Greenchain wrestlers heating up, eye state titles

A grueling season on the mats closes at home for the Greenchain wrestlers when they host the Northwest A Divisional Tournament on Feb. 7-8.

The team hosted two duals earlier this season, including the first home dual in Troy for the team comprised of Libby and Troy High School students. All but the most important road trip of the season — to the state tournament in Billings on Feb. 14 and 15 — was completed after the Jan. 18 Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula.

“The focus all year has been to do well in front of the home fans,” Coach Kelly Morford said. “It’s been the motivation. With it being at home it makes another level of excitement and pressure, which is not always a bad thing.”

The event acts as a qualifier for competitors looking to wrestle in the state tournament.

Grapplers qualifying in the state’s four divisional tournaments will compete for top titles in Montana.

A string of four home duals began Jan. 23 when Glacier and Bonners Ferry visited Libby. The Greenchain hosted Polson and Frenchtown on Saturday.

The Loggers host Whitefish at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“They’re a much-improved team that got us when we went there,” Morford said of Whitefish. “Hopefully, we can flip the score.”

Senior 160-pounder Josh Bowers has led the Greenchain this year, posting a 25-9 record. Garret Chapel, at 170 pounds, has been another horse with a 27-10 record. Zach Crace, at 138 pounds, owns the prettiest record with a 32-8 mark.

“Our older guys are performing well,” Morford said. “Bowers is a man on a mission. He’s wrestling well. He knows this is his last chance to not only make state, but place well. Josh and Skyler (Higareda) did not place at state last year, but they are setting up well to continue the path they’ve set.”

Higareda’s record is 22-15, including a pair of pins and a dominant 12-0 decision against Bonners Ferry’s Issac Lavola on Thursday.

“We have been competing well, but we need to put together a better team effort,” Morford said. “We just need some guys to come around.”

Libby 33,

Bonners Ferry 30

98 – Open; 106 – Open; 113 – Ty Hight, L, won by forfeit; 120 – Open; 126 – Jaeger Schaueler, BF, pinned Dylan Roby, 1:01; 132 – Skyler Higareda, L, pinned Issac Lavola, :44; 138 – Zach Crace, L, pinned Matt Tucker, 3:39; 145 – Luke Resch, BF, pinned Braydon Thom, 2:50; 152 – Dylan Parrish, L, pinned Jacob Perkins, 2:58; 160 – Josh Bowers, L, dec. Parker Davis, 9-7, OT; 170 – Garret Chapel, L, pinned Travis Beck, 1:05; 95 – Open.

Glacier 48, Libby 17

106 – Open; 113 – Sam Barber, G, pinned Ty Hight, 2:17; 120 – Open; 126 – Cody Decker, G, pinned Dylan Roby, 3:38; 132 – Skyler Higareda, L, maj. dec. Brandon Scholz, 12-0; 138 – Zach Crace, L, tech. fall Quinn Barber, 18-2; 145 – Arik Lybeck, G, pinned Braydan Thom, 1:34; 152 – Donovan Macura, G, maj. dec. Dylan Parrish, 10-0; 160 – Josh Bowers, L, maj. dec. Jacob Ferkin, 12-2; 170 – Garret Chapel, L, maj. dec. Tanner Stupack, 20-8; 195 – Open.

Frenchtown 54, Libby 21

113 – Cody Warner, Ftn, pinned Ty Hight, 2:40. 120 – Preton Downard, Ftn, pinned Dylan Roby, 2:16. 132 – Skyler Higareda, Lib, pinned Bryce Williams, 3:39. 138 – Zach Crace, Lib, pinned Ryan Stenerson, 1:49. 145 – Jon Blanchard, Ftn, pinned Braydan Thom, 1:38. 152 – Cody Lemons, Ftn, pinned Dylan Parrish, :44. 160 – Josh Bowers, Lib, pinned Tyler King, :29. 170 – Garret Chapel, dec. Doug Womach 9-4.

Polson 34, Libby 22

113 – Jarin Morgan, Pol, major dec. Ty Hight 8-0; 120 – Jaben Wentzel, Pol, pinned Dylan Roby, 1:08. 138 – Zach Crace, Lib, pinned Alex Helegoon, 1:32. 145 – Jared Young, Pol, pinned Braydan Thom, 1:27. 152 – Dylan Parrish, Lib, major dec. Ryan Burland 13-1. 160 – Josh Bowers, Lib, pinned Triston Martin, 1:06. 170 – Tel Motichka, Pol, pinned Garret Chapel, 6:53 (OT).