Loggers slip on senior night; then crush Whitefish

Austin Bailey grapples with Polson’s Josiah Edington at the 189-pound division. Bailey won a major decision 15-3.

Mitch Haugen vs. Polson's Rhett Burland.

by Ryan Murray
| January 29, 2013 2:00 PM

Mitch Haugen vs. Polson's Rhett Burland.

An aggressive, well-conditioned Polson team spoiled Libby Greenchain’s senior night Thursday, pinning the Loggers 49-31.

The Pirates won all contested matches 37-25, partly attributed to the skill of Polson’s athletes to evade what looked like sure pins for Greenchain at 189- and 215-pounds.

Nearly every contested match was exciting, leaving a happy Polson coach on the sideline.

“It was a neat matchup. I really enjoyed it,” said Bob Owen, the Pirates’ head coach. “We just paid attention to technique progression. We have to do better from the neutral position.”

Polson began the match with three straight wins, at 112-, 119- and 125-pounds. Libby turned the tide by pinning the next three Pirates, including at 135-pounds in a match that marked the triumphant return of state champion Mitch Haugen.

“It’s good to be back,” Haugen said after returning from a second-degree acromioclavicular (shoulder) joint tear. “I’m at 90 percent. I just want to build my confidence back.”

Haugen earned his pin in 2:45, surrounded by Zach Crace and Skylar Higareda also pinning Polson grapplers.

Greenchain forfeited at 98- and 105-pounds, but got a free six points at 152-pounds.

The loss was annoying to Greenchain’s Head Coach Kelly Morford, who knows his athletes are more talented than they have been representing themselves.

“For whatever reason, we’re not responding to what we’re doing in practice,” Morford said. “They controlled the tempo. We wrestled their speed.”

Libby went to Whitefish and avenged its loss to Polson, destroying the Bulldogs 63-22.

Polson 49, Greenchain 31; 98- Thunder Morales, P, forfeit; 105- Cody Hedeen, P, forfeit; 112- Tristan Caye , P, pinned Dylan Roby 2:44; 119- Carlos Quinones, P. pinned Ian Edwards-Myslicki 1:35; 125- Alex Helgerson, P, maj. dec. Randy Williams 11-2; 130 – Zach Crace, L, pinned Dylan Moll 4:57; 135- Mitch Haugen, L, pinned Rhett Burland 2:45; 140- Skylar Higareda, L, pinned Noah Fouty 1:35; 145- Craig Feistner, P, pinned Rick Roach 1:41; 152- Garret Chapel, L, forfeit; 160- Tel Motichka, P, dec. Josh Bowers 6-3; 171- Tel Seeman, P, pinned Patrick Valentine 3:36; 189- Austin Bailey, L, maj. dec. Josiah Edington 15-3; 215- Zack Dolezal, L, dec. Mike Corrigan 6-3; Hwt- Isiah Williams pinned Josh McGough 5:49.

Libby 63, Whitefish 22; 98- Whitefish forfeit; 105 – Ty Height, L, pinned Thornsteinson, 1:30; 112 – Dylan Roby, L, pinned Rice, 1:41; 119 – S. Bowerman, W, maj. dec. Ian Edwards-Myslicki, 11-2; 125 – Randy Williams, L, pinned Armstrong, 2:41; 130 – Zach Crace, L, pinned Matt Barton, 1:59; 135 – Mitch Haugen, L, pinned Price, 4:17; 140 – Sampson, W, pinned Skylar Higareda, default; 145 – Ricky Roach, L, pinned DJ Buckley, 3:45; 152 – Garrett Chapel, L, pinned McWhirter, 1:35; 160 – Josh Bowers, L, dec. K. Zinke, 12-6; 171 – Austin Bailey, L, pinned K. Bowerman, 1;09; 189- Libby forfeit; 215 – Zack Dolezal, L, pinned Gulbrandson, 1:07; Hwt – W. Zinke, W, pinned Josh McGough, 3:31.