Greenchain wrestlers dominant in first home matches
SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 1 week AGO
Libby senior Bridger Bache pins Browning’s Silas Lee during their match Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Bache also decked Stevensville’s Gavin Crain. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby senior Gabe Kosters waits for the pin determination by referee Scott L. Erickson during his match against Bowman Kiauk Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby Greenchain female wrestlers, senior Isabella Barnes and junior Meghan Connelley, were recognized between matches Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby junior Tristan DeShazer has his hand risen by referee Scott L. Erickson after pinning Stevensville’s Saul Hauling Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby senior Ian Thom at the beginning of his match against Stevensville’s Kerry Forst Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Thom ended up pinning Forst as the Greenchain won, 66-10. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby junior Boe Miles takes control of Browning’s Talvin Champ before pinning him during their match Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby sophomore Damon Anderson works over Browning’s Takota Stanley during their match Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby junior Alex Reatz is in the process of pinning Browning’s Justyn Hall during their match Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby senior Hunter Nelson pins Browning’s Koda Dotson Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby freshman Maddux Stow takes control of Browning’s Mason Gordon before pinning him Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby senior Jeremiah Thomas pins Browning’s Reagan Flamand. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby’s Urijah Bache tangles with Browning’s Kayne Burke during their match Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
The Libby Greenchain wrestling team made its long-awaited first appearance at home Saturday and came away with a pair of dominating wins.
Libby beat a short-handed Stevensville squad, 66-10, before handling Browning, 65-11. Libby is ranked No. 6 in the www.montanasports.com rankings as of Jan. 20.
“We’re still wading through kids being sick or hurt, but they’re all wrestling hard,” Greenchain head coach Dean Thompson said. “We appreciate Browning and Stevensville making the trip to compete. Stevi is a little short handed, but they still have some really tough kids. And we have a good relationship with Browning, so it’s always good to get together.”
Libby home fans got to see the Greenchain’s two female wrestlers - senior Isabella Barnes and junior Meghan Connelley. They were introduced between matches and got a rousing welcome.
On the mat, Browning opened the tri-meet with a 47-15 win over Stevensville.
Libby then took center stage against the Yellowjackets and Indians. With no match at 103 pounds, sophomore 110-pounder Levi Nick scored the first points in a forfeit win. Nick, ranked No. 5 at 110, also won by forfeit against Browning. He did get an exhibition match win, though, following the dual meets.
At 118, senior Bridger Bache scored a pair of wins. Both were by fall. He decked Stevensville’s Gavin Crain, then Browning’s Silas Lee.
At 125, sophomore Damon Anderson won by forfeit, then pinned Browning’s Takota Stanley.
At 132, senior Jeremiah Thomas lost by technical fall to Stevensville’s Rowan Miller before bouncing back to pin Browning’s Reagan Flamand.
At 138, freshman Maddux Stow lost by technical fall to Stevensville’s Benjamin White before scoring a pin over Browning’s Mason Gordon. White is ranked No. 3 in Class A.
At 144, senior Gabe Kosters got a forfeit win, then pinned Browning’s Bowman Kiauk.
At 150, junior Tristan DeShazer pinned Stevi’s Saul Hauling, then decked Browning’s Germaine Lazy Boy. DeShazer is ranked No. 5.
The Greenchain then collected four straight forfeit wins over Stevi to make the lead 54-10. They included Boe Miles at 157 pounds, Urijah Bache at 165, Alex Reatz at 175 and Hunter Rooney at 190.
At 215, Ian Thom dominated before pinning Kerry Forst.
At 285, Hunter Nelson collected a forfeit win.
In the Browning match, the Greenchain wrestled five of the final six matches.
At 157, Miles pinned Talvin Champ. Miles is ranked No. 2 at 150, but he bumped up.
At 165, Urijah Bache led 7-2 before he got caught and pinned by Browning’s Kayne Burke.
At 175, Reatz decked Justyn Hall, and at 190, Rooney got a forfeit win. At 215, Thom wrestled Browning’s Justin Old Chief and lost by technical fall.
Nelson ended the dual at 285 with a pin of Koda Dotson.
Reatz is ranked sixth at 165, but he also bumped up to wrestle at 175. Rooney is ranked sixth at 175 and Thom is ranked fourth at 190, but they also moved up to wrestle.
Senior Tanner Wolfe (17-1) didn’t wrestle after suffering a hand injury last week.
Thompson said he wasn’t sure if Wolfe’s season was over or not, but he is expected to see an orthopedic surgeon to get a better idea of his status.
“Our No. 2s are also winning matches and we’re looking forward to being healthy for divisionals,” Thompson said.
The Greenchain return to action Friday and Saturday in Butte for the Class A Duals.
Tuesday, Feb. 3, Libby will wrestle its final home matches with Polson, Columbia Falls and Bonners Ferry scheduled to wrestle.
Libby senior Gabe Kosters waits for the pin determination by referee Scott L. Erickson during his match against Bowman Kiauk Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby Greenchain female wrestlers, senior Isabella Barnes and junior Meghan Connelley, were recognized between matches Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby junior Tristan DeShazer has his hand risen by referee Scott L. Erickson after pinning Stevensville’s Saul Hauling Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby senior Ian Thom at the beginning of his match against Stevensville’s Kerry Forst Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Thom ended up pinning Forst as the Greenchain won, 66-10. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby junior Boe Miles takes control of Browning’s Talvin Champ before pinning him during their match Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby sophomore Damon Anderson works over Browning’s Takota Stanley during their match Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby junior Alex Reatz is in the process of pinning Browning’s Justyn Hall during their match Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby senior Hunter Nelson pins Browning’s Koda Dotson Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby freshman Maddux Stow takes control of Browning’s Mason Gordon before pinning him Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby senior Jeremiah Thomas pins Browning’s Reagan Flamand. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Libby’s Urijah Bache tangles with Browning’s Kayne Burke during their match Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)ARTICLES BY SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER
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