That was fun, we will have to do it again next year.

The Thompson Falls Blue Hawk wrestling team left the Backwoods Brawl tournament, a new tourney in Priest River drawing smaller schools from the tri-state area of Idaho, Montana and Washington, liking what they saw and packing some hardware home in the end.

Leading that list were Backwoods Brawl tournament title winners Weston Block, in the 120 pound division and Matea Keefe, in the girls 115 pound class. Besides receiving the traditional first place medals and tournament boards, Brawl winners were also awarded belts like the pros wear in big time TV wrestling in Priest River.

“That was a nice little twist, in fact the whole tournament was a lot of fun,” coach Nathan Block said. “We would definitely like to go back next year if possible.”

Coach Block and his two Backwoods Hawk champs were joined in the money at the Brawl by Liam Pallister (second at 175), eighth graders Billy Albano (third at 98) and Jonathan Toyias (third at 113), Ethan Traver (fourth at 120), Carson Kenney (fourth at 138), Liam Pallister (fourth at 215) and Aubrey Cribbs (fourth at girls 115).

Heavyweight Rhiley Sanders and Easton Helvey (165) both finished the tourney in the blood round, one match win away from placing in the Backwoods of Idaho.

Coach Block said that plenty of quality competition was present at the tournament but that illnesses impacted his team’s showing, particularly with the girls team.

“We didn’t have many girls wrestling last week due to illness,” he said. “But this is a very promising tournament, one we were glad to get a chance to participate in. There were good teams and good brackets, and it was a good chance to see some different competition than we normally see.”

The kind of competition Block and his Hawks see this week will be of the more traditional Montana variety. Thompson Falls wrestlers are set to hit the road to compete in a mixer at Choteau Thursday evening, followed by the two-day Cut Bank Invitational Friday

and Saturday, or a consolation bracket tourney in Valier to be held Saturday for those who drop out of the main Cut Bank draw by Friday evening.

    THOMPSON FALLS WRESTLERS Matea Keefe (center, atop the podium) and Aubrey Cribbs (left) finished first and fourth respectively at 115 pounds in the girls portion of the Backwoods Brawl tournament in Priest River Saturday. (courtesy photo)