Malta Wrestling Club at State AAU; Squires wins gold!

The Malta Wrestling Club boys and girls wrestling teams competed in the 2022 State AAU Wrestling Tournament this weekend at the Rimrock Arena in Billings, and several athletes placed.

"When there are 2,000 kids or more and 16 mats on the floor, it can be kind of nerve-racking for the ones that haven't wrestled there before, as well as the ones that have," Malta Wrestling Club Head Coach Luke Spencer told the PCN. "All-in-all, I thought that we wrestled really good and competed well."

Coach Spencer said that the main thing is that the wrestlers are having fun and he felt that most of the team did.

The MWC Boys teams placed 28th as a team out of 75 teams that participated. The MWC Boys only had 15 wrestlers that scored points. The MWC Girls team placed 35th as a team out of the 55 teams present with 22 points from only five wrestlers scoring.

Both Malta teams were among the smaller teams at the AAU State Tournament, with teams like the Billings Wrestling Club having over 30 wrestlers scoring points.

"It is kind of cool that we placed in the middle of the pack with not as many people competing," Coach Spencer said.

The girls' team was led by Taylor Warren who took fourth in the Girls Tot 50 class. Warren lost her third-place against Lynly Hill of Sidney Wrestling Club by pinfall at :19.

Lilly Warren placed sixth in the Girls Tot 45 class after losing the fifth-place match by technical fall against Teagan Duffy of Heights Wrestling Club.

This was the first year that Montana AAU has held a separate State Tournament for girl wrestlers. Coach Spencer believes that it is beneficial for both boys and girls to have separate tournaments.

"I think it's good for both sides," Coach Spencer said.

The boys' team was led by Calvin Squires who won the Championship in the Bantam 70 class by pinning Carter Naasz of the Laurel Matburners at :50. Squires earned 30 points for MWC.

Lane Spencer placed second in the Schoolboy 90 class. Spencer lost the championship to Billings Wrestling Club's Christopher Grossman by pin fall at 2:43, but then bounced back with a win over Forsyth Wrestling Club's Trey Starcher by 6-2 decision in the second-place match. Spencer scored 23 points for MWC.

Beau Nelson took fourth place in the Midget 85 class. He lost the third-place match against Stillwater Wrestling Club's Sully Svendsbye by pinfall at :19. Nelson scored 14 points for MWC.

Rio Oxarart took fifth place in the Midget 60 class. Oxarart won the fifth-place match against Headwaters Wrestling Academy's Easton Murphy by pin fall at 1:41. Oxarart scored 18 points.

MWC BOYS:

Tot 45: Wylie Pankratz's place is unknown and has scored 1.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Grayson Troutman (Heights Wrestling Club) won by fall over Wylie Pankratz (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:44). Cons. Round 1 - Wylie Pankratz (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Cons. Round 2 - Asher Granbois (Poplar Wrestling Club) won by fall over Wylie Pankratz (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:54).

Bantam 50: Titus Carnahan's place is unknown and has scored 4.5 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Titus Carnahan (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Champ. Round 2 - Titus Carnahan (Malta Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jax Muir (Spartan Youth Wrestling) (Dec 15-8). Champ. Round 3 - Luke Grossman (Billings Wrestling Club) won by fall over Titus Carnahan (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:31). Cons. Round 4 - Isaac Mattson (Conrad Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Titus Carnahan (Malta Wrestling Club) (Maj 11-0).

Bantam 55: Fletcher Spencer's place is unknown and has scored 4.5 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Fletcher Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Champ. Round 2 - Fletcher Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) won by decision over William fay (Forsyth Wrestling Club) (Dec 10-5). Champ. Round 3 - Stryker Singer (Hardin Wrestling Club) won by decision over Fletcher Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) (Dec 12-5). Cons. Round 4 - Bentley Butkay (Hardin Wrestling Club) won by fall over Fletcher Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:56).

Bantam 60: Knox Sorensen's place is unknown and has scored 3.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Rayden Cowan (Havre Wrestling Club) won by decision over Knox Sorensen (Malta Wrestling Club) (Dec 8-4). Cons. Round 1 - Knox Sorensen (Malta Wrestling Club) won by fall over Tade Krieger (Hardin Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:47). Cons. Round 2 - Payne Kroeger (NORTHEAST MT) won by major decision over Knox Sorensen (Malta Wrestling Club) (Maj 15-6).

