Kato presents tough competition

Sanders County wrestlers took home five medals as the Blue Hawks hosted the 26th Annual Ted Kato Memorial tournament on Saturday. Seniors Trae Thilmony of Thompson Falls and David Schulze of Plains took first place in their respective weight divisions, both pinning their opponents in the first period of their championship matches.

Schulze won his quarterfinal match by pinning Whitefish's Carter Moran, then won a 3-0 decision over Shelby's Harold Miller. It was another tough match against Miller, as the Plains and Shelby wrestlers had sparred on the mat Friday during the Savage Horsemen's home mixer. Schulze also beat Miller on Friday. In the finals, Schulze pinned Ryder Nollan of Bigfork in 1:25.

Thilmony made winning look easy in the 145-pound bracket, pinning his first opponent in 29 seconds, winning by technical fall in the first period in the semifinals and then pinning Charles Bennett of Priest River in 1:05 to win the title.

Blue Hawk Max Hannum took second place at 170 pounds. Hannum's final match had the crowd on the edge of their seats as he lost a close 7-5 match to Fairfield's Miguel Perez. Hannum first pinned Rickson Bull Calf in the second period, then beat Sandpoint's Calvin Hinds with a 18-3 technical fall to advance to the championship.

Savage Horsemen wrestler John Waterbury took third at 126 pounds and Brady Schrenk also finished third at 145 pounds. Waterbury first beat Westin Brown of Thompson Falls by pin in 2:33, then won a 11-3 major decision in the quarterfinals before losing to Keith Poirier of Priest River in the semis. In the consolation bracket, Waterbury beat Micah Craig of Polson with a technical fall in the first period before winning the consolation final 10-6. Schrenk lost his first match to Priest River before wrestling back in the consolation bracket, pinning Sentinel's Bradie Rodriguez in 3:56, then Polson's Casey Trosper in 42 seconds. The 145-pound consolation went three periods, with Schrenk pinning Austin Reeves of Priest River in 4:58.

Traic Fainter of Bigfork took the title at 103 pounds. Savage Horsemen wrestler August Courville lost by pin to Kody Dillard of Mission/Charlo, then pinned his way to within one match of placing, but lost the consolation semifinal to Colm McLaimtaig of Priest River. Gavin Schrenk lost his first match by pin, then pinned Colton Smith of Sentinel in 15 seconds before losing to Dillard. Desani Bewick of Thompson Falls lost both her matches in the 103-pound bracket, and her sister Veronica Bewick fell in both her Ted Kato matches at 182 pounds.

Priest River's Hayden Sorbel won the 113-pound bracket, with Landree Aurund taking first place at 120. Levi Wenz of Thompson Falls was unable to get a win at 120 pounds and Thompson Falls' Brown came up short in his matches at 126 pounds.

At 132 pounds, Drew Carey of Plains pinned his first opponent in the first period before losing a 8-6 decision. Carey then pinned Sentinel's Justin Ubben before falling to Caeden McLaimtaig of Priest River. Sky Van Der Gang was unable to get a win in the 132-pound bracket.

Plains' Lily MacDonald was one match away from the podium at the Ted Kato, pinning her first opponent, Charlie Adams from Mission-Charlo in the first period before losing by technical fall in the semifinals. MacDonald then lost out to Bigfork's Ian Wolfe.

Ryan Bucher wrestled for Thompson Falls at 160 pounds, losing both of his matches. Spur Ryan and Taylor Angle did not wrestle for Plains-Hot Springs in the Ted Kato due to injuries.

Sandpoint High School won the team competition by just one point Saturday, beating rivals Priest River 162-161. In one of the final matches of the day, the championship at 205 pounds, Sandpoint's Austin Smith beat Matyus McLain, pinning him in the second period and pushing Sandpoint to victory.