Malta Mustang Wrestling 2015

The Malta Mustangs wrestling team is young this year, but already looking to make it's presence felt.

The team brings back three state performers, including junior Antonio Lopez, who placed fourth at the State B Wrestling Tournament in the 195 pound weight class.

Lopez, this year will wrestle in the 205 class.

"He's a tough competitor," said Coach Ryan LaBrie. "He's just a junior this year but he's been tough on the mat the last couple of years."

It helps that Lopez is one of many Mustangs that have been in the very like-minded Malta junior high program.

"He's been with me through the middle school program and now into the high school program," said Coach LaBrie.

Coach LaBrie also noted that Lopez is a very athletic wrestler, who has refined his technique over the years.

"I look for big things out of him. He's in there wrestling with those big guys, who are top notch, tough kids and he is one of them," he said.

Junior Chase Murray was also a state performer last year.

Unfortunately Murray won't be ready to wrestle until after Christmas break.

"He's likely to be around the 175 pound mark with us," Coach LaBrie said. "He's got a lot of tools and weapons that he's going to use. We're kind of looking forward to seeing him on the mats."

Sophomore Keenan Schipman was the third state placer for Malta last season. He is currently wrestling at 145 pounds, but will look to get done to 138 or 132 as the season progresses.

"He's done a lot of work in the off-season and got a little banged up in the football season, but once we get him back up to his peak he is a competitive wrestler wherever he's at," Coach LaBrie said.

Schipman is starting off in good form. He wrestled at the Havre Invitational, going 2-1 on Friday and 2-3 on Saturday, giving him a sixth place finish.

"He wrestled with us in the National Duels in Florida last summer," Ryan LaBrie said. "He's got all of the knowledge in the world."

Coach LaBrie knows that wherever Schipman wrestles he will again be a state performer and he believes he will even place this year.

Senior Quintan Boos is the team's only 2015 class member, but he is in his first and only stint as a Malta High School grappler.

He impressed at the Havre Invitational last weekend, going 2-2 on Friday and 1-2 on Saturday, taking fifth in the 205 pound class in the tournament.

"Coming out as a senior in an upper-weight class is going to be tough but he's showing a lot of promise on the mat," Coach LaBrie said. "It might take a while to get back to 100 percent of what he does know... But I think he's definitely a kid that's capable of doing that."

Boos has a pretty good advantage of practicing against Lopez and Heavyweight Cody Werk, who he also played football with.

"We've got a pretty strong group of upper-weight athletes," LaBrie said.

Cody Werk has made quite an impression in his first year with the wrestling team as the team's only heavyweight.

"He's one of the biggest guys in the room but what I've seen from him on the football field and the practice room, is the kid can flat move," Coach LaBrie said. "His burst is phenomenal."

The team welcomes five freshmen to the team, including Mark Missildine, Trey Simanton, Ceaton Mears, Kaden Moore and Travis Epperson.

"We're a really young team," said Coach LaBrie.

Though the team is looking forward to all of the young wrestlers, and four of five wrestled in middle school, one freshman brings more experience than most.

"Trey Simanton is a fairly experienced freshman and has been wrestling since he was knee high to a grasshopper. He's well-seasoned as a freshman."

Kaden Moore is a transfer from Arizona, who will be wrestling at 124 pounds. He was 4-2 during the weekend in Havre.

Ceaton Mears wrestled at 132 pounds and went 3-4 at the Havre meet.

Travis Epperson wrestled at 160 in Havre and was 2-4 on the weekend.

Coach LaBrie is excited for his young freshmen class and is optimistic that all will be successful for years to come.

Malta Mustangs Wrestling 2015

DATE OPPONENT

Fri., Dec. 5 Havre Mixer

Sat., Dec. 6 Havre Invitational

Fri., Dec. 12 Chinook Mixer

Sat., Dec. 13 Glasgow Invitational

Fri., Dec. 19 Shepherd Mixer

Sat., Dec. 20 Huntley Project Duals

Sat., Jan. 3 Shelby Mixer

Thurs. Jan. 8 Chester Mixer

Fri. Jan. 9 Cut Bank Invitational

Sat., Jan. 10 Cut Bank Invitational

Thurs. Jan. 15 Big Sandy Mixer

Fri., Jan. 16 Choteau Classic

Sat., Jan. 17 Choteau Classic

Fri. Jan. 23 Chinook Mixer

Sat., Jan. 24 Harlem Invitational

Fri., Jan. 30 Malta Mixer

Sat., Jan. 31 Malta Invitational

Sat., Feb. 7 Divisional Tournament

Feb. 13/14 State Tournament