Wrestling: LHS nips C. Falls, annihilates Whitefish

A freshman came up big on Senior Night.

Libby High School’s Mitch Haugen will wait three more years before walking up to the edge of the mat with his parents during the annual evening of senior recognition. Earning a spot in the varsity lineup this first season, Haugen has proven on several occasions that he has the tools to contribute immediately to the Greenchain cause.

On Thursday night against Columbia Falls. Haugen’s 10-4 decision over Kohl Thompson in the evening finale boosted Libby to a 45-42 victory.

“We needed him to step up and he did,” LHS first-year coach Todd Schatz said. “That’s a lot to ask from a freshman but he’s the kind of kid that can do that.”

Haugen never trailed with a lead of 2-0 through the first period and 4-2 after the second. Thompson showed some life toward the end of the second with a reversal to cut his deficit to one point. Haugen quickly got out of his hold, however, for an escape point before the buzzer.

In the third period, Haugen took control of the match and ended up with a six-point victory.

Libby has become accustomed to close duals this season.

“We’ve lost three duals by a point or two so it was nice to win a close one here at home,” Schatz said.

Libby led 18-0 early on with pins from Kyle Leir (135) and Cody Elliott (140) and a forfeit victory credited to Dylan Berget (145). Bill and Josh Gross got the Wildcats on the scoreboard with back-to-back pins at 152 and 160.

Senior Kyle Sweedman followed up with a pin over Josh Folsom at 3:08 at 171 pounds. After a Kody Berget pin at 189, the Greenchain held a 30-12 advantage.

The Wildcats won five of the next six matches, however, with two victories by forfeit (Hwt, 112). Jake Babcock was awarded a win at 215 by injury default when Logan Neubauer hit his head hard on the gym floor after the two battled off the mat. Neubauer wanted to continue but coaches handled the matter with caution, especially because the LHS sophomore had also hit his head earlier this season at Ronan, Schatz said.

Ian Edwards-Myslicki got a forfeit win for Libby at 98 but after Columbia Falls’ Justin Whitman won by pin at 119, the Wildcats had built a 42-36 lead with two matches remaining.

At 125, Mike Roby came up big with a needed pin to tie the dual. Roby stuck Adam Richardson in just 33 seconds to set up the big finish. Haugen followed with his win and cheers filled the gym.

Seniors recognized prior to the dual included Sweedman, Roby, Elliott and Lucas Puckett – who was held out of action against Columbia Falls’ Kelly Houle over concerns with a tender shoulder.

The Greenchain followed up with another dual victory on Friday. Libby dominated Whitefish to the tune of 64-12.

Out of the seven wins on the mat for LHS, six came on pins. Leir, Elliott, Dylan Berget, Robin Kyes, Sweedman and Puckett all won on falls. Dylan Berget stuck his opponent in just 28 seconds. In the only match that went the distance, Haugen won by decision over Dalton Rice, 10-2.

The Greenchain won four weight classes by forfeit. Whitefish won one match on the mat and two by forfeit. Two weight classes were open.

Libby heads to divisionals in Polson on Saturday.

Libby 45, C. Falls 42

Thursday at Libby

98—Ian Edwards-Myslicki, L, won by forfeit

105—Seth McCall, CF, pinned Isaac King, 1:23

112—Sal Baccaro, CF, won by forfeit

119—Justin Whitman, CF, pinned Aaron Seefeldt, 4:26

125—Mike Roby, L, pinned Adam Richardson, 0:33

130—Mitch Haugen, L, dec. Kohl Thompson, 10-4

135—Kyle Leir, L, pinned Cody Hader, 1:38

140—Cody Elliott, L, pinned Brendan Moseman, 0:35

145—Dylan Berget, L, won by forfeit

152—Bill Gross, CF, pinned Robin Kyes, 5:20

160—Josh Gross, CF, pinned Austin Bailey, 3:04

171—Kyle Sweedman, L, pinned Josh Folsom, 3:08

189—Kody Berget, L, pinned Marcus Ross, 0:27

215—Jake Babcock, CF, inj. def. Logan Neubauer

Hwt—Kelly Houle, CF, won by forfeit

Libby 64, Whitefish 12

Friday at Libby

98—Ian Edwards-Myslicki, L, won by forfeit

105—Open

112—Open

119—Aaron Seefeldt, L, won by forfeit

125—Mike Roby, L, won by forfeit

130—Mitch Haugen, L, dec. Dalton Rice, 10-2

135—Kyle Leir, L, pinned John Sammon, 1:14

140—Cody Elliott, L, pinned B.J. Buckley, 1:13

145—Dylan Berget, L, pinned Nick O’Dell, 0:28

152—Robin Kyes, L, pinned Robby Neff, 1:18

160—Tanner Benedict, W, pinned Austin Bailey, 0:51

171—Kyle Sweedman, L, pinned Geoff Streeter, 2:08

189—Kody Berget, L, won by forfeit

215—Dominic Sargent, W, won by forfeit

Hwt—Lucas Puckett, L, pinned Wolf Zinke, 1:04

For video from the Libby-Columbia Falls dual, click here