Last week was more than memorable for the Libby Greenchain wrestling team.

The squad enjoyed Senior Night festivities Thursday with two lopsided wins over Polson (75-0) and Bonners Ferry, Idaho (53-21).

Friday at the Whitefish Duals, the Greenchain had no trouble taking care of business with easy wins over Browning (60-24) and Bigfork (60-12).

But possibly the most memorable moment of the weekend was the teams’ trip to Eureka for the annual Buzz Lucey Tournament.

The Greenchain never made it all the way up Highway 37 after the bus they were traveling in slid backward on ice-covered roads and ended up horizontal across both lanes.

Fortunately, no one was injured on the trip and eventually everyone made it home safe.

For head coach Dean Thompson, he marveled at the resilience of his team.

“We got everyone off the bus because it was on a blind curve and we knew it was dangerous to have anyone on the bus before we could get unstuck,” Thompson told The Western News. “At some point I smelled smoke and I said, ‘Does anyone smell that?’”

Thompson then turned and saw his team huddled around a fire they started to stay warm.

“We just had to laugh, watching them enjoy the warmth of it,” Thompson said.

After putting some sand on the icy road, they got the bus turned around and headed back to Libby.

The happy ending culminated the Greenchain’s best stretch of wrestling of the season as they prepare for the Western A Divisional Friday and Saturday in Browning.

Thursday, between the Polson and Bonners Ferry matches, Libby honored its four senior wrestlers and one senior team manager.

They also welcomed the Libby Little Guy wrestlers who formed a tunnel for the Greenchain to enter the gym floor and then joined the varsity in its pre-match circle on the mat.

The class includes Connor Benson, Sami Jocks, Riley Orr, Darrin Denton and manager Teressa Rodriguez.

Benson recovered from a broken leg to wrestle the entire season. Benson, Jocks and Orr are four-year wrestlers for the Greenchain while Troy’s Denton has wrestled the last two seasons.

“We’re happy to be home and it’s the first time this season we’ve had the seniors all going,” Thompson said. “Orr has been sick and banged up, Jocks dislocated his elbow the second week of practice, so having their senior leadership back going into divisionals is great.”

Thompson credited Benson for his senior leadership as well as juniors Ian Thom and Tanner Wolfe.

“Connor really gets everyone up and going and we’ve been fortunate that Ian and Tanner really became leaders to the younger kids,” Thompson said.

“For Darrin (Denton), I wish I had him two more years,” Thompson said. “He’s really starting to wrestle well and it’s the right time for us to be healthy.”

Denton credited former Greenchain standout Marley Erickson for getting him into wrestling and was appreciative to the Libby Logger community for their support.

Against the Pirates Thursday, the Greenchain got off to a good start when freshman Levi Nick decked Wyatt Moldenhour in 22 seconds for a 6-0 lead. Freshman Tristan Rogers and Jocks each got forfeit wins before Orr faced Logan Clairmont at 126 pounds.

Clairmont was ranked No. 6 in the latest Class A rankings, but Orr dominated and scored a pin in 1:17 to make it 24-0.

Denton and Nick Campbell, ranked No. 4 at 138, also won by forfeit.

Benson didn’t need much time, 55 seconds, to pin Polson’s Jaspin Fisher at 144 to give Libby a 42-0 lead.

Junior Boe Miles scored a 14-0 major decision over Ryatt Maley at 150. 

Sophomore Tristan DeShazer, ranked No. 6 at 157, picked up a 17-1 technical fall win over Sheamis Cobb. Sophomore Hunter Rooney followed with pin of Gabriel Houston in 1:52 for a 57-0 lead.

Junior Tanner Wolfe pinned Damien Kato in 58 seconds at 175 pounds. Classmate Ian Thom, who also recovered from a football injury, got a forfeit win at 190.

Junior Hunter Nelson capped the blowout win with a pin in 3:21 over Durai Mahlkuk.

Against Bonners, Nick, Rogers and Jocks won by forfeit.

Orr claimed the first win on the mat when he decked Eivind Falck in just 26 seconds. Denton followed with a tech fall at 132.

At 150, Miles won by forfeit, then DeShazer scored a 22-second pin to make it 41-9. Wolfe (170) and Thom (190) each won by fall to cap the Greenchain win.

Against Browning Friday in Whitefish, Nick, Rogers, Jocks, Denton, Campbell, Miles, Rooney, Wolfe, Thom and Nelson each scored pins.

In the Bigfork triumph, Nick, Jocks, Orr, Campbell and Thom each won by fall. Getting forfeit wins were Rogers, Denton, Benson, Miles and Wolfe.

    Libby Greenchain wrestler Boe Miles puts the hurt on Polson's Ryatt Maley in a 14-0 win Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby Greenchain wrestler Tristan DeShazer battles Polson's Sheamis Cobb Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. DeShazer got the fall in 22 seconds. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby Greenchain wrestler Levi Nick takes Polson's Wyatt Moldenhour to his back for a 22-second pin Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby Greenchain wrestler Riley Orr has Polson's Logan Clairmont nearly pinned Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Orr got the fall in 1:17. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby Greenchain wrestler Connor Benson has Polson's Jaspin Fisher under control before pinning him in 55 seconds Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby Greenchain wrestler Hunter Rooney pinned Polson's Gabriel Houston Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby Greenchain wrestler Hunter Nelson looks for an opening against Polson's Durai Mahlkuk before pinning him in 3:21 Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)