Libby Greenchain hangs tough at home

The Greenchain defeated Whitefish Friday in Libby, 45-27, but lost in a tie at 39 to Columbia Falls Thursday.

Libby's lead slipped away in the final matches, allowing the Wildkats to take the dual under a second criteria rule where the winner of the most matches beats the tie; The Wildkats had 8 matches to Libby's 7.

Michael Roby (112) and Levi Edwards-Myslicki (125) pinned their opponents in 1:31 and 3:36.

Kyle Sweedman (135) followed suit, pinning Nick Toavs in 2:28, followed by Kody Berget (145), who decisioned Joe Gross in 7-4

Seth Wright (152) pinned Trevor Miller in just :36, the fastest pin of the dual.

Despite Brandin Mills' (Hwt) final pin of the night at 3:42, the Wildkats tied, helped along with two Libby forfeits in the 98 and 105 weight categories.

"We gave up those two forfeits and that hurts," said Graham. "Some of them shut down - some that usually win. They had tough opponents but they just didn't get after it."

Graham pointed out freshman Kody Berget as an example of a wrestler who did get after it and "finally started shooting," putting coaching advice into action in a varsity match against Columbia Falls Thursday, which he won, as well as the weekend at the JV Wrestling Jamboree in Columbia Falls.

Freshman Berget went undefeated all weekend.

Graham said a lot of the kids "looked good" at the Jamboree.

He is now focusing on divisionals, which they have been preparing for all season and begin Friday in Ronan.

"We didn't wrestle our best against Columbia Falls and Whitefish. Hopefully we'll get going for for divisionals."

Libby - 39, Columbia Falls - 39

98: Sal Baccaro (CF) won by forfeit; 105: Cody Edstrom (CF) won by forfeit; 112: Michael Roby pinned Hunter Fishel, 1:31; 119: Clayton Patterson (CF) pinned Dakota Bassett, 1:19; 125: Levi Edwards-Myslicki pinned Jacob Hader, 3:36; 130: Shawn Whitman (CF) maj. dec. Cody Elliot, 16-5; 135: Kyle Sweedman pinned Nick Toavs, 2:28; 140: Cody Kolodejchuk (CF) maj. dec. Charlie Berget, 15-2; 145: Kody Berget dec. Joe Gross, 7-4; 152: Seth Wright pinned Trevor Miller, :36; 160: Michael Hader (CF) maj. dec. Steve Gary, 11-1; 171: Lucas Puckett (L) won by forfeit; 189: Kelly Houle (CF) dec. Justin Graham, 2-1; 215: Kodie Kenfield (CF) pinned Pat Wood, 5:46; Hwt: Brandin Mills (L) pinned Bryce Arneson, 3:42.

Libby - 45, Whitefish - 27

125 - Phillip Murphy, W. dec. Cody Ellio, 15-8; 130 - Dalton Rice, W. pinned Devin Williams, :53; 135 - Kyle Sweedman pinned Erik Hanson, :59; 140 - Matt Starr, W. pinned Shadow Lemay, 3:59; 145 - Cody Morris, W, pinned Kody Berget, 3:09; 152 - Seth Wright pinned Tanner Benadict, 1:03; 189 - Justin Graham pinned Derek Crittenden, :46; 215 - Pat Wood dec. Jake Scheel, 4-3; Hwt - Kevin McDowell, W. pinned Brandin Mills, 1:32.

Libby won 112, 119, 160 and 171 by forfeit.