Three Malta Grapplers Reach Podium In Cut Bank

The Malta High School Wrestling Team kicked off 2023 with plenty of action in the first week of the new year after the team observed Christmas Break.

Malta went to the CJI Mixer on Thursday, January 5, and then competed in the Cut Bank Booster Club Invitational from Friday, January 6 to Saturday, January 7.

Malta Head Coach Jake French was asked how he felt the team started their new year.

"I am feeling good," Malta Head Coach Jake French said. "We stepped up our conditioning after Christmas and we are in better shape it seems. We are applying moves and kids are getting more confident in their shots and on top, in just their ability overall. I am excited to see what the rest of the season has."

Malta will head to the Miles City Cowboy Invitational this weekend. The two day event starts on Friday, January 13, and ends on Saturday, Saturday, January 14.

The Mustang Wrestling Team was twelfth at the Cut Bank Booster Invitational with a total of 81 points scored. Havre won the event with 252 points. Jefferson was second with a score of 200.5, Superior was third with 156.5 points, Cut Bank was fourth with 153, and Lincoln County was fifth with 124.

Twenty-seven boys teams and 21 girls teams were present in Cut Bank. Havre's girls team won their event with a total of 129 points. Harlem was second with 99 points, Poplar was third with 64 points, Fergus was fourth with 63 points, and Circle was fifth with 54 points.

The Mustangs had three placers in Cut Bank. Kohner "Chaka" Schipman placed third and scored 27 points in the 132 weight class. Spencer Gibbs placed third in the 205 pound weight class with 24 points and Camryn Mears placed fourth in the 182 pound class with 18 points.

"Kohner had a heck of a week and he chose the hard road to third place, he lost his first match and wrestled back in seven to place third," Coach French said.

Schipman went 7-1 in the Invitational, winning his last seven matches after losing by 10-3 decision to Havre's Carson Harris in the opening round.

Schipman defeated Wolf Point's Jesse Reed by 6-1 decision in the third place match.

To reach the third place match, Chaka pinned six opponents in a row; Trevor Peterson of Thompson falls in :57 second in the first round of consolation, Max Giles of Fairfield at 2:10 in the second round, Fairfield's Wilson Giles at 2:28 in the third round, Fergus' Jake Simac at 4:17 in the fourth round, Westin Brown of Thompson Falls at 1:51 in the fifth round, and Hardin's Keith Little Light at 1:57 in the consolation semifinals.

"I'm really proud of Kohner," Coach French said. "He showed some grit. He was really coachable. We were scouting and he listened, and he got some success out of the deal."

His match against Weston Brown was named the Most Exciting match by the Malta coaching staff.

"We knew nothing about the kid, we were just watching him (in his other matches) and we came up with a game plan," Coach French said. "Kohner stuck to that game plan and caught him on his back and pinned him."

Senior Spencer Gibbs went 5-1 at the event. He won the third place match by 4-1 decision over Lincoln County's Colyn Johnson.

Gibbs pinned Cascade's Hal McGregor at 1:03 in the opening round of the tournament. Gibbs also pinned Superior's Jaxson Green at 1:05 in the second round. Gibbs picked up his third of four pins in the quarterfinal round against Cut Bank's Jacob Hjartarson at 2:41.

Gibbs' only loss came in the semifinals against Jett Boyce in sudden victory. Boyce won 3-1 in overtime. Boyce had defeated Gibbs earlier this season at the CMR Holiday Classic.

"We were a lot closer this match," Coach French said. "It was definitely winnable but they just got us this time. Hopefully we can see him again and maybe we will end up on top next time."

Gibbs bounced back and earned a spot in the third place match by pinning Superior's Green at 4:08 in the consolation semifinals.

Camryn "Reggie" Mears went 3-2, picking up three pins in Cut Bank. He lost the 182 pound third place match to Havre's Kale VanCampen by 3-1 decision.

"Those two go back and forth," Coach French said. "I would say that they are rivals. It was Kale's weekend and not Camryn's. Hopefully we get to see him and it turns out another way."

Mears reached the third place match by defeating Bigfork's Dale Relyea by pin fall at 4:21. He lost his semifinal match to Jefferson's Brady Armstrong by 5-4 decision. He won his quarterfinal match against CMR's Dane Houston by pin fall at 1:11, and his opening round match against Harlem's Kendon Young by pin fall at 1:45.

The following are the remaining matches at the Cut Bank booster Invitational, via Trackwrestling.

132 Boys: Straud Sims (2-2) place is unknown and scored 4.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Keith Little Light (HARDIN) 4-2 won by fall over Straud Sims (MALTA) 2-2 (Fall 0:59). Cons. Round 1 - Straud Sims (MALTA) 2-2 won by decision over Cohen Darnell (GFH JV) 0-2 (Dec 7-3). Cons. Round 2 - Straud Sims (MALTA) 2-2 won by fall over Zach Boyles (VALIER) 1-2 (Fall 2:15). Cons. Round 3 - Jesse Reed (WOLF POINT) 6-2 won by fall over Straud Sims (MALTA) 2-2 (Fall 2:23).

160 Boys: Colton Honey (0-2) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Joe Ramos (VALIER) 4-2 won by fall over Colton Honey (MALTA) 0-2 (Fall 3:17). Cons. Round 1 - Colton Honey (MALTA) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye). Cons. Round 2 - Landen Caplette (HAVRE) 5-3 won by decision over Colton Honey (MALTA) 0-2 (Dec 3-0).

170 Boys: Colton Mears (2-2) place is unknown and scored 8.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Colton Mears (MALTA) 2-2 received a bye () (Bye). Champ. Round 2 - Colton Mears (MALTA) 2-2 won by major decision over Jack Pallett (FERGUS (LEWISTOWN)) 1-2 (MD 9-1). Quarterfinal - Pierce Caplette (HAVRE) 4-1 won by fall over Colton Mears (MALTA) 2-2 (Fall 4:33). Cons. Round 4 - Colton Mears (MALTA) 2-2 won by forfeit over Liam Gage (CMR JV) 2-2 (For.). Cons. Round 5 - Percy Bechtold (CHOTEAU) 17-7 won by decision over Colton Mears (MALTA) 2-2 (Dec 13-7).

126 Girls: Isabel Hansen (0-2) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Maleigha Azure (Havre Girls) 4-1 won by fall over Isabel Hansen (Malta Girls) 0-2 (Fall 3:39). Cons. Round 1 - Isabel Hansen (Malta Girls) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye). Cons. Round 2 - Jazmyn Ramos (Valier Girls) 1-2 won by fall over Isabel Hansen (Malta Girls) 0-2 (Fall 1:51).

At the CJI Mixer, Malta went 7-9. Hansen went 1-1, Ava Hanson went 0-2, Sims went 0-2, Schipman went 1-1, Honey went 1-1, Co. Mears went 1-1, Ca. Mears went 1-1, and Gibbs went 2-0.