On the bleachers

If you're looking for some winter sports this weekend, head on over to the Polson middle school gymnasium for the Polson Invitational wrestling tournament. The Lake County teams competing will be Polson and Mission-Charlo. Here's the writeup from the Daily Interlake...

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BY DIXIE KNUTSON, The Daily Interlake

It’s been a couple of weeks since high school wrestling practice started and it wouldn’t be out of turn to say most coaches are ready to have their athletes stop matching up against one another and get out on the mat in real competition.

They’re getting their wish on Saturday with the 34th edition of the Polson Invitational at Polson Middle School.

The tournament begins at 9:30 a.m. with third-fourth place matches slated for 5:15 p.m. The championship finals will follow directly after — at around 6:45 to 7 p.m.

Teams that will be at the tournament this weekend are Polson, Flathead, Glacier, Missoula Sentinel, Hamilton, Corvallis, Frenchtown, St. Ignatius-Charlo, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Superior, Thompson Falls and Eureka.

“I’m excited. I’m really itching to get going and I think the kids are, too,” said Glacier coach Mark Fischer.

“I think they’re ready for a little competition. This will be a good tournament. It’s just a great way to start the season. We get to see kids we won’t for the rest of the year. That makes it a solid tournament to start off with, I think,” he said.

“Some of those Class A schools will be strong, just like they always have,” Fischer said.

Both Fischer and Polson coach Bob Owen point to five-time defending Class AA champion Flathead — already ranked 40th in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News — as the team to beat on Saturday.

But Flathead coach Matt Owen pointed out that Glacier finished ahead of the Braves at this tournament last year.

“And we barely squeaked it out the year before,” he added.

“I really think Glacier will have a great team this year. Sentinel will be very competitive and I know Polson has a lot of great individuals. Frenchtown always has some tough kids. It’s a good tournament, definitely no slouch,” Matt Owen said.

“I’m excited to just get the season going. We’ll see a lot of great competition down there. It’s a perfect tournament to get things started,” he added. most coaches are ready to have their athletes stop matching up against one another and get out on the mat in real competition.

They're getting their wish on Saturday with the 34th edition of the Polson Invitational at Polson Middle School.

The tournament begins at 9:30 a.m. with third-fourth place matches slated for 5:15 p.m. The championship finals will follow directly after - at around 6:45 to 7 p.m.

Teams that will be at the tournament this weekend are Polson, Flathead, Glacier, Missoula Sentinel, Hamilton, Corvallis, Frenchtown, St. Ignatius-Charlo, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Superior, Thompson Falls and Eureka.

"I'm excited. I'm really itching to get going and I think the kids are, too," said Glacier coach Mark Fischer.

"I think they're ready for a little competition. This will be a good tournament. It's just a great way to start the season. We get to see kids we won't for the rest of the year. That makes it a solid tournament to start off with, I think," he said.

"Some of those Class A schools will be strong, just like they always have," Fischer said.

Both Fischer and Polson coach Bob Owen point to five-time defending Class AA champion Flathead - already ranked 40th in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News - as the team to beat on Saturday.

But Flathead coach Matt Owen pointed out that Glacier finished ahead of the Braves at this tournament last year.

"And we barely squeaked it out the year before," he added.

"I really think Glacier will have a great team this year. Sentinel will be very competitive and I know Polson has a lot of great individuals. Frenchtown always has some tough kids. It's a good tournament, definitely no slouch," Matt Owen said.

"I'm excited to just get the season going. We'll see a lot of great competition down there. It's a perfect tournament to get things started," he added.

"I think it's good competition because some of the better Class A schools are in it. It's good variety for those AA schools to get some teams from other classes. All the schools have at least one or two pretty decent kids," Bob Owen agreed.

As for the Pirates, "it's good for us. It's a great measuring stick to see where you are at. We don't put a lot of pressure on the kids in this first competition," Bob Owen said.

“I think it’s good competition because some of the better Class A schools are in it. It’s good variety for those AA schools to get some teams from other classes. All the schools have at least one or two pretty decent kids,” Bob Owen agreed.

As for the Pirates, “it’s good for us. It’s a great measuring stick to see where you are at. We don’t put a lot of pressure on the kids in this first competition,” Bob Owen said.