Four medal, Hawks ninth at State B-C

Going into Saturday's highly-anticipated 132-pound State B-C title match with heated rival Gunnar Smith, Trae Thilmony didn't think he could win the match.

He knew he could win the match.

"I was confident," Thilmony said. "Gunnar had beat me on my feet when we had wrestled earlier this year, so I knew had to make some adjustments, and I guess they worked out pretty well."

Indeed, an uncommon student of the sport, Thilmony knew exactly what he had to do facing an all-time great wrestler seeking the fourth State B-C title of his storied career, and then he went out and did it, registering a decisive 7-4 win, claiming the 2021 132-pound championship.

The win for Thilmony, now a junior and a two-time State B-C champ himself, leaves him with a final career record of 3-2 against Smith, who had won the title at 126 last year, and at 120 in '18 and '19. Thilmony won his first State B-C title last year at 120 after winning third at 113 his freshman year.

One of the most watched wrestling rivalries in Montana this season, Trae's father and coach Mike Thilmony put it into perspective. "It doesn't happen very often, two kids chasing a run of state titles facing each other like this," he said. "We knew something would have to give and had a good plan of attack, and it worked out for Trae."

The final two wins in the rivalry – a 12-10 sudden victory by Thilmony in the Western B-C finals a week earlier and the 7-4 win Saturday – clearly carry the most weight of any of the previous encounters. However, as one great champion wins, another lost in painful fashion.

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Thilmony knew how Smith probably felt, losing his incredible opportunity to be one of the very few in Montana wrestling history to win four individual state titles, and tried to console him afterwards. Upon shaking hands with the opposing coach, Smith broke down crying in coach Thilmony's arms.

Trae said he could see this moment coming for a few years. "We were at slightly different weights most of the time, but I kind of knew that we would run into each other eventually," he said, "and we finally ended up meeting up this year.

"I consider Gunnar a friend and a great competitor," he added, "but I have goals too." One of Trae's most immediate goals now will be joining Smith as a three-time Montana state champion next season.

Coach Thilmony is not in the habit of consoling defeated opponents. "I was sad for Gunnar and I can't say I have ever felt that way about an opponent before," he said. "These two are very similar in how they conduct themselves and compete, there is a lot of respect there on both sides."

Although state wrestling tournaments are famous for early-round upsets, Trae would have none of that on his way to the championship match. He pinned Evan Sereday of White Sulphur Springs in 3:07 of the first round and then won a major 13-1 decision from Plains-Hot Springs' David Schultze in the quarterfinals. Tyler Niles of Shepherd bowed out of the semifinal match with an injury to put Thilmony into the finals against Smith.

Thilmony finishes the season with a 33-1 win-loss record and is now 99-7 for his career.

Hoping to wrestle in college, Thilmony plans to keep competing in prestigious tournaments and camps across the country this spring and summer.

Tourney stops planned for this year include stops in locales like Boise, Iowa, Fargo and Virginia Beach, to name a few. Undoubtedly a target of college wrestling recruiters, Thilmony said he has been in contact with some schools already, mostly via email and phone calls.

Although he plans on being on the Thompson Falls track and field team this spring, it looks like many of Thilmony's weekends will be spent wrestling somewhere.