MatCats take second at divisional tourney
CHRIS PETERSON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 13 years, 11 months AGO
Old foes Justin Whitman of Columbia Falls and Mitch Haugen of Libby fight for position. Whitman won, 3-1.
Chris Peterson is the editor of the Hungry Horse News. He covers Columbia Falls, the Canyon, Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. All told, about 4 million acres of the best parts of the planet. He can be reached at editor@hungryhorsenews.com or 406-892-2151. | February 9, 2011 7:26 AM
For awhile there, they were in the lead. A young Columbia Falls wrestling team put eight wrestlers in the final round of the Northwest A divisional tournament last Saturday, but just couldn’t muster enough points against a more experienced Polson team for the crown.
Sal Baccaro at 119 pounds took home a championship with a pin over Ronan’s Andrew Tiegen. Justin Whitman won the 125-pound championship with a tough battle over Libby’s Mitch Haugen, 3-1.
But the Cats simply gave up too many pins in the final round. Even so, coach Jessie Schaeffer was hapopy with the overall team performance.
“We’re pleased with the effort,” he said. “We’re just not ready to compete at that level.”
The team qualified 16 wrestlers for the state A tournament in Butte this weekend, including six freshmen.
“For us, that’s huge,” Schaeffer said.
The tournament was moved to the Mining City this year because Metra Park in Billings, which normally hosts the event for every class in the state, is still under repair.
Last year a tornado blew the roof off part of the structure.
The Cats will head to Butte starting Thursday and will take Whitefish wrestlers with them to share expenses.
ARTICLES BY CHRIS PETERSON
Opinion: A memorable view, made possible by a memorable character
There’s a picture that hangs up in my house. It’s the only photo of another person that hangs on the walls that isn’t a family member.
Our Savior’s Lutheran welcomes new pastor
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls welcomes Seth Nelson as its new pastor. Nelson hails from Faith Lutheran Church in Ronan, where he was pastor for the past 10 years. He joined Our Savior’s last fall and its congregation of about 380 members.
Anderson reflects on storied career with FWP
In the fall of 1995 Lee Anderson was hoping to get on with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as a game warden.