Youth wrestlers battle in Bigfoot

They have walked in the footprints of the Bigfoot, and their wrestling lives will never be the same.

Members of the Blue Hawk Wrestling Club competed in the Bigfoot Battle in Spokane last weekend and local youth wrestlers made their marks in one of the biggest tournaments of its type in the country.

“There were over 1,400 wrestlers from various parts of the country, and the tournament was very tough, as it always is,” club coach Mike Thilmony said. “I was very proud of our kids as I felt they competed very hard and fought through some tough matches to get some wins.”

Wrestling in the open division in Spokane were: Max Hannum (Middle School – 149 pounds); Owen Franck (12-Under, 86 pounds); Emory Butler (12U, 58); Weston Block (10-U, 63); Chase Giegling (8U, 62); Caz Zeretzke (8U, 56); Danni Hill (8U, 53), Kalib Butler (8U, 53); and Hartleigh Block (8U, 43).

Hannum and the Block siblings each won a match but none of the Blue Hawk Club wrestlers managed to earn a placing spot in the nationally renowned tournament.

In the True Beginner division, Ryker Hill, Danni Hill, Butler and Zeretzke all won second place and Giegling and Butler placed third.

In the Girls Division, Hartleigh Block won second place in 8U-45, and Butler did not place in 12U-65.