GF Tribune Preview of 2009 TOC

February 21, 2009

Winners aplenty in town for inaugural T of C

By SCOTT MANSCH Tribune Asst. Sports Editor
Only those who have found consistent success on the mat will be in the spotlight today at the inaugural Tournament of Championships at Swarthout Fieldhouse.
But the real winners are wrestling fans throughout central Montana and beyond.
"We believe this will be rewarding for the wrestlers and coaches," said Drew Blewett, whose family and law firm are sponsoring the event. "It should be great for fans to watch some high-quality wrestling here in Great Falls."
The action begins this morning at 10:30 with introductions. The semifinals start at 11, with the championship finals slated to start about 1:30 this afternoon. Tickets priced at $10 will be available at the door.
Today marks the fruition of a project that's been planned for months, a venture to attract champions from all three of Montana's high school classifications in a tournament to determine champions of champions at each of the 15 weight classes. The law firm of Hoyt, Blewett PLLC is providing free lodging for coaches and wrestlers, plus considerable mileage compensation for the athletes.
But there's no free pass in any of the weight classes.
"It'll be hard," said heavyweight Ethan Tweet of Fort Benton, one of the many champs will be test their abilities today. "It should be all-around good competition."
Of the 45 first-place winners from last weekend's 21st All-Class Championships in Billings, 23 have agreed to compete. Five former champions are also entered. The winners come from all corners of Montana, including the teams that emerged on top last weekend — Kalispell Flathead, Havre and Glasgow.
In addition, athletes from Great Falls High and Billings Skyview will extend their rich rivalry.
And in the case of Tweet, old acquaintances may well be renewed. Tweet, a three-time Class B-C state champion who has signed to play football for the Montana Grizzlies, could be headed today for a heavyweight showdown against Helena High star Toby Erickson.
Erickson, a two-time Class AA champion who will wrestle next season at Boise State, is unbeaten this season.
"We're really good friends," said Tweet. "He's a hard worker and a great kid who really loves the sport."
Forgive them, though, if this afternoon there are no pleasantries exchanged during what promises to be a battle of bears at Swarthout.
Tweet was asked about the concept of an additional tournament following the climax of the All-Class Championships.
"I knew if I won a state title I was going to try it," he said of the T of C. "There's nothing to lose, really."
Of course, none of these fellows is accustomed to losing. So doesn't the prospect of more top-notch competition the week after the state champions have been determined represent some pressure?
"Sure, there's some pressure to do good," said Tweet. "But it's kind of fun, too. Just to see who's the best of the best ... I'll be watching everybody. It should be exciting."
Brothers Cole and Dylan Mendenhall of Great Falls High will compete at 98 and 105 pounds, respectively. Bison teammates Zach Wichman (189) and Matt Cable (215) will also wrestle.
Among the reigning state champions entered are AA's Clay Cathey of Skyview (105), David Demo (119) and Marshall Carpenter (135) of Bozeman, and Shawn Lau of Flathead (130).
From A, the champs are Kylan Zumph (119) and Casey Makor (130) of Miles City, Myles Mazurkiewicz (135), Kent Pattison (140) and Mitch Schnittgen (Hwt) of Havre, Tucker Taylor (152) of Belgrade, Brock Picard (171) of Polson and Brady Anderson (189) of Hamilton.
And from B-C, the champions include Luke Schlosser (98) of Conrad, Jake Rauser (105) and Britton Thompson (145) of Townsend, Luke Zeiger (112), Myles Kittleson (189) and Chance Rauscher (215) of Glasgow, Jake Trujillo (119) of Arlee, Sam Brown (140) of Colstrip and Tweet.
In addition, the former state champs who will wrestle include Tyler Stedman (112) of Frenchtown, Val Rauser (112) of Townsend, Brice Gretch (130) of Skyview and Tanner Beaman (135) of Flathead.
Among the weights to watch are 112, where Zeiger, Val Rauser and Stedman lead a talented group, and 135, where Mazurkiewicz, Carpenter and Beaman headline a division that's too close to call.
Truthfully, though, the entire day should be memorable for wrestling fans in this town. Because it's one last chance to see some mat action this season.
For athletes such as Tweet, who will trade in his singlet for shoulder pads pretty soon, it's one last hurrah for an exceptional wrestling career.
"I've thought about that," he said. "I'm happy it's done with, but then again I'm sad. Because I'll miss it."
Tournament of Champions
Seeded wrestlers
98—1. Cole Mendenhall, Great Falls High; 2. Luke Schlosser, Conrad; 3. Nik Hinebauch, Billings Skyview; 4. Holden Gagner, Missoula Hellgate
105—1. Jade Rauser, Townsend; 2. Clay Cathey, Billings Skyview; 3. Dylan Mendenhall, Great Falls High; 4. Duel Stadel, Havre
112—1. Luke Zeiger, Glasgow; 2. Val Rauser, Townsend; 3. Tyler Stedman, Frenchtown; 4. Sam Shelton, Billings Skyview; 5. Cliff Evans, Missoula Sentinel; 6. Riley Berry, Bozeman
119—1. Kylan Zumpf, Miles City; 2. David Demo, Bozeman; 3. Jake Trujillo, Arlee; 4. Alejandro Calderon, Kalispell Flathead
125—1. Joaquin Calderon, Kalispell Flathead; 2. Seth Snyder, Huntley Project; 3. Niko Guymon, Helena High
130—1. Shawn Lau, Kalispell Flathead; 2. Casey Makor, Miles City; 3. Brice Gretch, Billings Skyview; 4. Kyle Taranto, Bozeman; 5. Cole Rice, Arlee
135—1. Myles Mazurkewicz, Havre; 2. Marshall Carpenter, Bozeman; 3. Tanner Beaman, Kalispell Flathead
140—1. Kent Pattison, Havre; 2. Sam Brown, Colstrip; 3. Brad Nordahl, Frenchtown; 4. Jeremiah Hayes, Shelby
145—1. Britton Thompson, Townsend; 2. Cole Schram, Belgrade; 3. Tyler Elm, Billings Skyview
152—1. Tucker Taylor, Belgrade; 2. Connor Malone, Lewistown; 3. Larry Francis, Kalispell Glacier; 4. Lucas Knight, Huntley Project; 5. Casey Schaub, Havre
160—1. Jordan Malarchik, Belgrade; 2. Brady Decock, Huntley Project; 3. Josh Hamilton, Missoula Sentinel; 4. Chaz Hopstad, Glasgow
171—1. Brock Picard, Polson; 2. Seth Wright, Libby
189—1. Myles Kittleson, Glasgow; 2. Brady Anderson, Hamilton; 3. Zach Wichman, Great Falls High; 4. Phillip Prickett, Belgrade; 5. Craig Ashworth, Florence
215—1. Chance Rauscher, Glasgow; 2. Kelly Houle, Columbia Falls; 3. Parker Miller, Glasgow; 4. Matt Cable, Great Falls High
Hwt—1. Toby Erickson, Helena High; 2. Ethan Tweet, Fort Benton; 3. Mitch Schnittgen, Havre; 4. Colton Hill, Glasgow