Four Grapplers Earn First Place in first High School Meet of the Season

The Malta Wrestling teams saw success in the opening weekend of their wrestling season at the Havre Invitational and Mixer Events.

On Saturday, December 7, a total of four Malta wrestlers including senior Ava Hanson (Girls 170), junior Straud Sims (Boys 165), junior Sommer Green (Girls 190), and sophomore Kenan LaBrie (Boys 190).

Hanson, a state placer from last season, won the Girls 170 bracket by pinning Cut Bank's Harley Fetters in the third round of the Championship match. The match was selected as Malta's Match of the Week, but not because it was a championship match, it was because of her effort, which led her to overcome a mistake that she made.

"She was winning by a comfortable amount and she was on top and she drooped her head and the other girl reached back and put her in the head and arm," Coach Steve French said. "So it was pretty tight and Ava fought off. She didn't just let the time run out. She actually got off her back, which is not very fun.

"We were really proud of the fact that she didn't get pinned, fought back and got the win," Coach French continued.

The quick-pin went to senior Jonah Bucks, who took third place in the boys 126 class by pinning Butte Central's Brennan Lester in 20 seconds during the third place match.

Junior Shaylee Hines was named Malta's Wrestler of the Week.

"She didn't get first place, but her performance was such a huge contrast to what we have seen from last year," Coach French said. Such an improvement. Wrestling has neutral, top, and bottom and we felt that she has really improved in all three phases."

The team was without Kohner "Chaka" Schipman and Trooper Stiles, two placers for state last season. They were also without Landon Retan. Those mentioned are healing from injuries sustained during the football season.

Complete Match Results for Malta Wrestling.

Boys 126: Alex Martain's place is 5th and has scored 5.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Jonah Bucks (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Alex Martain (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 0:45) Cons. Round 1 - Alex Martain (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Cons. Semi - Brennan Lester (Butte Central) won by fall over Alex Martain (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 0:50) 5th Place Match - Alex Martain (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye)

Boys 126: Jonah Bucks's place is 3rd and has scored 16.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Jonah Bucks (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Alex Martain (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 0:45) Semifinal - Kellan Cassidy (Cut Bank) won by fall over Jonah Bucks (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 1:09) Cons. Semi - Jonah Bucks (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) 3rd Place Match - Jonah Bucks (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Brennan Lester (Butte Central) (Fall 0:20)

Boys 138: Silas Young's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Mason Austin (Fergus - Lewistown) won by major decision over Silas Young (Malta / Whitewater) (Maj 9-1) Cons. Round 1 - Silas Young (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Cons. Round 2 - Jack Gillen (Fergus - Lewistown) won by fall over Silas Young (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 1:01)

Boys 138: Lane Spencer's place is 2nd and has scored 22.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Lane Spencer (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Quarterfinal - Lane Spencer (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Jack Gillen (Fergus - Lewistown) (Fall 4:44) Semifinal - Lane Spencer (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Isaiah Otto (Havre) (Fall 1:08) 1st Place Match - Matt Lemer (Havre) won by major decision over Lane Spencer (Malta / Whitewater) (Maj 11-2)

Boys 144: Karson Kelsey's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Karson Kelsey (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Quarterfinal - James Holmes (Butte Central) won by fall over Karson Kelsey (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 0:28) Cons. Round 2 - Karson Kelsey (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Cons. Round 3 - Steeler Blunt (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Karson Kelsey (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 1:44)

Boys 144: Steeler Blunt's place is 6th and has scored 9.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Steeler Blunt (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Quarterfinal - Stockton Stroh (Fergus - Lewistown) won by decision over Steeler Blunt (Malta / Whitewater) (Dec 9-3) Cons. Round 2 - Steeler Blunt (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Ezekiel Sanders (Chinook) (Fall 1:45) Cons. Round 3 - Steeler Blunt (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Karson Kelsey (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 1:44) Cons. Semi - Ray Dagel (Cut Bank) won by tech fall over Steeler Blunt (Malta / Whitewater) (TF 18-3) 5th Place Match - Kegan Green (Chinook) won by decision over Steeler Blunt (Malta / Whitewater) (Dec 6-2)

Boys 157: Lane Salveson's place is 5th and has scored 7.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Tyler Raines (Cut Bank) won by fall over Lane Salveson (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 1:39) Cons. Round 1 - Lane Salveson (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye)

