Matmen avenge setback to Polson
<p>The Greenchain's Alex Yeadon gave Ronan's Steven Michel all he could handle last week in their 152-pound match.</p>
In athletics, two aspects beyond sheer raw talent can impact athletes — team spirit and momentum — and Greenchain wrestling Coach Kelly Morford was reminded of those intangibles last weekend when his squad finished sixth of 32 teams at the Western Duals in Ronan.
Make no mistake: Morford’s matmen have talent, but they are also thin in numbers. Before they even take to the mats, the Greenchain are forfeiting, on average, about six matches.
The duals held last Friday and Saturday came just a day after the Greenchain lost a tough match to Polson on Thursday, but the Greenchain grunts didn’t let that get them down as they avenged the loss.
“I think it’s just a mental thing,” Morford said. “It’s like winning becomes contagious. One wins and the rest just follow.”
The Greenchain’s Ty Hight (113-pound junior), Garret Chapel (170-pound junior), Dylan Roby (120-pound junior) and Alex Yeadon (152-pound junior) all defeated Polson grapplers who defeated them just 48 hours previously.
Of course, the Greenchain have their stables, such as Zack Crace (138-pound junior) who was perfect in going 7-for-7 during the duals to pace their way to victory.
“I’m so proud of the way it went down,” Morford said. “We have a limited number of kids. It’s just tough when as soon as we walk on the mats we have to forfeit five or six weight classes.”
Morford said he is glad to see the way Reed Christiansen (132-pound freshman) has progressed.
“He’s been working his tail off, showing a ton of improvement,” Morford said.
In a match Tuesday at Whitefish:
Whitefish 42, Libby 30: Whitefish picked up two pins and a pair of decisions to top a small squad from Libby 42-30 in a Class A wrestling dual on Tuesday.
Matthew Sampson pinned Libby’s Alex Yeadon in 1:32 s at 160 pounds and Judah Prestegaard pinned Brayden Thom in 3:22 at 152 to send the Bulldogs to a win in the contest. James Buckley (120) and Brooks Krause also picked up decisions in the contest. Whitefish earned forfeits in four other divisions to edge the Greenchain.
Libby’s Josh Bower (170), Skyler Higereda (138) and Dylan Roby (126) all earned pins to keep the Greenchain close in the dual.