerrison said.

Marjerrison said the team had eight medal winners the invitational, helping the team earn 133 points and second place in the tournament.

Of the eight medal winners, the Savage Horsemen also had two wrestlers take home first place in their weight class.

Jake Lile of Plains-Hot Springs won a close match to take home first in the 138-pound bout.  

Lile defeated Torren Lawson of Florence in a 7-4 decision to earn first place in his weight class.

The Savage Horsemen’s 145-pound wrestler, Russell Kujala continued his winning ways, pinning Tony Bergerson of Flint Creek in the finals to take home first place.

Marjerrison was also pleased with how Dusten Henning and Bryce Henning wrestled at the tournament.

D. Henning took home second place in the 132-pound weight class, while B. Henning earned a third place finish in the 126-pound weight class for the Savage Horsemen.

Marjerrison added the team would focus on conditioning and technique as the season moved into its final month.

“We need to maintain our conditioning and work on some top technique, and hand-fighting,” Marjerrison said.  

Up next for the Savage Horsemen will be a mixer in Conrad on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Following the mixer in Conrad the Plains-Hot Springs squad will take part in the Choteau Invitational next weekend.

Marjerrison is looking forward to the tournament and noted it is a good way for his team to gear up for the state tournament at the conclusion of the season.

“It is an incredibly tough tournament,” Marjerrison said.

The Thompson Falls Bluehawks will also make the trip to Choteau over the weekend, with both teams joining a field of over 30 teams expected to take part in the annual tournament.