Wresters tune up for postseason at Mission Valley Championships

It was a final tune-up for local wrestlers as they head into the Western Division B-C postseason this coming Friday and Saturday in Shelby.

And although no team points were available, Plains/Hot Springs wrestlers look to be hitting their stride as the divisional event arrives.

Ten Savage Horsemen placed in the top four of their weight categories during the Mission Valley Championships this past Saturday in St. Ignatius, including three who won first place honors.

Defending Class C team champion Superior, meanwhile had five top four placers, including first by heavyweight Jaxson Green, a senior who has had an outstanding year to this point.

The Bobcats also had second-place showings from 152-pounder Lucas Kovalsky and 160-pound freshman Turner Milender.

Plains, under the guidance of head coach Jesse Jermyn, dominated the meet as they have recently during the regular season. The PHS co-op squad got a first place medal from Beau Crabb, who won his championship match by fall at the 5:13 mark over Flathead (Kalispell) 138-pounder Cory Tappan. Fourth place in the weight class went to Superior’s Wade Calloway, who lost by fall to Jeremy Martin of Arlee.

Hot Springs student John Waterbury continued his outstanding work this season in one of the best matches of the meet when he eked out a 2-1 decision over Kovalsky, in what may well be a preview of the Western division meet.

Another Hot Springs student wrestling with the Plains co-op, David Chapman, beat teammate Brenden Vanderwall via a pin at the 4:00 mark of their title bout.

Green, Superior’s outstanding heavyweight, won his championship match versus Austin Shabel (Flathead), pinning him in 58 seconds. Plains heavyweight Will Tatum picked up the third place medal in the heavyweight division with a win by fall over Manhattan’s Paul Webb at the 50 second mark of their consolation final match.

The Thurston brothers, Mathew (113 pounds) and John(120), brought home third place medals for Plains/Hot Springs. The Savage Horsemen also got a second place finish from 132 pound Cody West, who lost the classification title match to Cooper Smith of Manhattan by fall at 1:01. Plains wrestler Gavin Schrenk was fourth in the 132 pound category.

PHS also got a third place finish at 182 pounds by Gabe Rassmussen to round out the co-op’s solid showing in St. Ignatius.

Superior 205 pounder Jaden Hughes finished fourth for the Bobcats.

    Superior sophomore Wade Calloway (blue) looks for a take down during the Mission Valley Championship event this past Saturday in St. Ignatius. (Photo by Kami Milender)
  

    Plains sophomore Beau Crabb looks to control his opponent during this past Saturday's Mission Valley Championship in St. Ignatius. (Photo by Kami Milender)