Wrestlers grab and pull their way to 36-18 victory at home

The first wrestling dual anyone could recall in Troy went the Greenchain’s way Tuesday. In a head-to-head contest with Eureka, Libby held their own as four grapplers earned pins on the way to a 36-18 victory.  

Long a combination of Libby High and Troy High students, the Greenchain typically hosts events in Libby. Coach Kelly Morford was happy to recognize the efforts of Troy’s wrestlers during the years.

“It was exciting being part of the first Troy meet,” Morford said. “I know the Troy kids enjoyed being at home.”

Blaring electro music and a strobe light accompanied Libby’s introduction. The blue and yellow mat Morford brought from Libby looked out-of-place on Troy’s gym floor. Above the center of the mat shone a spotlight, also brought by Morford. The rest of the gym lights off, the mat became a place of focused, isolated struggle.

The dual began at 132 pounds with Eureka’s Levi Lambersont outpointing Libby’s Cody Kessel, 9-3.

Libby’s Zach Crace and Skyler Higareda responded with pins, in 1:30 and 1:03 respectively. Libby freshman Braydan Thom was up 2-0 after the first period of his 152-pound match before Eureka’s Colby Hammock pinned him in 3:21.

The Greenchain’s Josh Bowers reclaimed momentum when he pinned Eureka’s Joe Feher in 4:52 at 170 pounds. The bout saw three blood stoppages when Feher’s nose started bleeding after an inadvertent blow from Bowers.

At 182 pounds, Garret Chapel of Troy pinned Eureka’s Miles Plemmens in 1:53.

Eureka recorded its second pin when 220-pounder Kaelan Yanak fell Libby’s Josh McGough in 3:31. The dual ended when Eureka’s Josh Schmidt beat Dylan Roby on points, 11-0.

“Eureka was short a few kids with the flu,” Morford said. “I’m happy with how the guys are wrestling. They are running some of the stuff from practice, which is always good to see. It needs to be better but at least we are running it out on the mat.”

The Greenchain traveled to Columbia Falls for a dual Thursday. Friday and Saturday the team will split. Crace, Higareda, Bowers and Chapel will participate in the misnamed 35th Annual Tri-State Tournament at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene — which features competitors from the four states of Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The rest of the gang will head to Eureka for the Buzz Lucey Invitational.