Flathead outpins Big Sky

Flathead’s Tanner Russell avenged an early-season loss and Zaybin Stewart put a finishing pin on his opponent to cap the Brave Brawlers’ 39-24 dual win over Missoula Big Sky Wednesday at Flathead High School.

It was a tight dual that included a narrow 2-0 decision by Russell over Big Sky’s Bridger Hall at 170 pounds, and a 4-1 decision by Fin Nadeau over Trevin Welzien at 145.

Dylan Kratofil (103) also won by decision, while Cade Troupe (126), Brendan Barnes (138) and Stewart (205) supplied pins, with Stewart’s victory in 1 minute, 20 seconds igniting the home crowd.

“Big Sky just got done winning the prestigious CMR Holiday Tournament over Christmas,” Flathead coach Jeff Thompson said. “Taht is a good wrestling team right there.

“When you flip two matches that we lost last time we wrestled them (Russell and Nadeau), it just shows how much this Braves team has improved.”

Flathead improved to 16-2 in duals ahead of hosting cross-town rival Glacier Friday.

Flathead 39, Missoula Big Sky 24

103 — Dylan Kratofil, Flathead, dec. Mckaylah Youngblood, MBS, 7-0; 113 — Cade Gardner, Flathead, won by default; 120 — Israel Moreno, BS, pinned Nolan Cate, Flathead, 5:12; 126 — Cade Troupe, Flathead, pinned Isaac Ayers, MBS, 5:59; 132 — Asher Kemppainen, Flathead, won by default; 138 — Brendan Barnes, Flathead, pinned Carter Johnson, MBS, 1:40; 145 — Fin Nadeu, Flathead, dec. Trevin Welzien, MBS, 4-1; 152 — Hunter Meinzen, MBS, dec. Noah Poe-Hatten, Flathead, 10-4; 160 — Dougie Swanson, MBS, pinned Chase Youso, Flathead, 1:29; 170 — Tanner Russell, Flathead, dec. Bridger Hall, MBS, 2-0; 182 — Jeff Rebisch, MBS, dec. Garett Rieke, Flathead, 9-4; 205 ­— Zaybin Stewart, Flathead, pinned Vito Moriana, MBS, 1:20; 285 — Tommy Leonard, MBS, pinned Aydan Prieto, Flathead, 1:26.