The motivation and experience is there, now it is a matter of making it happen on the mat.

Blue Hawk wrestlers have been busy practicing under the guidance of coaches Nate and Ashley Block, who enter their second years as head coaches of the TFHS boys and girls programs, getting ready for the first official action of the season, at the Owen Invitational in Polson Friday and Saturday.

December will be a month of tournament wrestling for the Blocks and the Hawks as Thompson Falls grapplers will also compete in the Bob Kinney Classic in Superior December 13 and the CMR Christmas Classic in Great Falls December 19-20.

Although the roster and weight classes which athletes will compete at weren’t fully settled as of press time, the Hawks look to build on the talent and experience they do have.

Now a two-time State B-C place winner, sophomore Weston Block, who also happens to be Nate and Ashley’s oldest child, returns to lead the team, and will be joined by Carson Kenney, Liam Pallister and Veronica Vega as Blue Hawk team captains.

Weston is also coming off an impressive All-State B season in cross country running.

Vega, Lexi Volk and Ethan Traver are the Hawks’ other returning State B-C qualifiers. Coach Block said that returning junior Liam Pallister has also been impressive in practice and looks to make a move up the wrestling ladder this year.

Coach Block also said that there are five girls currently on the Hawk wrestling roster. She added that they were expecting more but that the high school basketball team was considering making eighth graders eligible this winter, cutting into their prospective numbers.

    THOMPSON FALLS SOPHOMORE Veronica Vega, pictured January 25 in Thompson Falls competing in last season’s Ted Kato Invitational, is the team captain for the Hawk girls wrestling team this winter. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)