Flathead, Glacier wrestlers gear up for AA Divisional

The Western AA Divisional wrestling meet is set for today and Saturday at Missoula Big Sky, with Flathead and Glacier taking a combined 49 boys and 45 girls into competition.

The top eight out of each weight class qualify for the State All-Class meet next week at Billings MetraPark, though for the girls the seeding — after a five-hour Zoom meeting Wednesday — has been decided.

Flathead is the defending State AA champion for both the girls and the boys, and is taking 31 girls and 26 boys to Big Sky High. The aspirations have not changed.

“We always have really high goals for our team and our wrestlers,” Flathead coach Jeff Thompson said Thursday. “We’ve done a great job this week in practice. They’re hungry. We’ve been pulling back a little bit on the “live,” the combat, and they want to open up the gate and get running.”

Eight returning state-placers lead the Brave Brawlers, including Asher Kemppainen (25-7) at 138, senior Fin Nadeau (32-2) at 145, junior Noah Poe-Hatten (32-1) at 182 and senior Chase Youso (30-2) at 205. All were second at state in 2021.

Intriguing possible matchups this weekend include Kemppainen battling Helena Capital’s Carson DesRosier at 138 and Noah Poe-Hatten getting another shot at Butte’s Mason Christian at 205, with Christian winning their last battle in a dual last week, squaring their series at 1-1.

Among the Flathead girls are three that placed at state last year: Junior Lily McMahon was third, senior Hania Halverson was fourth and sophomore Trinity Boivin was sixth for the Bravettes.

Glacier is taking 23 wrestlers to the boys divisional, led by unbeaten 132-pounder Teegan Vasquez, a junior with a 27-0 record this season and two state titles to his credit.

Two more members of the Wolfpack are ranked — freshman Cody Vergeront at 205 and Royce Conklin (the lone senior) at 170 — and a dozen wrestlers are looking to return to the state meet.

Sophomore Kaleb Shine, 19-8 at 138, has been in and out of the rankings in a tough class that includes DesRosier and Kemppainen.

Likewise Glacier’s girls have just one senior: Audrey Goodsell, is 8-2 at 170. The Pack is taking 14 girls to divisional, including sophomore Emily Padron (21-6) at 120, freshman Brooke Yeadon (18-7) at 103 and juniors Jasmine Cartwright (14-6) and Madisyn Frazier (13-7) at 145.

Glacier Boys

113 — Garrett Bosch (22-14) and Bodie Rohrman (no record)

120 — Connor Johnson (17-14) and Payton Steward (3-2).

126 — Joshua Melton (9-5) and Logan Thomson (3-2).

132 — Teegan Vasquez (27-0) and Jaxson Wolff (no record)

138 — Kaleb Shine (19-8) and Korbin Baldwin (6-5).

145 — Seth Doolan (11-15) and Mark Ahner (8-11).

152 — Sam Nease (1-12) and Walker Janetski-Biggs (2-5).

160 — Grayson Barcus (9-23).

170 — Royce Conklin (17-7) and Jeremy Scott (2-6).

182 — Aiden Krause (17-12) and TJ Gannon (6-7)

205 — Cody Vergeront (10-9) and Aiden Baier (3-7)

285 — Ethan Dimaio (13-12) and Colton Vergeront (2-4).

Glacier Girls

103 — Brooke Yeadon (18-7).

120 — Emily Pedron (21-6).

126 — Temree Payne-Taylor (8-11) and Catie Sistok (2-11).

132 — Jessalyn Hewitt (12-7), Nora Halliday (8-4) and Brady Boll (6-5).

138 — Kadence Rose (10-9) and Avery Anderson (3-8).

145 — Madisyn Frazier (13-7) and Jasmine Cartwright (14-6).

170 — Audry Goodsell (8-2) and Lea Esser (3-8)

285 — Paishance Haller (6-5).

Flathead Boys*

103 — Davin Naldrett (19-7) and Ethan MacDonald (10-5).

113 — Aiden Downing (23-8) and Will Barnes (30-7).

120 — Diesel Thompson (23-13) and Gannon Wisher (24-7).

126 — Dane Lake (24-11) and Walter Hammett (1-0).

132 — Logan Stansberry (20-13) and Raenen Allumbaugh (19-6).

138 — Asher Kemppainen (25-7) and Cade Gardner (22-10).

145 — Fin Nadeau (32-2) and Colton Kuka (22-9).

152 — Cade Troupe (21-7) and Gunnar Thompson (25-6).

160 — Gabe Lake (30-4) and Tynan Krause (19-15).

170 — Anders Thompson (34-4) and Mason Doran (29-5).

182 — Noah Poe-Hatten (32-1) and Sawyer Troupe (25-4).

205 — Chase Youso (30-2) and Xander Winter (26-12)

285 — Forest Howell (25-8) and Austin Shabel (7-5).

*-Some records may include JV matches.

Flathead Girls

103 — Anna Moorrison (2-2), Reina Koehler (5-7) and Sage Hafer (no record).

113 — Skye Shelmerdine (18-9) and Mykel Lee (12-9).

120 — Hania Halverson (24-1), Isabella Arriaga (16-7), Trinity Boivin (8-7) and Dakota Keller (no record).

126 — Lily McMahon (18-5) and Payton Walker (no record).

132 — Lily Conover (16-5), Raimey Hull (7-7), Meadow Smith (no record) and Mackenzie Brandt (no record).

138 — Alexus Cislo (10-9), Alivia Reinhart (17-9), Eliska Tornerova (7-7) and Hannah Buckner (no record).

145 — Emma Gambino (16-5), Bella Shin (3-3), Isabelle Brewer and Mikayla Iten (no records)

152 — McKenna McCarthy (15-6) and Olivia Keller-Pulse (nr).

205 — Lucie Libby (19-6), Alisa Leimkuhler (14-9) and Paige Hermann (6-4).

285 — Boston Howell (13-6), Alliyah Stevens (12-5) and Astoria Beckstrom (nr).