Thilmony sets school record with third title

History was made in Billings last weekend when Thompson Falls senior Trae Thilmony won his third straight high school wrestling championship. "There's nothing like high school wrestling," Thilmony said this week after he returned home a three-time champion. "When I was a little kid, I remember comparing the number of state banners we had to other schools. It seemed like we didn't have as many and I wanted to bring some of those back for our school." He did just that when he pinned Brady Ellison in the third period of the 145-pound championship match Saturday and became the most decorated wrestler in Thompson Falls history.

"I've always wanted to give back to Thompson Falls," Thilmony said. "I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for the people in Thompson and the coaches in wrestling. We have a lot of support." That support includes his head coach and father, Mike Thilmony, who has coached Trae since he was four. "It was big for Trae to get that third state title," Mike Thilmony said. "Trae has been a great leader for our team."

Trae Thilmony makes winning look easy. He is focused and determined in his movement on the mat, and he anticipates what his opponents' next move will be. He makes it look easy, but getting to the top of the podium for a third time is the culmination of more than a decade of dedication and hard work put in by the Blue Hawk. Brady Ellison, the senior from Reed Point who Thilmony wrestled in the 145-pound championship match, had placed three times at the state tournament but never won a state title. His determination pushed Thilmony even harder. "My message to Trae was go out there and do what you do. Wrestle hard and wrestle technically sound," Coach Thilmony said. "He worked hard and prepared for that match. We felt like we were better in all areas in that match, but Brady was motivated." Thilmony ended up pinning Ellison in 4:54 to win his title. "As a dad, I was feeling a little pressure to see my son out there chasing something like a third state championship." Coach Thilmony said it was a bit emotional the week leading up to state, thinking about it being Trae's last high school competition, but he was focused on the game plan and what he was going to say to Trae and Elija Ratliff as they prepared for their championship matches.

Thilmony pinned his first challenger at the state tournament, Taylin Johannesen of Malta, in the first period. In the quarterfinal round, he won a 13-5 major decision over John Armstrong of Jefferson County. Thilmony then pinned Huntley Project's Grady Schmidt in the semis in 3:08.

"It was definitely nice to be back in the Metra," Trae said of the state tournament. "It brings a different atmosphere." Last year, classes had separate state tournaments. This year, classes AA, A, B/C and the girls all wrestled in Billings. "High school wrestling has a special place for me. There's nothing like it. You're wrestling a select group of guys throughout the year and then you all meet up again at state."

Trae said the most challenging part of his quest for a third state title was the mental aspect. "I've had great training from my coaches and my practice partners have prepared me. I knew I had the physical tools. I just needed to keep focused and make sure I was zone in." He said he was pretty confident throughout the tournament, and that any nerves he had he turned into excitement. "You gotta wrestle the whole time; just keep wrestling. Once the whistle blows it just feels like any other match."

After winning another championship and finishing his high school career, you might think Thilmony would be ready for a break, but not so fast. "It's not my last match. I love wrestling too much to take too long of a break," Thilmony said Monday. "Little guy practice starts tomorrow. I love working with the kids, it's one of my favorite parts of the offseason. They are the future. I love to watch them grow. Teaching technique is the best way to learn it yourself. It helps them and it helps me." Thilmony also is planning for his future and wants to wrestle in college. He said he had college coaches call him Monday to talk about options. "At this point they know my skill level, so I have some things to talk about with my family and will get some visits lined up," he added.

"I want to thank a lot of people, especially my family," Trae said. "I appreciate them supporting me and putting money into tournaments when I was younger. It's because of my family that I'm able to do it, having traveled and wrestled in larger tournaments in Spokane, Iowa, Virginia and other places. I want to keep wrestling and become as good as I possibly can."

Trae said he will miss his teammates the most next year. "Elijah, Max, Shane. We've been wrestling together forever. It won't be the same without them," he said of his teammates Elijah Ratliff, Max Hannum and Shane Reishus, all of who wrestled with Thilmony in the Blue Hawk little guy program. "We all were together for the longest time."

After Trae won his championship match Saturday evening in Billings, he embraced his father. "I told him then, 'As a coach, you're the best kid I've ever coached.' If you want to be a state champion, that's how hard you have to work. He sets a goal and works hard for it." Coach Thilmony said. "It's been a fun ride for both of us," Mike Thilmony said.