POLSON - The Pirates are coming on in this late season and it's

showing. Polson picked up two big dual wins last week over Class AA

Flathead and fellow Northwestern A foe Frenchtown, who had defeated

the Pirates before Christmas break.

"We really had a good weekend," Polsom head coach Bob Owen said.

"That was our best wrestling so far."

POLSON - The Pirates are coming on in this late season and it's showing. Polson picked up two big dual wins last week over Class AA Flathead and fellow Northwestern A foe Frenchtown, who had defeated the Pirates before Christmas break.

"We really had a good weekend," Polsom head coach Bob Owen said. "That was our best wrestling so far."

How did they do it? The typical way a Polson wrestling team deals out pain: hard work, technique and wrestling for an entire match.

Against Flathead on the road last Thursday, the Pirates picked up a big 42-34 victory over their Class AA opponent. It was the first time in a while Polson had picked up a win over their Flathead Lake opponent.

Polson picked up five pins against the Braves, with heavyweight Josiah Clairmont, nicknamed "Diesel" because he could probably pin a semi-truck on U.S. Highway 93, putting his opponent on his back in just 17 seconds.

Craig Feistner also picked up a fast pin, downing his opponent in the 125-pound bout in just 50 seconds.

Drew Fouty, Skylar Anderson, Carlos Quinones also picked up pins in the dual.

The biggest win for the Pirates, however, was a thrilling 2-1 decision by Mike Devlin over Jacob Egley in the 152-pound weight class match.

"His match went down to the wire when he got a takedown," Owen said.

The dual also matched Owen up against his nephew, Flathead coach Matt Owen.

"It's always good competition," Owen said. "I didn't draw a lot of enjoyment out of beating them. Obviously they have a lot more on the line wrestling down a class against us. It's great competition for us and it's always nice of them to line up this dual against us."

Owen also said it's good for the confidence of his wrestlers to know they can go out and beat a Class AA kid.

Polson then followed the Flathead dual up with a 51-26 win over Frenchtown, ranked eighth in the Class A coaches poll, on Friday night.

The Pirates jumped out to a 20-0 lead behind an 8-0 major decision by Dylan Moll at 119 pounds, and a 10-2 major decision by Craig Feistner at 125 pounts. Quinones won by forfeit at 112 pounds and Fouty won by pin 4:40 into his match.

Polson got three straight pins by Alex Nystrom, Tel Motichka, and Devlin to push their advantage to 38-4.

After Frenchtown gained some points because of weight class forfeits, Marlin "Bubba" Burke won a 6-4 decision to keep the momentum going.

Frenchtown earned a pin and a decision win, but a Clairmont win by forfeit at the heavyweight class and a lead too large to come back made it too little, too late. Taylor Martin almost had his opponent pinned several times, and came away with a 13-1 major decision to round out Polson's scoring.

"I really think we're getting in better shape," Owen said. "I hope we can continue to grow heading into divisionals and the state tournament."

Polson, ranked ninth in the last coaches poll, wants to continue to improve during the remaining time left before the postseason.

"They did better in their technique than they had done all season," Owen said. "We still have another two weeks and we need to make up more ground."

Polson hosts Ronan on Friday and then Whitefish on Saturday.

POLSON 51, FRENCHTOWN 26

98: Tyler Ishler, F, dec. Alex Helgeson, 10-6; 105: Taylor Martin, P, maj. dec. Preston Dawnard, 13-1; 112: Carlos Quinones, P, won by forfeit; 119: Dylan Moll, P, maj. dec. Carson Wabaunsee, 8-0; 125: Craig Feistner, P, maj. dec. Cody Lemons, 10-2; 130: Drew Fouty, P, p. Roy Shutter, 4:40; 135: Cody Ishler, F, maj. dec. Skylar Anderson 9-0; 140: Alex Nystrom, P. p. Zach Kincheloe, 1:23: 145: Tel Motichka, P, p. Steve Erickson, 5:36; 152: Mike Devlin, P, p. Jack Nerison, 2:32; 160: Sam Gordon, F, won by forfeit; 171: Dave Anderson, F, won by forfeit; 189: Marlin Burke, P, dec. Rand Pritztkau, 6-4; 215: Jordan Zuraff, F, p. Kaleb Auld, 1:15; 285: Josiah Clairmont, P, won by forfeit.

POLSON 42, FLATHEAD 34

98 - Dyan Guzman, F, dec. Alex Helgeson, 12-7; 105 - Gavyn Wilson, F, pinned Taylor Martin, 5:32; 112 - Carlos Quinones, P, pinned Daniel Devall, 1:52; 119 - Dylan Moll, P, dec. Tyler Davis, 8-5; 125 - Craig Feistner, P, pinned Levi Anderson, :50; 130 - Drew Fouty, P, pinned Kalieb Liehr, 5:38; 135 - Skylar Anderson, P, pinned Evan Eickert, 4:26; 140 - Suny Cheff, F, dec. Alex Nystrom, 10-3; 145 - Jess Beaman, F, dec. Tel Motichka, 9-1; 152 - Mike Devlin, P, dec. Jacob Egley, 2-1; 160 - Brock Stellar, F, won by forfeit; 171 - Larry Francis, F, won by forfeit; 189 - Marlin Burke, P, won by forfeit; 215 - Conner Hagel, F, pinned Kaleb Auld, 2:21; Hwt - Josiah Clairmont, P, pinned Bowen Smith, :17