Malta Mustang Wrestling 2015

The Malta-Whitewater Wrestling team placed twelfth at the 2015 State B Wrestling Tournament in Billings. With two wrestlers placing in that competition and seven performing – all of which are returning - Coach Ryan LaBrie has a lot of reason to be optimistic.

"With the kids we've got, once we work the kinks out they should be a pretty salty bunch," Coach Ryan LaBrie said. "They're a bunch of kids that work hard and they'll do some good things. I'm kind of excited for this year and looking forward to it."

Overall the team has 13 wrestlers, 10 of which are returning from last season.

The senior class is headlined by Antonio Lopez, who took fourth place in the 205 pound weight class. He's placed fourth the last two years at state.

"He's a legitimate contender for a place on the podium," Coach LaBrie said. "He'll be in the 205 pound class and will probably be comfortable there all year long."

Senior Derek Peigneux also had a solid season last year and is set to wrestling at either 152 or 160 this year.

Senior Jordan Pierce missed the 2014-15 season with a football related injury, but he is back and set to wrestle in the 182 pound class.

"He's a pretty solid kid and a good wrestler all around," Coach LaBrie said. "I'm looking to see great things out of him, even after a year off. I expect him to be pretty dominant on the mat – just from his experience and ability to be a contender."

Senior Chase Murray rounds out the class, but he is battling a shoulder injury that could keep him out most of the season. Murray was a state performer and his absence from competition will hurt Malta as they compete for a team trophy.

"We're missing Chase Murray, he would be a returning senior but he's nursing a football injury, so it doesn't sound like we will have him on the mat for a while, if at all this year," Coach LaBrie said.

The junior class brings back Keenan Schipman who wrestled valiantly at the 2015 State B Tourney. Schipman is back, hoping to place in the 132 pound weight class after pinning Havre's Logan Pleninger in 39 seconds.

"He had a good year overall," Coach LaBrie said. "He's been one of the leaders on our team. I'm looking for good things out of Keenan."

Kolbe Murray is another returning wrestler; however injury may keep him off the mat for a week or two.

Sophomore Trey Simanton had a solid freshmen season, finishing third at state in the 132 pound class. Simanton has already started this season strong taking home first place at the Havre Invitational last Saturday.

The sophomore class featured three other state wrestlers that included Kaden Moore in the 132 pound class, Ceaton Mears at 138 and Mark Missildine in the 120 pound class.

Wrestling at the same weight, Simanton and Moore will help each other get stronger on the mat, a perk which worked out last season.

"They'll be easy on each other during practice and then they'll be able to beat everybody else up on the weekends," Coach LaBrie said. "I'll be looking forward to that. As the season goes on, we might be able to split them up a little bit for dual tournaments."

Fellow sophomore Travis Epperson is another returning wrestler that wrestled well last season at 160.

The team also welcomes new coming freshmen Kolter Schipman, who will wrestle at 126 and Andres Lopez who will wrestle in the 142-152 pound range.

"I think we will probably finish in the top ten this year," Coach LaBrie said. "For the most part they've performed well last year."