Greenchain competes in Havre tourney

The Greenchain wrestling team competed in the Havre Invitational Tournament from Friday, Dec. 4 to Saturday, Dec. 5. Libby wrestling coach Kelly Morford says he now has good ideas about how the team can improve for the season and what the team will have to watch out for.

The Greenchain competed in a round robin tournament on Friday and a double elimination tournament the following day, with its wrestlers playing four or five games each, according to Morford.

At the end of the tournament, the team scored 58.5 points, putting them in ninth place, in front of Chester-Joplin-Inverness High School and Butte Central Catholic High School

Buddy Doolin placed second in the 103-lb. weight class while Colten Clemons placed third in the same class. Mason Sams and Laine Young placed third in the 113-lb. class and the 138-lb. class respectively. Clancy Gout finished sixth in the 205-lb. class. Tim Brivka, Reed Christensen and Tanner Wood placed seventh in the 132-lb. class, the 138-lb. class and the 152-lb. class respectively.

Two of the Greenchain wrestlers had to sit out on Saturday’s double elimination tournament due to injuries both on and off the court. Tim Carvey injured his hand during practice, and faced difficulties while trying to wrestle in Friday’s round robin, being unable to get a good grip on his opponent. Jonathan Tinnell also suffered a separated shoulder during his match.

Despite the Greenchain’s performance, Morford said he found the tournament very informative, as the teams they faced presented them with new challenges that they normally wouldn’t get.

“One of the good things about going to Havre is that you see teams you wouldn’t normally see throughout the year, such as two-time defending state champion Havre High School, Great Falls High School and Charles M. Russell High School,” said Morford. “Great Falls High and CMR are both AA teams. They’re really good competition.”

Morford said the matches helped him determine the strengths and weaknesses of the Greenchain team, so that they could make improvements.

“We knew that with our lack of experience, we would have a long way to go this season as far as developing our technique, and we saw that this weekend,” said Morford. 

“We saw a lot of good things, but we also saw that we have to continue to work on things, which we expected. So, we’ll keep getting in better shape and keep working on our technique. We’re not where we want to be now, but that’s not our goal for the beginning of the season.”

Morford said the Greenchain did a good job getting off the bottom in their matches, but that they need to make improvements in their conditioning and in their maneuvers, such as creating motion and angles from their feet, and getting more of an idea what moves the wrestlers want to use. However, Morford said he was confident that the Greenchain players would be able to make the needed improvements by the time they face Eureka, whom Morford named as the team to beat.

The Greenchain team will host a home duel Tuesday, Dec. 8. The team will face off against Whitefish at 5 p.m, the Whitefish and Bonners Ferry teams will square off at 6 p.m. and the Greenchain team will face Bonners at 7:00. They will also participate in a tournament in Superior on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m.