Bantam 70: Calvin Squires's place is 1st and has scored 30.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Calvin Squires (Malta Wrestling Club) won by fall over Wesley Wallace (Project Wrestling) (Fall 0:13). Quarterfinal - Calvin Squires (Malta Wrestling Club) won by fall over Brody Douglas (North Montana Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:48). Semifinal - Calvin Squires (Malta Wrestling Club) won by fall over Dylan Buffington (Miles City Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:28). 1st Place Match - Calvin Squires (Malta Wrestling Club) won by fall over Carter Naasz (Laurel Matburners) (Fall 0:50).

Midget 60: Rio Oxarart's place is 5th and has scored 18.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Rio Oxarart (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Champ. Round 2 - Rio Oxarart (Malta Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Hazen Rindal (Heights Wrestling Club) (TF 15-0). Champ. Round 3 - Rio Oxarart (Malta Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Knoxsen Harris (Glasgow Wrestling Club) (Maj 9-0). Quarterfinal - Rio Oxarart (Malta Wrestling Club) won by decision over Cameron Johnston (Butte Wrestling Club) (Dec 2-0). Semifinal - Kase Knaff (Shepherd Wrestling Club) won by fall over Rio Oxarart (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:46). Cons. Semi - Walker Kirkland (Glasgow Wrestling Club) won by fall over Rio Oxarart (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:37). 5th Place Match - Rio Oxarart (Malta Wrestling Club) won by fall over Easton Murphy (Headwaters Wrestling Academy) (Fall 1:41).

Midget 65: Amus Blunt's place is unknown and has scored 4.5 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Amus Blunt (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Champ. Round 2 - Amus Blunt (Malta Wrestling Club) won by decision over Harrison Hammond (Crazy Mountain) (Dec 6-0). Champ. Round 3 - Jacob Gerlach (Stillwater Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Amus Blunt (Malta Wrestling Club) (TF 15-0). Cons. Round 4 - Jaymeson Sorenson (North Montana Wrestling Club) won by medical forfeit over Amus Blunt (Malta Wrestling Club) (MFF).

Midget 70: Trenton Blunt's place is unknown and has scored 4.5 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Trenton Blunt (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Champ. Round 2 - Trenton Blunt (Malta Wrestling Club) won in sudden victory - 1 over Palmer Brosovich (Team Champs) (SV-1 4-2). Champ. Round 3 - Grayson Fulton (Colstrip Wrestling Club) won by fall over Trenton Blunt (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:26). Cons. Round 4 - Gabe Stovall (Team Champs) won by fall over Trenton Blunt (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:47).

Midget 75: Cooper Pankratz's place is unknown and has scored 4.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Henry Smith (Lincoln Loggers) won by fall over Cooper Pankratz (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:36). Cons. Round 1 - Cooper Pankratz (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Cons. Round 2 - Cooper Pankratz (Malta Wrestling Club) won by fall over Tucker Komrosky (Helena Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:35). Cons. Round 3 - Teller Stevenson (Force 10 Wrestling Academy) won by fall over Cooper Pankratz (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:53).

Midget 85: Beau Nelson's place is 4th and has scored 14.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Tanner Ramoie (Helena Bearcats Wrestling Club) won by fall over Beau Nelson (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:20). Cons. Round 1 - Beau Nelson (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Cons. Round 2 - Beau Nelson (Malta Wrestling Club) won by fall over Kolton Eischens (Helena Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:45). Cons. Round 3 - Beau Nelson (Malta Wrestling Club) won by decision over Liam Conklin (Heights Wrestling Club) (Dec 4-3). Cons. Semi - Beau Nelson (Malta Wrestling Club) won by decision over Trytan Polzin (Force 10 Wrestling Academy) (Dec 6-2). 3rd Place Match - Sully Svendsbye (Stillwater Wrestling Club) won by fall over Beau Nelson (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:19).

Novice 70: Colby Wright's place is unknown and has scored 2.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Colby Wright (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Champ. Round 2 - Renzy LeProwse (Mine Yard Dogs Wrestling Club) won by decision over Colby Wright (Malta Wrestling Club) (Dec 9-3). Cons. Round 2 - Louden Leenhouts (Fight Club) won by fall over Colby Wright (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:20).

