Folsom sparks MatCats

Josh Folsom was on his back and in big trouble in the second round of his match against Libby Logger Austin Bailey. Bailey was just an inch or so away from pinning Folsom and giving the Loggers a tremendous amount of emotional momentum in their dual last Tuesday.

But Folsom squirmed and wormed and before you could say six points he had Bailey on his back and wham! The referee’s hand slapped the mat and Folsom pinned Bailey.

The crowd went nuts.

The MatCats got a big boost from that comeback and went onto beat the Loggers 52-22. Libby gave up four forfeits and the Cats gave up one. Head-to-head the Cats still held the edge, 28-16, boosted not just by Folsom’s pin, but by pins from Sal Baccaro at 119 pounds and Adam Richardson at 130 pounds.

Richardson’s pin took some work. He had opponent Skylar Higareda dead to rights twice in the match, once the first round and again in the second. But just as the pin looked like it was assured, time ran out.

The Cats also had a gutsy performance from 189-pounder Marcus Ross. Ross built a 6-3 lead against Gunner Moe and hung on to get the win 6-5 after Moe scored a take down in the last round.

Justin Whitman continued his winning ways. The 125-pounder won a technical match against a speedy Mitch Haugan, 6-3. Freshman Bryan Shaffer also looked impressive. The 145-pounder edged Aundre Condit 4-2.

Even in matches the Cats didn’t win, they showed improvement. Kohl Thompson lost to Kyle Lier, but the 140-pounder never stopped battling and had an impressive takedown in the last round that brought a cheer from the home crowd.

MatCats Coach Jessie Schaeffer liked what he saw.

“They stepped up to the plate and wrestled well,” he said. “We only gave up one fall.”

Particularly impressive was Folsom’s win.

“It was just heart,” Schaeffer said. “He dug down deeper. I don’t know how he came out of it.”

Columbia Falls 52, Libby 22

98: Harland Jordan (CF) won by forfeit; 105:Isaac King (L) won by forfeit; 112: Seth McCall (CF) won by forfeit; 119: Sal Baccaro (CF) p. Aaron Seefeldt, 3:23; 125: Justin Whitman (CF) dec. Mitch Haugan, 7-3; 130:Adam Richardson (CF) p. Skylar Higareda, 5:27; 135: Devin Williams (L) dec. Cody Hader, 6-4; 140: Kyle Lier (L) dec. Kohl Thompson, 9-13; 145: Bryan Schaffer (CF) dec. Aundre Condit, 4-2; 152: Robin Keys (L) maj. dec. Jason Williams, 10-2; 160: Dylan Berget (L) p. Mark Hader, 2:55; 171: Josh Folsom (CF) p. Austin Bailey, 3:19; 189: Marcus Ross (CF) dec. Gunner Moe, 6-5; 215 Jacob Babcock (CF) won by forfeit; Hwt: Cody Bartos (CF) won by forfeit.