First-ever girls wrestling divisional starts today
Feb. 2—This week girls wrestling will experience another first — a divisional seeding tournament.
Seeding had previously been done via video chat for the first two seasons of the sport. Last year, that involved a five-hour video meeting.
The Western AA Divisional begins today at the Butte Civic Center, running concurrently with the boys divisional.
"So many unknowns, just based on this formula, not knowing how many they're going to take to state," Flathead coach Jeff Thompson said. "It's going to be interesting to say the least. You just don't know what to expect."
Flathead, the two-time defending state champion, has four 2022 state placers in its arsenal: Trinity Boivin at 120 pounds, Alivia Rinehart at 138, and Lucie Libby and Boston Howell at 235.
The Bravettes also have Bella Downing at 120, who is 20-1 this year, and Skye Shelmerdine, 15-5 at 114 pounds.
Glacier's Brooke Yeadon, who is 12-1 at 107 this season, was second at state last year.
The Wolfpack also has Madisyn Frazier, 15-3 at 152.
"On the girls side, I'm really excited about both our younger and older groups," Glacier coach Ross Dankers said. "Arianna Conklin and returning state finalist Brooke Yeadon have both put together really fantastic years as freshman and sophomore, respectively. "Then, on the other end, we have seniors Madisyn Frasier, Jasmine Cartwright and Jessalyn Hewitt and junior Temree Payne-Taylor who have been solid and consistent for us through the year. I think the divisional tournament will definitely change the dynamic of the state tournament this year, and we're hoping to push a big group into state."
Glacier girls
100 — Katelyn Sphuler (4-11).
107 — Brooke Yeadon (12-1).
114 — Ariana Conklin (16-1) and Kaura Coles (1-0).
120 — Temree Payne-Taylor (10-7).
126 — Jessalyn Hewitt (12-8) and Mikaela Julius (2-2).
132 — Caitie Sistok (5-7).
145 — Jasmine Cartwright (8-3) and Sandra Abramson (1-4).
152 — Madisyn Frazier (15-3) and Alli Buls (1-5).
165 — Kelsey Bryant (1-12).
185 — Leah Esser (6-4).
Flathead girls
100 — Reina Koehler (13-8)
107 — Mykel Lee (10-8) and Brinly Youso (6-3).
114 — Skye Shelmerdine (15-5) and Adi Siegel (11-11).
120 — Bella Downing (20-1) and Trinity Boivin (10-5).
126 — Peyton Walker (17-10) and Kiera Lackey (7-10).
132 — McKenna McCarthy (4-7) and Autumn Thompson (6-10).
138 — Alivia Rinehart (16-8) and Audrey Kushner (5-7).
145 — Isabelle Brewer (6-10) and Eliska Tornerova (1-8).
152 — Bridget Smith (5-10) and Reese Conley (3-7).
165 — Ava Griswold (9-10).
235 — Lucie Libby (9-3) and Boston Howell (6-3).
