SUPERIOR - Bring on all comers, western Montana.

The Arlee Warriors wrestling team is taking them on and

knocking them off.

On Tuesday, Dec. 6, the Warriors tangled with wrestlers from

Noxon, Deer Lodge and Florence in a match that turned from a double

dual into a mixer. Arlee wrestlers went 15-7 at that meet against

what head coach Ken Hill acknowledged was some of the top

competition the Warriors will face this season. The momentum Arlee

gained in that mixer served them well two nights later in Thompson

Falls.

SUPERIOR - Bring on all comers, western Montana.

The Arlee Warriors wrestling team is taking them on and

knocking them off.

On Tuesday, Dec. 6, the Warriors tangled with wrestlers from Noxon, Deer Lodge and Florence in a match that turned from a double dual into a mixer. Arlee wrestlers went 15-7 at that meet against what head coach Ken Hill acknowledged was some of the top competition the Warriors will face this season. The momentum Arlee gained in that mixer served them well two nights later in Thompson Falls.

Despite falling behind in the dual 24-18 after forfeits from both sides due to a lack of matches in weight classes, the Warriors overcame the early deficit to win 42-33.

Zach Tameler started a run of four consecutive pins for Arlee, which Al Plant, Clayton Trimble and Cody North finished, to put the Warriors on top to stay.

Hill lauded his entire roster, but said North, who wrestled at the 285-pound weight class against Thompson Falls, has started the season off tremendously.

"He's got a fantastic attitude and is part of a hardworking team," Hill said. "We've moved him around and he's always performed well."

Hill is still awaiting a full roster, as various wrestlers have missed matches for different reasons, but he's been happy with his team's performances thus far.

"We're improving in every aspect, whether it's fitness or technique, across the board," Hill said. "On Tuesday, we went 15-7, Thursday 10-5. Our winning percentage is really good. When we get the whole team together, we'll be pretty tough."

The Warriors wrapped up the week by placing four wrestlers in the top three of their respective weight classes at the Superior Invitational on Saturday.

Tameler and Trimble notched second-place finishes, while North and Nathan Bertollt earned third-places. Tameler, at 152, knocked off foes from Thompson Falls and Eureka to get to the finals, where a Libby opponent got the best of him. Trimble, meanwhile, defeated Browning and Libby wrestlers at 189 before falling to Mission/Charlo's Barrett Sargent.

"I'm really happy with where we're at. We don't have any big guns like Cole Rice, but all these kids are making progress," Hill said.

This week, the Warriors go back to Superior for a mixer on Thursday before heading to Eureka on Friday and Saturday.

Hill hopes to have his full team ready to go for the weekend.