A wrestling cancellation by Flathead High and a pair of state basketball tournaments getting moved made Friday another full news day in the Valley.

Of less local interest is the news that the combined State C basketball tournaments are moving from Montana State University in Bozeman to Lockwood High School on the outskirts of Billings. The boys’ and girls’ tournaments will run March 10-13.

Of more note is that the combined State A is also on the move, from Butte to Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Those tournaments will be held March 3-6, a week earlier than planned; the State AA is at the same venue March 10-13.

The news that Flathead’s Brave Brawlers cancelled their wrestling duals with Missoula Hellgate and Butte is a concern, given that the State AA tournament – awarded last week to Flathead – is March 3-6.

Butte and Hellgate made the trip to Kalispell and wrestled at Glacier Friday. Flathead activities director Bryce Wilson copied the Daily Inter Lake on a short email to his staff:

“Our wrestling matches for tonight vs. Butte and Hellgate have been canceled. Rescheduled date TBD.”

Wilson later replied to a text from the Daily Inter Lake: “Out of an abundance of caution we cancelled wrestling tonight and will reassess as needed.”

The Flathead activities schedule still shows Flathead traveling to Helena to face the two Helena schools next Friday, Feb. 19.

The news comes as Western AA basketball programs especially are facing cancellations for weather and COVID-19. Missoula Hellgate postponed its girls’ basketball game at Flathead Thursday because of weather, though Flathead’s boys did make the trip to Missoula.

Helena High postponed its girls’ basketball games this week because of quarantine.

Before this week, the State A basketball tournaments were to be played at two venues – the Civic Center and Maroon Activity Center – in Butte.

On Jan. 28 the Montana High School Association announced the A and C tournaments “tentatively” would be in Bozeman and Butte. Columbia Falls’ Troy Bowman said he and the rest of the Class A activity directors learned of a possible change earlier this week.

“There were some vocal opponents to being in Butte because of the health restrictions,” Bowman said. “One option was to keep it in Butte and the other was to take it to Great Falls.”

A third option, not seriously considered, was to split up the boys’ and girls’ tournaments. Bowman said the vote was 18-2 in favor of changing venues.

Butte’s restrictions include a limit of just 20 personnel, including players, per team. Off that each participant was allowed two tickets for each game he or she played. The girls’ would be at one gym, the boys another.

The move to Great Falls allows the State A to bring in more fans: On Jan. 28 the MHSA announced plans to allow up to four tickets per participant, and up to 25 percent capacity of the venue used, with no more than 500 fans per team. The MHSA also allowed for local county health departments to make adjustments.

These restrictions in Butte will be in place for the Western A Divisional, which is in the Mining City in two weekends.