Plains-Hot Springs takes Ted Kato title

The Thompson Falls high school saw 14 schools on Saturday in honor of the 29th annual Ted Kato wrestling tournament. The Plains-Hot Springs team had a lot to be proud of, getting 10 wrestlers to the podium and earning first place among the boys teams with 166 points. Sandpoint girls took the overall point title with 194.

John Waterbury continues to be a master of the mats, earning his third championship in a row. Waterbury had a bye for his first round, and easily went on to pin Liam LeDuc of Flathead in the quarterfinals. He won by tech fall in the semifinals, and went on to see Turner Milender of Superior for a rematch in the finals, but the two powerhouse wrestlers collided heads and Waterbury would go on to win by injury default.

"We never like to see a win by injury default. We hope Turner has a quick recovery," said head coach Jesse Jermyn.

At 132 pounds, Gavin Schrenk took first place for P-HS, easily winning his first two rounds, landing him in the semifinals where he went on to win by tech fall over Cannon Shubert of Asotin Washington. Schrenk would then see teammate Andrew Waterbury in the finals after Waterbury fought his way to the finals, winning both his quarterfinal and semifinal matches by decision. Schrenk and Waterbury would battle to almost the end with Schrenk pulling out a quick pin over his teammate, allowing Waterbury second place.

"Both Gavin and Andrew wrestled really well," said head coach Jermyn.

Cody West fought hard to get his first place win, pinning Wade Calloway of Superior in the first round. West went on to the quarterfinal and semifinals to once again pin his opponents. In the final it was teammate vs. teammate again as West took on Billyray Holotta. Holotta also clawed his way to the finals, by quickly pinning all three of his opponents. The teammates battled until the very end with West taking the major decision win over Holotta.

"Cody just did a phenomenal job this weekend, he wrestled really well," stated coach Jermyn.

Beau Crabb at 144 had an exciting final round, fighting his way to the top, first pinning Scott Ryder III of Thompson Falls. In the semifinals Crabb went on to pin Evan Monson of Missoula Sentinel, then had an exciting final round against St. Ignatius' Dakota Zeiler who he pinned with just 30 seconds left in the third round to take first place.

"Beau is improving every week and had a pretty exciting final match to take the win. We love to see matches like that," coach Jermyn stated.

The final first placer for P-HS was Brock Ryan in the 150-pound weight class. Ryan won his first match up by decision over Reynolds King of Missoula Sentinel. Ryan went on to pin his next opponent, and won by decision in the semifinals. Ryan would go on to pin Eli Taylor of Sandpoint in 4:35 to take first place.

Matthew Thurston took third place at 118, first pinning Michael Quequesah of St. Ignatius. Thurston went on to lose to Weston Block of Thompson Falls, then was able to gain the pin in the consultation semifinal match. Thurston went on to pin Jason Symons in 2:42 to take third place for P-HS.

Isaiah Schulze took third place for his weight class of 126 pounds, losing by decision in the quarter final. Schulze went on to win the next two rounds, before seeing teammate John Owen Jermyn. The two battled until Schulze secured the pin. Schulze was able to pin Jacob La Notte of Flathead to earn third place.

David Chapman took fourth place in the 190 weight class, winning the quarterfinal match up by pin. Chapman went on to be pinned by Jorden Tyler of Sandpoint. Chapman was able to take the pin over Uriah Dobbs of Flathead, and Chapman would forfeit his final match to take fourth place.

John Owen Jermyn took on Carson Kenney of Thompson Falls for his first match in the 126 weight class, taking the win by decision. Jermyn would win in the quarter finals but would lose out in his next two match ups.

Remington Ryan received a bye in his first match, and went on to lose by decision. Remington went on to pin Hayden Peterson of Sandpoint, and would be pinned in the final match up against Cannon Shubert of Asotin, Washington.

Ireland Corbin in the girls 120 had a bye, then went on to be pinned by Emma Garman of Sandpoint. Corbin won by tech fall over Kayden Dillard of Arlee but would lose by decision in the consultation semifinals.

Tania Veremchuk would have a bye her first round, then went on to be pinned in the next two matches.

Thompson Falls had one first place winner, Weston Block in the 118 weight class. Block had a bye in his first round, and went on to pin Oscar McClead of Missoula Sentinel, pushing him to the semifinals where he took on Matthew Thurston of PHS securing the pin in 3:37. In the finals Block saw Joseph Cronk, where Block was able to quickly pin Cronk to take first place. Luke Bonds was also in the 118 class, receiving a bye. Bonds went on to be pinned by Joseph Cronk of St. Ignatius. In the consolation round Bonds pinned Jonathon Flowers of Deer Lodge, but would lose his second consolation round.

Ethan Traver finished second place in the 103 weight class, having a bye his first two rounds, putting him directly in the semifinals where Traver was able to gain the pin over Isaiah Harlow of Missoula Big Sky. In the final match up Traver would take it three rounds but would lose by major decision over Bigfork's Callen Ballard.

Noa Stevens took third place in his 165 weight class. Stevens got the pin in the quarterfinals but would lose in the semifinals by decision. In the consultation semifinals Stevens got the pin against Levi Wons of Deer Lodge, and would win by tech fall in the finals to place third.

Jayden Grounds took fourth place for Thompson Falls in the 215 weigh class, first getting pinned by Logan Downs of Flathead. Grounds battled his way to the finals where he once again saw Logan Downs. This time Downs would get the win by tech fall over Grounds.

Darrius Hockhalter wrestled for Thompson in the 126 weight class, getting pinned in both his matches. Carson Kenney lost both his matches by major decisions.

In the 144 weight class Scott Ryder III won his first match by pin, and in the quarter final would be pinned by PHS Beau Crabb. Ryder would go on to pin Glacier's (Kalispell) Noah Edwards, but would lose by decision in the third consultation match up.

Nikolai Platner and Easton Helvey wrestled in the 150 weight class with both being pinned in their matches. Jakob Molina, in the 157 class, had tough match ups and would be pinned in both his matches. Zarek Pallister received a bye for his first round in the 190 weight class, then was pinned by Jorden Tyler of Sandpoint. Pallister had another bye, then would go on to be pinned by Ethan Stake of Missoula Sentinel. Jacobe Wood in the 285 weight class had a bye for his first rounds, and then was pinned by Holland Jantzen, Wood then had two byes before getting pinned in the consolation semi round by Ryan Sharbono of St Ignatius.

The Thompson Falls girls had two second place wrestlers. Matea Keefe in the 105 weight class had a bye her first two rounds, and would pin teammate Lexi Volk-Ocacio, but would go on to be pinned in the final by JulietteCuevas of Flathead. Lexi Volk-Ocacio would go on to take third place for the Hawks, after being pinned by teammate Keefe.

Jaden Bewick in the 110 pound weight class had a bye her first two rounds, and would pin Gracie Ward of Flathead, before being pinned by Flathead's Lillian LaNotte in the finals, taking second place.

In the 100 pound weight class, Veronica Vega got one win by pin at the home tournament.