Libby Wrestling Club fourth at Maverick Bench Memorial Tournament
Peewee wrestler Everly Graham enjoys herself with grandpa Jay Graham, a long-time Libby High School wrestling team coach, at the Maverick Bench Memorial Tournament Saturday, Feb. 25, in Kalispell. (Photo courtesy Libby Wrestling Club)
Libby Wrestling Club's Acton Farmer stands atop the medal stand Saturday at the Maverick Bench Memorial Tournament in Kalispell. Farmer claimed first place at 85 pounds in the novice group. Joining Farmer is teammate Teegan Gillespie, who was fourth.(Photo courtesy Libby Wrestling Club)
Junior division champion Hunter Rooney (in yellow shirt) joins Cash Katzer and Waylon Katzer at last Saturday's Maverick Bench Memorial Tournament. The trio are members of the Libby Wrestling Club. (Photo courtesy Libby Wrestling Club)
Libby Wrestling Club's Ryder Rebo celebrates a win at Saturday's Maverick Bench Memorial Tournament in Kalispell. (Photo courtesy Libby Wrestling Club)
The Libby Wrestling Club competed at the Maverick Bench Memorial Tournament in Kalispell on Saturday.
According to coach Jason Harrington, "LWC wrestlers proved their hard work is paying off. Coaches and fans alike were thrilled with the improvements made over the last week. Coaches knew the club was on the right path, but competing at a tournament to remember a brave young member of the wrestling family, Maverick Bench, assured that."
Libby had three champions, eight runners-up and five third-place finishers in the beginner through junior divisions. peewee wrestlers were not included in team scores. Although not represented, the peewee group excelled as well.
The team scores were based on 15 chosen wrestlers from each club. Libby scored a total of 303 team points with the combination of 15 athletes, for an average of 20.2 points per wrestler.
LWC is headed to the first qualifying tournament this weekend in Columbia Falls. The club will mostly have the same team organization while, along with some other teams, will be required to comply with Western Montana Littleguy rules and bump some competitors to the next age division.
This is due to bylaws that states athletes that compete outside of the designated season are required to compensate for their additional exposure to the sport.
This will potentially affect team scoring and individual placing. Libby placed fourth overall with a tight 5-point difference separating them from second place.
Beginner group
Harlow Soley - fourth at 45 pounds
Maverick Grotjohn - fourth at 50
Cash Katzer - third at 55
Thomas Wells - sixth at 70
EmmaRose Williams - fourth at 80
Lawrence Schedlbauet - second at 108-130
Novice group
Waylon Katzer - third at 60 pounds
Teegan Gillespie - fourth at 70
Justice Benjamin - sixth at 70
Noah Scofield - third at 80
Acton Farmer - first at 85
Elie Rayome - fourth at 85
Caddies Karoglanian - third at 95
Gavin Pape - fifth at 95
Jake Roberts - sixth at 100
Middle group
Cody Katzer - third at 90 pounds
Jackson Riddle - first at 100
Angelina Escudero - sixth at 100
Thomas Nelson - second at 110
Micah Kanan - fifth at 110
Jacob Mitchell - second at 120-130
Colten Nelson - fourth at 147
Junior group
Ethan Cadwalader - second at 80-90 pounds
Jack Hayden - fourth at 80-90
Hunter Rooney - first at 135-138
Tristan DeShazer - second at 145
Alex Reatz - second at 152-160
William Escudero Jr. - fifth at 170-182
Jayden Sigea - second at 240
Caleb Hart - fourth at 240
