Malta Brings in Five Seniors This Season

The Malta Wrestling Team welcomes back a team with plenty of experience. Five of ten of this year's team are a part of the senior class.

"They are looking tough and working hard against each other," Malta Head Coach Jake French said of the senior class. "They know that it is the beginning of the season and now we are working on technique. I told the team to believe in the process, and in December, it's all about learning. January is where you gain confidence and put the learning to action and February is where we kick (butt)."

That senior class includes Camryn Mears, who was a second place finisher in the 182-pound class in the 2022 State B Tournament.

"I think he is feeling pretty good," Coach French said. "He is not having to cut any weight for 182. He is all muscled up and ripped. He gives us coaches a go in the room. We have to make sure that we are in shape, so that we can make him better."

Coach French said that Mears is where he needs to be as far as muscle growth. He said that the offseason is when you build muscle and that the season is when you aim to keep it.

Mears has started the season with a 9-2 record which includes a second place finish in the 182-pound weight class at the 27th Annual Scottie Invitational last weekend in Glasgow. Mears lost his championship match against Chinook's Tyler Schoen.

Fellow senior Spencer Gibbs (11-0) has been racking up wins early this season, the latest being a championship win over Cut Bank's Jacob Hjartarson in the 205 pound weight class.

"For him to come out and dominate like he did, he is enjoying it," Coach French said. "He is way more mature. He has bigger muscles and a lot more knowledge of the sport of wrestling. If he keeps moving forward and keeps trying to improve, I think that there are good things in his future."

Malta was seventh overall at the Scottie Invitational last weekend in Glasgow.

Freshman Straud Sims took fourth place in the 132-pound weight class and sophomore Kohner Schipman was seventh in the 138 pound class. Sophomore Colton Mears also wrestled, picking up four points for Malta, but he did not score.

For the first time in a long time, Malta has a couple of girls wrestlers. Ava Hanson, a sophomore, took third place in the 165 pound weight class thanks to a consolation finals win over Harlem's Ihte Stiffarm. Hanson won by pinfall at 1:45.

Senior Isabel Hansen placed fifth in the 126 weight class and scored a total of 11 points.

The Mustangs hosted a mixer at the Malta High School gymnasium last Thursday night against the Fairfield Wrestling Team. Malta went 6-2 at the event.

"We saw some good things," Coach French said. "We also saw some things that we need to work on, as always."

Coach French said that weight-wise the teams didn't match up well but things went good considering. A couple of the younger wrestlers wrestled twice.

"We are battling sickness and that is going around this time of year, so for them to fight hard and show a good show for the Malta crowd, I am pretty happy with that."

Malta also welcomes back seniors Tye Jones and Colton Honey, and sophomore Taylin Johannesen.

Malta will not host another high school wrestling event until the final week of the regular season. The Malta Mixer is scheduled for Friday, January 27, at 5 p.m. The Malta Mixer will also serve as the team's Senior Night. Malta will host their annual Malta Athletic Club Tournament on Saturday, January 28, at 9:30 a.m.

Coach French was asked if the team was looking forward to any tournament in particular and he said the CMR Classic in Great Falls.

"That's a big one because it is an All-Class event," Coach French said. "The Miles City Cowboy Invitational is another All-Class. The Malta tournament, then divisionals and then state. It all builds and gets better. The competition gets tougher and that gets us ready for state."