The Jefferson High School Panthers wrestling team went to Great Falls to compete in the CMR Holiday Classic Tournament on Dec. 14 and 15. The tournament had 54 teams entered, used 64-man brackets and was an all-class competition with many of the best teams from Class AA, A and BC present.
Because this was a varsity-only event, the Panthers entered only six wrestlers: Leo Anderson at 103 pounds, Christian Davis at 113 pounds, Cody St. Clair at 120 pounds, Eli Reed at 138 pounds, Braeden Jones at 145 pounds and Drake Schake at 182 pounds. Sickness and injuries having taken a toll on the Panthers squad, they were competing very short-handed.
In the first round only St. Clair and Reed had a match and St. Clair won by pin. In the second round St. Clair, Jones and Schake all advanced by pin. In the third round only St. Clair won on the championship side of the bracket, while Davis won in the consolation bracket. The next round found St. Clair winning by pin while Davis won in the consolations. The final round of the day saw St. Clair being defeated and sent down into the consolation bracket while his teammates were all eliminated. By reaching the quarterfinals St. Clair advanced into the second day of competition — the only Panthers wrestler to do so.
The Jefferson wrestlers finished the first day of competition with 27 team points and in 33rd place out of 54 teams.
Saturday, St. Clair was defeated and had to settle for a likely top-12 finish, as awards were given only to the top eight in this tournament and he was one of four wrestlers eliminated at the same time. The Panthers finished the tourney in 39th place out of 54 teams.
The wrestlers eliminated Friday, plus some extra Jefferson High competitors, were entered into a tourney on Saturday at Great Falls High School. Wrestling were Anderson and Dominick Davis at 103 pounds, Christian Davis at 113 pounds, Michael Mitchell at 120 pounds, Eric Lufkin at 126 pounds, Gracie Olds at 132 pounds, Reed and Clara Lufkin at 138 pounds, Jones at 145 pounds, Schake at 182 pounds, John Quackenbush at 205 pounds and Grant Gensmer at 285 pounds.
No team scores were kept. Several Panthers stood on the awards podium at day’s end. Placing for Jefferson were Anderson in first, Reed in second, Lufkin in fourth, the Davis brothers in fifth and Schake in first at 182 pounds.
This trip was a great experience for us. We wrestled against the best and competed well. Hopefully we can get more wrestlers competing this next week, as several are out of the line-up right now.
St. Clair was selected by his coaches as the JHS Panthers Wrestler of the week for the CMR Tournament. He advanced further than any other teammate and had a top-12 finish in a major tourney.
Reed was selected by his coaches as the JHS Panthers Wrestler of the week for the Great Falls High Tournament. He beat some very tough competition and found himself a spot on the awards podium by reaching the finals.
Dominick Davis had the quick pin of the weekend for the Panthers when he pinned his opponent in 14 seconds Saturday.
The Panthers next wrestle at a mixer at Manhattan on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m., their last action before the Christmas break.