Cons. Semi - Griffen Crowley (Chinook) won by fall over Lane Salveson (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 2:21) 5th Place Match - Lane Salveson (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Gage Wilson (Havre) (Fall 2:21)

Boys 165: Straud Sims's place is 1st and has scored 24.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Straud Sims (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Semifinal - Straud Sims (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Urijah Davis (Havre) (Fall 1:01) 1st Place Match - Straud Sims (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Zac Chinn (Fergus - Lewistown) (Fall 1:26)

Boys 190: Kayden Green's place is 5th and has scored 5.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Tyson Clark (Fergus - Lewistown) won by fall over Kayden Green (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 0:51) Cons. Round 1 - Kayden Green (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Cons. Semi - Hunter Wichman (Fergus - Lewistown) won by fall over Kayden Green (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 3:32) 5th Place Match - Kayden Green (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye)

Boys 190: Kenan Labrie's place is 1st and has scored 24.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Kenan Labrie (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Semifinal - Kenan Labrie (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Hunter Wichman (Fergus - Lewistown) (Fall 0:30) 1st Place Match - Kenan Labrie (Malta / Whitewater) won by injury default over Pierce Caplette (Havre) (Inj. 3:24)

Boys 215: Skylar Gilkerson's place is 4th and has scored 14.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Skylar Gilkerson (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Bentley Boucher (Havre) (Fall 2:40) Semifinal - Jack Pallett (Fergus - Lewistown) won by fall over Skylar Gilkerson (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 3:00) Cons. Semi - Skylar Gilkerson (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Burton D`Hooge (Fergus - Lewistown) (Fall 0:44) 3rd Place Match - Gage Chapman (Havre) won by fall over Skylar Gilkerson (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 0:55)

Boys 285: Zander Fuller's place is 4th and has scored 13.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Brandon Healy (Havre) won by fall over Zander Fuller (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 1:33) Cons. Round 1 - Zander Fuller (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Trevor Knowles (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 1:02) Cons. Semi - Zander Fuller (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Jonathan Cox (Butte Central) (Fall 0:29) 3rd Place Match - Ethan Boucher (Havre) won by fall over Zander Fuller (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 0:42)

Boys 285: Michael Love's place is 5th and has scored 10.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Noah Calerich (Cut Bank) won by fall over Michael Love (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 0:52) Cons. Round 1 - Michael Love (Malta / Whitewater) won by forfeit over Coye Chagnon (Havre) (FF) Cons. Semi - Ethan Boucher (Havre) won by fall over Michael Love (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 3:34) 5th Place Match - Michael Love (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Jonathan Cox (Butte Central) (Fall 0:28)

Boys 285: Trevor Knowles's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Ethan Boucher (Havre) won by fall over Trevor Knowles (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 1:16) Cons. Round 1 - Zander Fuller (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Trevor Knowles (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 1:02)

Girls 135: Carly Mears's place is 3rd and has scored 9.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Carly Mears (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Semifinal - Camryn Fiscus (Fergus - Lewistown) won by fall over Carly Mears (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 1:57) Cons. Semi - Carly Mears (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) 3rd Place Match - Carly Mears (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye)

Girls 155: Shaylee Hines's place is 3rd and has scored 12.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Shaylee Hines (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Semifinal - Paloma Padilla (Havre) won by decision over Shaylee Hines (Malta / Whitewater) (Dec 6-5) Cons. Semi - Shaylee Hines (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) 3rd Place Match - Shaylee Hines (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Olivia Allestad (Havre) (Fall 3:20)

Girls 170: Ava Hanson's place is 1st and has scored 24.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Ava Hanson (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Semifinal - Ava Hanson (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Jazmyn Werk (Havre) (Fall 1:53) 1st Place Match - Ava Hanson (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Harley Fetters (Cut Bank) (Fall 0:00)

Girls 190: Sommer Green's place is 1st and has scored 22.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Sommer Green (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Semifinal - Sommer Green (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) 1st Place Match - Sommer Green (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Amelia Johannesen (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 0:43)

Girls 190: Amelia Johannesen's place is 2nd and has scored 12.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Amelia Johannesen (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) Semifinal - Amelia Johannesen (Malta / Whitewater) received a bye (Bye) 1st Place Match - Sommer Green (Malta / Whitewater) won by fall over Amelia Johannesen (Malta / Whitewater) (Fall 0:43)