Novice 75: Cameron Spencer's place is unknown and has scored 4.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Deakon Blaz (Helena Wrestling Club) won by decision over Cameron Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) (Dec 9-2). Cons. Round 1 - Cameron Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Cons. Round 2 - Cameron Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) won by fall over Bentley Harris (Helena Wrestling Club) (Fall 3:53). Cons. Round 3 - Nash Galey (Flathead Valley Wrestling Club) won by fall over Cameron Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:03).

Novice 75: Barron Sims's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Joshuah Hernandez (Cody Wrestling Club) won by disqualification over Barron Sims (Malta Wrestling Club) (DQ).

Schoolboy 90: Lane Spencer's place is 2nd and has scored 23.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Lane Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) won by fall over Walter Given (Laurel Matburners) (Fall 0:28). Quarterfinal - Lane Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) won by decision over Bridger Garrison (Mine Yard Dogs Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-2). Semifinal - Lane Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) won by fall over Philip Westrick (LOCKWOOD WRESTLING CLUB) (Fall 2:16). 1st Place Match - Christopher Grossman (Billings Wrestling Club) won by fall over Lane Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:43). 2nd Place Match - Lane Spencer (Malta Wrestling Club) won by decision over Trey Starcher (Forsyth Wrestling Club) (Dec 6-2).

Cadet 120: Straud Sims's place is unknown and has scored 4.5 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Tucker Miller (Baker Wrestling Club) won by decision over Straud Sims (Malta Wrestling Club) (Dec 8-5). Cons. Round 1 - Straud Sims (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Cons. Round 2 - Straud Sims (Malta Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Terron Mussard (Dillon Wrestling Club) (Maj 10-2). Cons. Round 3 - Straud Sims (Malta Wrestling Club) won by decision over Trey Breen (Unattached) (Dec 9-2). Cons. Round 4 - Kasey Reed (Wolf Point Wrestling Club) won by fall over Straud Sims (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 4:59).

MWC GIRLS:

Girls Tot 40: Etta Blunt's place is unknown and has scored 1.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Everly Ramaeker (Project Wrestling) won by decision over Etta Blunt (Malta Wrestling Club) (Dec 6-3). Cons. Round 1 - Etta Blunt (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Cons. Round 2 - Elizabeth Sparks (Laurel Matburners) won by decision over Etta Blunt (Malta Wrestling Club) (Dec 8-2).

Girls Tot 45: Lilly Warren's place is 6th and has scored 7.5 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Lilly Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Quarterfinal - Kennedy Brown (MILES CITY WRESTLING) won by fall over Lilly Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:27). Cons. Round 2 - Lilly Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Cons. Round 3 - Lilly Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) won by decision over Talli Komrosky (Helena Wrestling Club) (Dec 13-8). Cons. Semi - Kleonna Block (Kalispell Wrestling Club) won by fall over Lilly Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:23). 5th Place Match - Teagan Duffy (Heights Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Lilly Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) (TF 15-0).

Girls Tot 50: Taylor Warren's place is 4th and has scored 10.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Taylor Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Semifinal - Collins Flaten (Glasgow Wrestling Club) won by fall over Taylor Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:16). Cons. Semi - Taylor Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. 3rd Place Match - Lynly Hill (Sidney Wrestling Club) won by fall over Taylor Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:19).

Girls Bantam 40/45: Gemma Wright's place is unknown and has scored 2.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Gemma Wright (Malta Wrestling Club) received a bye. Quarterfinal - Tenlea Sundeen (Glasgow Wrestling Club) won by fall over Gemma Wright (Malta Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:20). Cons. Round 2 - Adalina Hoffart (Meagher County Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Gemma Wright (Malta Wrestling Club) (Maj 13-4).

Girls Midget 65: Lyla Warren's place is unknown and has scored 2.5 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Lyla Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) won by decision over Elle Eckerson (Butte Wrestling Club) (Dec 6-4). Champ. Round 2 - Leimana Fandrich (Lockwood wrestling club) won by decision over Lyla Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) (Dec 11-5). Cons. Round 2 - Elise Steiger (Forsyth Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Lyla Warren (Malta Wrestling Club) (Maj 12-2).