Wrestlers take the podium at Cut Bank

The Savage-Horsemen and the Blue Hawk wrestling teams traveled to the Cut Bank Invitational last weekend.

Thompson Falls had two wrestlers get to the podium, including senior Max Hannum in second and Weston Block in fifth. The Savage-Horsemen had four wrestlers place, including Johnny Waterbury, who finished second at 152 pounds. Plains-Hot Springs took third and fourth at 138 pounds, with Drew Carey pinning Beau Crabb in the consolation final, and Matthew Thurston placed fifth at 113 pounds.

Hannum, wrestling at 182 pounds, won his first two matches by pins, putting him in the quarterfinals. Hannum went on to pin Cole Deranleau of CMR. In the semifinal Hannum would win by decision over McCoy Banner of Fairfield. Ultimately Hannum would lose by decision to Wyatt Elam of Lewistown in the championship match.

In the 103-pound weight class for the Hawks, Weston Block won by pin in his first two matches, then went on to lose by decision in the semifinals. Block went on to take fifth place by pin over Tucker Stygles of Havre.

Carson Kenney did not get on the podium in Cut Bank but wrestled a tough tournament. After a bye in the first round in the 120-pound weight class, he went on to be pinned. Kenney went on to win by major decision over Remy Ryan, and was pinned in the sixth round.

In the 126-pound weight class, senior Diego Long won his first match with a pin. He then went on to be pinned by Reed Mantle of Havre, for the next two rounds Long would go on to win both by pins, and he would be pinned in his final round.

Brock Ryan pinned his two opponents in the 138-pound bracket, then was pinned by Drew Carey of Plains-Hot Springs. Ryan went on to lose his final match by sudden victory. Also at 138, Tuff Ryder pinned his first opponent, Ryder then lost to Savage-Horsemen Beau Crabb by pin. Ryder lost his final match against Kane Mahlum of Great Falls by pin.

For the 145-pound weight class, Luke Pastorius won his first match due to a forfeit, then lost his next two matches by pin. Chris Schwab also wrestled for the Hawks at 145 pounds, winning his first matches by pins before losing in the quarterfinal to Kanon Branch of Cut Bank and getting pinned in his final match by Owen Jones of Conrad.

Rowan Ackley in the 170-pound weight class and Alex Albano at 285 both were unable to get a win at Cut Bank.

For the girls Senior Desani Bewick came home with one win by pin, and at 100 pounds, Veronica Vega won her first match by decision over Amelia Grina of Fairfield.

Jaden Bewick and Alyana Hockhalter wrestled hard for the Blue Hawk girls, but did not win in Cut Bank.

For the Savage-Horsemen, Matthew Thurston in the 113-pound weight class won his first match by pin. He then went on to lose by decision over Colt McCord of Fergus, but wrestled back with two pins following. Thurston would go on to lose his next match, but went on to win fifth place by pin.

Andrew Waterbury of the 132-pound weight class went 1-2 at Cut Bank, with his win a decision over Shawn McCormick of Valier.

Drew Carey’s path to the podium was a day of pins, with Carey pinning his first three opponents. In the semifinal round, Carey would be taken to the mat, but wrestled back and pinned Trooper Stiles of Malta in the consolation semifinal match. On the other side of the bracket, teammate Beau Crabb pinned his first two opponents before losing to Josh Lambertson of Lincoln. Crabb went on to pin his next opponent before meeting Carey in the consolation final. Carey pinned Crabb in the final match and the duo finished in third and fourth place, respectively.

In the 152-pound weight class, John Waterbury won his first three matches by pins. In the semifinal round, he won by decision over Nathan Gunderson of Choteau. Waterbury made it to the championship match, but fell by pin.

Devin Barnes got a win in Cut Bank, pinning Nick Perez of CMR at 160 pounds for his first action of the tournament before losing out by pin.

At 170 pounds, Brenden Vanderwall didn’t get to the podium but wrestled some tough matches, getting wins by pin against Rial McGregor of Cascade and Payton Volkman of Cut Bank.

In the 182-pound weight class, Gabe Rasmussen lost his first match by pin, he went on to pin his next two opponents before losing his final match.

Both the Blue Hawks and Savage-Horsemen hit the road for the Choteau Classic this Friday and Saturday.