POLSON — The Polson and Ronan wrestling teams matched up last Saturday in what Polson head coach Bob Owen called “a pin fest,” with Polson coming from a 27-0 deficit to pull out the Northwestern A conference win.

Eleven of the night’s 13 matches ended with a pin.

To begin warm-ups, both teams ran circles around the mat. Visiting Ronan was clad in its black warm-up jackets running on the outside path as Polson donned its purple warm-up jackets running on the inside.

Some wrestlers had their hoods up, while others opted to show how serious they were for the upcoming bout by showing their faces.

It was dark. The five lowered lights in the center of the gym shone on the object of each wrestlers’ focus.

The Pirates did static stretches at the center of the mat while Ronan did flips and handstands next to them.

Polson started to stir and did one-on-one sparring before Ronan paired up.

The pairs looked to have worked together as each duo’s routine was constantly moving, never pausing to take a breather. Occasionally, a pair ran into another, but after exchanging quick looks, everyone got back to work.

Both teams were silent throughout the pre-match festivities. No cheering each other on, no high fives, just constant focus. The only noise coming from them is the noise of their jackets swishing against the mat.

The buzzer goes off and Polson Athletic director announces the wrestlers in each match-up, who meet at the center and shake hands before shaking the opposing coach’s hand.

After one JV match, it was on, starting with the 135 weight class.

Ronan senior Cameron Neiss had control for most of the first before Polson junior Jacob Young reversed it. Neiss had an escape and takedown before winning 9-2.

In the 140 match-up, Ronan junior Dilan Starkel had two takedowns over Polson freshman Mike Devlin before pinning him with 33.5 seconds left in the third.

Following in the 145 weight class was Ronan sophomore Dustin Goldsby taking on Polson sophomore Chris Cote in the weight class. Goldsby was close to a pin at the end of the second but got it in the third.

Ronan head coach Dustyn Azure said Starkel and Goldsby impressed the coaching staff.

“This is the best I’ve seen Dilan wrestle in a while,” he said. “It was good to see Dilan finally relax and just have fun out there. If he keeps this up he is going to be very tough to beat. Dustin Goldsby finally wrestled up to his capabilities as well.  He wrestled the same way he does in the practice room and we have been waiting for him to carry this over to the competition level.”

Ronan senior Micky Cheff took on Polson senior Ty Fouty next in the 152 match-up. Both had a takedown for a 2-2 tie after the first. With 27.7 seconds left in the second. Cheff ended things with a pin.

For Ronan’s fourth consecutive pin, junior Cole McArthur held Polson sophomore Jake Skelton in the 160-pound match. 

“I was disappointed that some couldn’t get off their backs,” Owen said. “We got off to such an awful start. We are better than that.”

Ronan led 21-0 but Polson senior Brock Picard put the Pirates on the board when he pinned Ronan senior Tyler Wheeler in the 171 match.

Owen said Picard stopped Ronan’s momentum.

“I was a little worried,” he said. “Thank goodness Brock put the fire out.”

The Chiefs gained ground when junior Toby Cheff pinned Polson senior Devon Kamarainen in 85 seconds.

Owen said the loss against Toby Cheff wasn’t a huge surprised.

“That Toby Cheff is a top-ranked kid,” he said.

Next Polson sophomore Josiah Clairmont and senior Kaden Thomas cut the lead with their pins. Thomas registered the second-fastest pin of the night, a 59 second hold over Ronan junior Aaron Yazzie.

Polson freshman Pat Sumner cut the lead to nine with a 47-second pin over Ronan freshman Lukas Conklin in the 98 pound match, a turning point for the Pirates.

Polson won 105 by forfeit for a 30-33 score.

In the 112 match, Polson freshman Craig Feistner was up 7-0 in the first over Ronan freshman Andrew Tiegen but couldn’t get the pin. Feistner won the major decision 21-10 and earned the one-point lead for the Pirates.

Ronan forfeited the 119 class.

“We knew this was going to be a tight dual, and it was going to come down to bonus points,” Azure said. “We just gave up too many pins. If we want to have any chance of winning duals, we can’t give those up, it’s tough enough giving up 12 points in forfeits at every dual.”

The Chiefs had a chance to come within one during the 125-pound match. Polson freshman Drew Fouty kept control and pinned Ronan freshman Kyle Lawson in three minutes to secure the win for the Pirates.

Sumner and Drew Fouty made an impression on Owen.

“Those two made a difference in the score,” he said.

In the final match, Ronan freshman Shelby Grant pinned Polson sophomore Alex Nystrom but it wasn’t enough for the win, as Polson walked away with a 46-39 victory.

Polson will face Libby tonight. The Loggers beat Polson on Dec. 15, 54-30, but Owen said “a couple of our key kids were out.”

The Pirates and Chiefs will meet again in Ronan on Friday and Saturday for the Western Montana A Duals.

Owen said he is hoping to enter two teams after two JV wrestlers placed in St. Ignatius.

Freshman Nate Brooks took second in the 130 pound class and Jose Quinnones took third at 160.

“Those two are challenging for positions on varsity,” Owen said.

Having younger wrestlers see success is part of the progress Owen hoped to see.

“We’re so dang young,” he said. “I like our progress. Our goal is to win that conference title.”

Ronan will be the Pirate’s biggest competition for the title.

“They have a little bit of fire power right now,” Owen said. “But they don’t have the numbers we have.”