Chapman wins Superior

The Plains-Hot Springs wrestling team had their first championship of the season at the Bob Kinney Classic in Superior last Saturday. Senior David Chapman of Hot Springs took the top spot in the 190-pound bracket. After a bye the first round, Chapman pinned Ian Thom of Libby in just under two minutes to make it to the championship match, where he pinned Bridger Smith of Arlee in 53 seconds.

Thompson Falls freshman Weston Block again made it to the championship round last weekend. Bock pinned his first opponent in under a minute before winning an 18-6 major decision in the semifinal round. Block lost the championship match to Kahle Hill of Corvalls by pin.

Plains-Hot Springs wrestler Brock Ryan also finished second in Superior, pinning his way to the championship match at 150 pounds. In the semifinal round, Ryan beat Whitehall’s Carter Olson by technical fall in the third period, then lost a 14-7 decision in the championship match. It was his highest finish for the season.

Ethan Traver finished fourth for the Blue Hawks in the 103-pound bracket. Traver lost his first match but then pinned his next two opponents each within the first minute to reach the final match. First-year Blue Hawk coach Nate Block said he was super proud of Traver. “It’s a big stage to step on as an eighth grader,” Block said. “It was his first ever tournament and he was able to take direction really well and get some success out of it. He’s hungry to learn.”

Matthew Thurston of Plains finished fourth at 118 pounds. Thurston lost his first match and then got a pin in the first period and won a close 10-8 decision before falling in the consolation finals.

Savage Horseman Isaiah Schulze won third place at the Bob Kinney Classic. He pinned his first opponent in the second period before losing his second match by decision. In the wrestle backs, he won a 12-0 major decision before pinning his next opponent. In the final match, Schulze beat Superior’s Dylan Arbogast 9-3. Also wrestling at 126, Luke Bonds of Thompson Falls ended the day 1-2, with his win coming by pin.

In the 132-pound bracket, Gavin Schrenk of Plains made the podium in first place. After pinning his first opponent and losing in the semifinal round, Schrenk won a 17-4 major decision before winning his last match 13-8. Also at 132 pounds, Andrew Waterbury of P-HS ended the day 2-2, and Carson Kenney of Thompson Falls finished 2-2, with both wins coming by pin.

Savage Horseman Cody West finished in Superior with one win, a 10-4 decision at 138 pounds, as did Remington Ryan at 144 pounds. Also in the 144-pound bracket, Scott Ryder of Thompson Falls just missed the podium, but had two wins by pin for the day. BillyRay Holotta finished fourth for P-HS with a pin his first match and two wins by decision in the consolation rounds.

Beau Crabb of Plains also finished fourth. After losing his first match, Crabb fought for four pins in a row to reach the consolation finals, where he lost a close 10-7 decision to Brett Riley of Florence.

Noa Stevens of Thompson Falls lost his first match at 165 pounds, but wrestled to get three pins in a row before losing in the consolation semis and just missing the podium. Stevens wins by pin were all in the first period of the respective matches. Savage Horseman got one win by pin in the 165-pound bracket.

Easton Helvey wrestled for the Hawks at 150 pounds, finding good competitive matches but unable to get a win, as was Liam Pallister at 165 pounds and Gabriel Hutton at 190 and Zarek Pallister at 215 and Jacobe Wood at heavyweight.

“Overall I was really happy,” Block said. “We have a lot of new team members and only four returning from last year. We had quite a few kids close to medaling in Superior.” He noted that the team has a wide array of talent, so they are focusing on leadership in the wrestling room with the returning wrestlers, and the team has a goal of constant improvement. “They want to be a family on or off the mat and help each other improve,” Coach Block said.