Cats win Eureka tourney, fall to Libby in dual

The Columbia Falls wrestling team took team honors at the Buzz Lucey Memorial Tournament in Eureka, with four grapplers taking first-place finishes.

The Wildcats scored 180 points to Eureka's 133 in the Dec. 17 tourney. Libby took third with 133 points.

Cody Hader (125), Colton Gove (130), Kohl Thompson (152) and Jacob Babcock (215) all won their weight classes. Babcock got his first tourney victory.

"The kids wrestled well, wrestled hard," coach Jesse Schaeffer said. "It was a nice confidence boost."

The team was edged by the Loggers, 37-33, in a dual in Libby on Dec. 15.

The match of the evening was between Marcus Ross and Austin Bailey at 189 pounds. Ross was down 16-7 and Bailey nearly pinned him at one point, but Ross turned the tide and pinned Bailey at the 4:43 mark for the victory.

"Ross kept on wrestling. He got Bailey on his back and kept us in the dual," Schaeffer said. "It was fun to watch."

The coach said the team will practice through Christmas break, even with a few two-a-days.

"There's no time to rest," he said. "We've got to get ready for the second half of the season and pick it up."

The Cats face Whitefish away Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m. and then travel to the Ronan tourney Jan. 6 and 7.