by Thomas Spencer
With nearly 30 schools from four states gathering at Sentinel High School for the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic, there was plenty of competition for Corvallis’ and Hamilton’s wrestling teams to contend with. Flathead took the tournament with 314.5 points, Corvallis came in 17th with 55 points, and Hamilton was 20th with 45 just behind Spokane’s East Valley High at 46.5 points. Corvallis’ Jason Davis, wrestling at 138 lbs., placed 8th in that weight class. Bodee Davis placed 6th in the 152 weight class.
Hamilton’s Jesse Anson placed 4th in the 132 weight class, just missing 3rd place which went to Asher Kemppainen from Flathead. But, overall, Anson wrestled well as his coach Coltin Cox explained. Jesse had “great positioning” and he was, “good on his feet and hard to keep on the mat.” Cox, considering ways to improve Anson’s future matches, commented, “We need to get a little better on top, looking for tilts and quick back points to get further leads in matches.”
This tournament hosts many athletes from all over the West, however, in Montana’s Western A division Anson is ranked number 1 for his weight class.
Commenting on the second day of competition, Cox said, “The finals were well up to expectations, as there were some well decorated and highly skilled wrestlers there.” This is where Anson’s teammate Cadogan Wheat, wrestling in the 205 lb. weight class, found Superior’s Carter Woodson. Wheat had “great defense and good top moves.” Coach Cox said that Wheat, “needs to pick up some speed, and get off from bottom faster to score more points.”
With the new coaching staff and some revitalized energy, Hamilton is restarting its Little Guy program that was shut down from COVID in 2020. Cox is hopeful, “to grow the program in the community.” He is optimistic about the positive impact the burgeoning program can bring to the school. “We want to build our community awareness, get more people involved in the sport, and more fans in the stands cheering on our wrestlers!”
Wrestlers who were knocked out of the running on Friday got to compete at a smaller tournament at Big Sky High School on Saturday where Stevevensville wrestlers did well. Gunnar Larson, William Chiavarini, Jeffery Berryman, and Mathew Liedtka all claimed 1st places. Elliott Darnall and Aaron Springer finished 2nd. Zachary Sannar got 3rd, Gabe Rasmussen and Ty Thompson got 4th.