Trio of local wrestlers take 1st at tourney

Garret Chapel, Zach Crace and Eric Thrift of the Libby Wrestling Club each took first place in their respective divisions on Saturday at the Viper Quad State Freestyle Tournament in Spokane, Wash.

Chapel won his first freestyle championship with an exceptional performance in the Novice Division’s 100-pound weight class. Crace won in the Schoolboy Division at 91 pounds. Thrift was tops in the Schoolboy’s 160-pound class.

Josh McGough (Novice, 144) and Josh Massey (Schoolboy, 120) each had runner-up finishes. Christian Dewine (Schoolboy, 136) had a third-place finish.

The Libby Wrestling Club put 14 athletes on the mat at the tournament, which draws state-champion level competition from Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana.

The team is scheduled to wrestle at Butte this weekend for the Smith/McCarthy Memorial Freestyle Tournament.

Viper Quad State Freestyle Tournament

Saturday at Spokane, Wash

Libby Placewinners

Bantam (6-7)

55 – 7, Cody Crace.

Novice (10-11)

70 – 6, Cody Willison.

100 – 1, Garret Chapel.

144 – 2, Josh McGough.

Schoolboy (12-13)

91 – 1, Zach Crace.

105 – 8, Michael Miller; 9, Levi Erickson.

120 – 2, Josh Massey.

128 – 8, Josh Bowers.

136 – 3, Christian Dewine.

144 – 4, Michael Dennison.

160 – 1, Eric Thrift.

Cadet (14-15)

152 – 8, Austin Bailey.

Junior (16-17)

160 – 11, Kody Berget.