A total of 514 youths from across Montana and Idaho converged on Flathead High School to wrestle at the fourth annual USA Wrestling “Making a Difference” Tournament on Saturday, March 1.

Kalispell Wrestling Club, the host club, in partnership with Montana USA Wrestling, has been successful in getting more competitive meets on this side of the state.

Western Montana Little Guy Wrestling continues to be the anchor for youth wrestling programs in Northwest Montana, but USAW style tournaments have provided a good way to expose Columbia Falls youths to quality wrestlers from the other side of the state. The youths they see in these tournaments will most likely show up again in high school.

The Columbia Falls Little Guy Wrestling Club entered 80 wrestlers, and preliminary tallies suggest they took second in the large team division, behind Kalispell which entered 147 wrestlers.

Fifty-four of the Columbia Falls wrestlers placed in the top four. Next up is the Kootenai Klassic in Libby next weekend.

Results:

1st — Austin Johnson, Kaden Kaber, Winslow Peters, Rowdy Crump, Kanen Brickerts, Asher Kemppainen, Justin Windauer, Orion Barta, Cody Schweikert, Bodyn Graham, Caleb Smith and Robert Johnson

2nd — Karson Spilis, Teagan Sweeney, Gaige Blakney, Banyan Johnston, Jaxson Steling, Billy Gustafson, Adam Schrader, Logan Speed, Jason Dobson, William Emmert, Bobby Dewbre, JJ Moye, Brad Nieves and Taylor Gladeau

3rd — Tristan Ramirez Galdamez, Rebel Crump, Dylan Delormes, Tucker Gonzales, Cody Williamson, Warren Emmert, Caleb Speed, Brandon Role, Drake Henderson, Jayden Hoerner, Brandon Ryan, Jeremiah Rardon and Sam Despain

4th — Ryu Prince Sweeney, Gabriel Plevel, Beau Lefebver, Jace Guyman, Jason reinsburg, Aidyn Williams, Blake Hoerner, Tanner Dolans, Logan Riley, Colton Hogan, Anders Soyland, Hailey Mundel, Eric Botts, Caleb Sweder and Trenton Tyree