It’s been a couple of weeks since high school wrestling practice

started and it wouldn’t be out of turn to say most coaches are

ready to have their athletes stop matching up against one another

and get out on the mat in real competition.

They’re getting their wish on Saturday with the 34th edition of the

Polson Invitational at Polson Middle School.

The

tournament begins at 9:30 a.m. with third-fourth place matches

slated for 5:15 p.m. The championship finals will follow directly

after — at around 6:45 to 7 p.m. 

Teams that will be at the tournament this weekend are Polson,

Flathead, Glacier, Missoula Sentinel, Hamilton, Corvallis,

Frenchtown, St. Ignatius-Charlo, Columbia Falls, Whitefish,

Superior, Thompson Falls and Eureka.

“I’m excited. I’m really itching to get going and I think the kids

are, too,” said Glacier coach Mark Fischer. 

“I

think they’re ready for a little competition. This will be a good

tournament. It’s just a great way to start the season. We get to

see kids we won’t for the rest of the year. That makes it a solid

tournament to start off with, I think,” he said.

“Some of those Class A schools will be strong, just like they

always have,” Fischer said. 

Both Fischer and Polson coach Bob Owen point to five-time defending

Class AA champion Flathead — already ranked 40th in the nation by

Amateur Wrestling News — as the team to beat on Saturday.

But

Flathead coach Matt Owen pointed out that Glacier finished ahead of

the Braves at this tournament last year. 

“And we barely squeaked it out the year before,” he added.

“I

really think Glacier will have a great team this year. Sentinel

will be very competitive and I know Polson has a lot of great

individuals. Frenchtown always has some tough kids. It’s a good

tournament, definitely no slouch,” Matt Owen said.

“I’m excited to just get the season going. We’ll see a lot of great

competition down there. It’s a perfect tournament to get things

started,” he added. most coaches are ready to have their athletes

stop matching up against one another and get out on the mat in real

competition.

They're getting their wish on Saturday with the 34th edition of the

Polson Invitational at Polson Middle School.

The tournament begins at 9:30 a.m. with third-fourth place matches

slated for 5:15 p.m. The championship finals will follow directly

after - at around 6:45 to 7 p.m.

Teams that will be at the tournament this weekend are Polson,

Flathead, Glacier, Missoula Sentinel, Hamilton, Corvallis,

Frenchtown, St. Ignatius-Charlo, Columbia Falls, Whitefish,

Superior, Thompson Falls and Eureka.

"I'm excited. I'm really itching to get going and I think the kids

are, too," said Glacier coach Mark Fischer.

"I think they're ready for a little competition. This will be a

good tournament. It's just a great way to start the season. We get

to see kids we won't for the rest of the year. That makes it a

solid tournament to start off with, I think," he said.

"Some of those Class A schools will be strong, just like they

always have," Fischer said.

Both Fischer and Polson coach Bob Owen point to five-time defending

Class AA champion Flathead - already ranked 40th in the nation by

Amateur Wrestling News - as the team to beat on Saturday.

But Flathead coach Matt Owen pointed out that Glacier finished

ahead of the Braves at this tournament last year.

"And we barely squeaked it out the year before," he added.

"I really think Glacier will have a great team this year. Sentinel

will be very competitive and I know Polson has a lot of great

individuals. Frenchtown always has some tough kids. It's a good

tournament, definitely no slouch," Matt Owen said.

"I'm excited to just get the season going. We'll see a lot of great

competition down there. It's a perfect tournament to get things

started," he added.

"I think it's good competition because some of the better Class A

schools are in it. It's good variety for those AA schools to get

some teams from other classes. All the schools have at least one or

two pretty decent kids," Bob Owen agreed.

As for the Pirates, "it's good for us. It's a great measuring stick

to see where you are at. We don't put a lot of pressure on the kids

in this first competition," Bob Owen said.

“I

think it’s good competition because some of the better Class A

schools are in it. It’s good variety for those AA schools to get

some teams from other classes. All the schools have at least one or

two pretty decent kids,” Bob Owen agreed.

As

for the Pirates, “it’s good for us. It’s a great measuring stick to

see where you are at. We don’t put a lot of pressure on the kids in

this first competition,” Bob Owen said.