For teams like the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks, the best part of the CM Russell Christmas Classic wrestling tournament is often the Walt Trudy Memorial portion of the event.

Held on Saturday across town at Great Falls High School on the second day of the Classic, the Trudy meet presents a second chance to all of the wrestlers that are not still alive in the medal rounds of the CMR Christmas meet, and the Blue Hawks were able to take advantage of that second chance.

“It’s a good deal for everyone. A lot of wrestlers come from all over the state and only the very best of the best usually do well in the main draw,” Hawk coach Nathan Block said. “Having the Trudy meet on the second day gives all those wrestlers who lost out another chance to get some matches against quality competition.”

Coach Block said several Hawk grapplers medaled in the Trudy meet, singling out heavyweight Jacobe Wood for his fine performance in pulling down fourth place. “We had several kids show up ready to wrestle that second day,” he said, “and Jacobe wrestled great in earning a spot on the podium.”

Of all the Hawks wrestling in the main draw in Great Falls last week, Jayden Bewick came the closest to medaling in the girls 110 pound division, earning her way into the second day and finishing the tourney 2-2 in matches wrestled, one win away from earning a spot in a medal match.

“Thompson Falls has never had a girl place in this meet, so that was nice to see Jayden get that close,” Block said.

Block said a whistle stop played a role in his son Weston’s second round match in the main draw Friday. After pinning Choteau’s J. Hoagland in 57 seconds of his first round match, Weston was grappling I. McKamey of Great Falls in the next round when an inadvertent whistle from another nearby mat caused the Hawk wrestler to pause.

McKamey took advantage of the lapse and pinned Block, who was leading on points 9-5 at the time. Block then lost to another Great Falls wrestler in the consolation round.

“Weston got caught, it was kind of weird deal with the other stuff going on,” coach Block said. "You can’t afford to let up, especially in a meet like this.”

Overall, the tournament served its purpose, he added. “The whole goal of us going over there is to see where the bar is, how good the competition in Montana is, and how we match up there.”

Block can now believe his Blue Hawk wrestlers match up just fine with the best in grapplers in the Big Sky Country.

The Hawks return to the mat at a wrestling mixer in Priest River Saturday, Jan. 3 followed by a mixer at Choteau Jan. 8 and the Choteau Invitational Jan. 9-10.