Clark Fork wrestlers find matches in Simms

In the world of Montana high school wrestling these days, you have to scrap and hustle to find opponents when a scheduled foe cancels.

Such was the case for the Clark Fork wrestling team this week, when a scheduled match with in Anaconda was cancelled. Coach Charlie Crabb and crew instead found themselves headed to Simms, near Great Falls, to face a hodge-podge of wrestlers Friday evening.

While no officials stats were available, the Mountain Cats fared well against the hastily gathered group of wrestlers.

Crabb said most of the Mountain Cats were able to get in two matches, mostly against host Simms. Among the winners for the Cats was 152-pounder Hunter Haskins who pinned both of his opponents to remain unbeaten on the season.

Also, sophomore 205-pound wrestler Chandon Vulles moved up to face the heavyweight from Shelby and won by pin in the first round. Carter Woodson also scored a win by pin at 172.

Clark Forks wrestlers Ryder Hansen and Micah Acker both had to move up a weight class and both pinned the same opponent from Simms.

“Most of our kids had two matches and everyone got in at least one match,” Crabb said. “A lot of those matches were exhibitions since the weights we had filled were not filled by other teams.”

Clark Fork and Simms were the only teams with a full contingent, which also attracted wrestlers from Shelby, White Sulphur Springs and Valier.

“I think overall we didn’t have the best night but we did manage to win more than we lost,” Crabb said. “This week is a busy week. We wrestle the Frenchtown JV Tuesday night, then Friday night is senior night and we will be wrestling Mission and Florence. Then on Saturday we go to Thompson Falls to wrestle the Blue Hawks and Boulder.”