Three straight runner-up finishes have fueled the fire for the Flathead Brave Brawlers, who number 65 boys — including seven wrestlers who placed at last year’s State AA tournament. 

“We have just great numbers,” Flathead boys coach Jeff Thompson said. “Wrestling is alive and strong at Flathead High. We have 65 boys and 40 to 45 girls. It’s a lot, but it’s so exciting to see wrestling continue to grow at Flathead. Kids just want to be on the mat.” 

Seventeen of the Brawlers who made the 2025 state tournament return, offsetting what Thompson called, “One of the smallest senior classes in all my years.” 

Conor Leduc is one senior, at 190 pounds; he’s a two-time state placer. Dayton Naldrett, fifth at 110 last year, is another and will stay at 110. 

Cory Tappan, who went to state as a sophomore and missed last season with injuries, is another at 150. 

Making up for the dearth of seniors is a big group of talented juniors led by Kellen Downing at 138 pounds and Hunter Arriaga at 144. 

“These guys are mat rats, man,” Thompson said of the state placers. “They’re still hungry. They want to have more success and maybe want to wrestle at that next level.” 

That class also includes Brett Chivers at 157 and Kohen Rilley at 215. 

Both are standouts in football and placed at state in wrestling; Chivers played a large role in Flathead’s state track title in the spring. 

“Just a fantastic wrestler,” Thompson said. “It’s great to have those three-sport athletes.” 

Two juniors, Jakob Berry and Taw Thomas, are at heavyweight. 

“Both these guys, man, we see them hopefully being on the podium,” Thompson said. “They’re best friends and we’re going to give them as close as we can to equal time and get them ready for state.” 

More juniors: Logan Downs made state at 215 last year, and is now down at 190 with LeDuc; Dillon Wink made state at 190 and is now down at 175, though a foot injury will keep him out a couple more weeks; Coy Miller, at 132 or 138; Liam LeDuc, a state qualifier who will be at 165; Dawson Hamland at 126; and Hunter Van Gundy at 215. 

Caleb Poe-Hatten, fourth at 110 last season, leads the talented sophomore class.  

“He’s been on the mat since he was 5 years old,” Thompson said. “He’s really, really coming on with his wrestling. It’s going to be fun to see where he ends up by that state tournament.” 

Peter Smith made state last year and is at 110 this season; Ryder Conley moves up from 126 to 132 after making state; Colten Conover jumps to 175 a year after going to Billings at 157.  

Thompson also noted Phoenix Polk transferred in from Missoula Hellgate, where he made state as a freshman at 165.  

That’s a lot of wrestlers for 14 weight classes. Nine Brawlers line up at 165, for example. There will be some decisions to make, but it’s a nice problem to have. 

“It’s a team sport and the wrestlers really buy into it,” said Thompson, who has guided the Brawlers to nine top-three finishes in the last 10 teams, including four titles. “We have a lot of tradition in our programs and the kids just want to be involved.” 

For now Flathead will load up two buses for its opening duals in Great Falls this weekend. 

Bravettes remain tough

Coach Amber Downing has 12 state placers back from a girls team that finished second in Class AA last season. 

The list includes Bella Downing, a 2023 champion who finished second at 115 last season, and Julia Kay, a fellow senior who finished second at 130. 

Kay was a force all season before injuring a knee in a fall just before the postseason. 

“Julia did a lot of rehab and weight training this summer with her knee injury,” Amber Downing said. “I think she’s going to come back strong, with a leadership role.” 

Those two are the lone state placers returning, but a host of juniors advanced to Billings, including Danica Hennell at 105, Lillian LaNotte at 110, Kiera Lackey at 135 and Aspen Smart at 190. Two more juniors, Alisha Cook and Haley Wilson, made it to state at 140.  

Weight classes are up in the air.  

“Our weights are kind of undecided right now,” Downing said. “It does look like we have a full team from 100 on up. I imagine seeing quite a bit of shifting for a majority of our team, and particularly come January.” 

Downing is excited about the prospects for Wilson, Hennell and sophomore Elisa Bernabe, a state qualifier at 145 as a freshman.   

Ava James made it to state as a freshman as well, at 135; as did Kyra McMahon at 120. Downing is also hopeful for junior Jadyn Rowe at the lower weights; meanwhile her team has a streak of five straight top-three finishes at state. 

“We’ll continue to work on our conditioning and technique so we can continue to bring home those trophies,” Downing said. “And hopefully get back on top.”