Greenchain pummels Whitefish on Senior Night

Taking to the mat on Senior Night in the final home dual of the season on Saturday, Libby took less than a half-hour to dispose of Whitefish.

Sure, seven weight divisions involved forfeits but most of the Greenchain grapplers who saw action took care of business in a quick manner. Out of the six Libby winners, five stuck their opponents. And in those five pins, three occurred in less than a minute.

“We got the win for the seniors,” LHS coach Jay Graham said about the 51-15 victory. “It was a good lead-in to next week.”

The veteran Greenchain coach is referring to divisionals, which will take place at Ralph Tate Gymnasium on Saturday. The meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

As for the victory over Whitefish, only eight matches were staged. Libby won three by forfeit (125, 171, Hwt), Whitefish took one by forfeit (119) and three other weight divisions (98, 105, 112) involved double forfeits because neither school had any entries.

Libby’s Evan O’Brien and Cody Elliott had two of the team’s most impressive showings. O’Brien pinned his opponent, Jacob Washer, in just 55 seconds at 189 pounds. Elliott took care of Steven Vail at 135 pounds in 56 seconds.

“The way Evan worked that reverse, that was picture perfect,” Graham said. “Cody Elliott wrestled smart … he did very well.”

Libby opened with a victory when 130-pounder Tate Wilson won a 7-2 decision over Dalton Rice. Tate wrestled well early and held a 6-1 advantage through the first period. An escape with 53 seconds left in the match and Wilson’s ability to avoid a takedown late clinched the victory.

Following Elliott’s pin, freshman Dylan Berget dominated junior Nick O’Dell in the 140-pound match. He vaulted out to a 5-0 lead in the first period and followed up with a pin 21 ticks into the second.

The Bulldogs got their first win at 145 when Tanner Benedict held on for a life in a 7-5 decision over Charlie Berget. Benedict scored a takedown 1:08 into the first and then opened the second with a quick reversal for a 4-0 advantage. Later in the third, Berget pulled to within 5-4 and nearly got a pin. He had to settle for a three-point nearfall and Benedict came out on top.

Kaleb Prestengaard made it two in a row for Whitefish by pinning Morgan Peek 58 seconds into the second period of the 152-pound match.

The Greenchain finished strong with three straight pins. First, Kody Berget got Libby back in the win column with a pin in 1:20 over Geoff Streeter.

Then after O’Brien’s victory over Washer, senior Justin Graham took a whole 18 seconds to flatten Derek Crittenden in the 215-pound match.

Divisionals

Libby High School will host the Divisional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 7.

The tournament is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. with the opening round and continuing with consolation wrestle-backs. The championship round is expected to begin at 4 p.m.

LHS athletic director Dolly Crum announced that regular-season passes are not honored at divisionals. All-session tickets are $10 (adults) and $6 (students). Championship round tickets are $5 (adults) and $3 (students).

Libby 51, Whitefish 15

98 – No entries, double forfeit

105 – No entries, double forfeit

112 – No entries, double forfeit

119 – Reimer, CF, won by forfeit

125 – Leir, L, won by forfeit

130 – Wilson, L, dec. Rice, 7-3

135 – C. Elliott, L, pinned Vail, 0:56

140 – D. Berget, L, pinned O’Dell, 2:21

145 – Benedict, W, dec. C. Berget, 7-5

152 – Presetengaard, W, pinned Peek, 2:58

160 – K. Berget, L. pinned Streeter, 1:20

171 – Wright, L, won by forfeit

189 – E. O’Brien, L, pinned Washer, 0:55

215 – Graham, L, pinned Crittenden, 0:18

Hwt – Mills, L, won by forfeit

Exhibition Matches

125 – Edwards-Myslicki, L, pinned Neff, 1:22

125 – Leir, L, pinned Reimer, 1:32

125 – Roby, L, pinned Neff, 0:52

140 – B. Elliott, L, pinned Burns, 1:20

140 – J. O’Brien, L, pinned Burns, 0:33