Malta Mustang Wrestling 2023-24

The Malta Wrestling Team has started the season and has a good amount of grapplers in their 2023-24 campaign; totaling 18.

The team welcomes back Head Coach Jake French. He welcomes back assistant coach Shawn Gilkerson (MHS 22 graduate), and new assistant coaches Tyler French (MHS 06 graduate) and Carolyn French, as well as Nolan Simanton (MHS 04 graduate).

"Tyler is a Division 1 wrestler, he made the NCAA tournament before, wrestling for the Air Force Academy," Coach J. French said. "It's nice to have that knowledge brought into the room. I am excited about it. The kids seem to be excited."

The team will also be coached by longtime coach Steve French, who serves as an assistant coach.

"My dad helps quite a bit and that is huge," Coach French said. "My dad is my idol."

He was asked how his team is feeling heading into the season.

"We're feeling pretty good," Coach French said. "We have a lot of new kids, but they are all learning and they are all excited. They have great effort. I am really proud of their effort."

In all, Malta has 13 boys and five girls.

"It's the most kids that I have had since I have been here," Coach French said. "It's new for us but it is great. The more the merrier."

The team will be without graduated seniors Spencer Gibbs, Camryn "Reggie" Mears, who finished first and third in their weight classes respectively last season. Gibbs won the B/C 205 Title and Mears earned a third place medal in the 182 weight class.

Kohner Schipman and Colton Mears have returned to the mat, and both seniors earned points last season at state but did not place.

"Colton has wrestled all four years and he has had a couple of brothers that have done well; Ceaton, Callan, and Camryn," Coach French said. "He has more than just coaches that he can go to for help."

The team also welcomes back Straud Sims, who just missed out on competing at state due to a controversial last-second amendment that only allowed six wrestlers from the East to reach state. Sims placed seventh at divisionals.

Coach French was asked if Gibbs' title run in 2023 had inspired others.

"I hope so. That's the idea," Coach French said. "Spencer is a great example. We use him as a reference quite a bit in the wrestling room because he went from never placing in his first three years at state, to becoming a state champion his senior year. It gives a kid a reason to believe in what we are saying."

Though the team is without Spencer, Malta did gain a pair of Gibbs siblings. Seniors Samme and Sydney Gibbs have gone from managers to wrestlers this season.

"They have a lot to learn," Coach French said. "They give great effort and this is their first year wrestling. They have a great positive attitude, lighten up the team and they are awesome."

Senior Co. Mears returns and is joined by fellow senior Mason Sjostrom, who transferred from Billings West. He won't be cleared until after Christmas.

"He is a really bright kid and I am excited to see when he can actually (compete)," Coach French said.

The junior class consists of Jonah Bucks, returning wrestler Ava Hanson, Lane Salveson, and Schipman.

The sophomore class consists of Shaylee Hines, Karson Kelsey, AJ Marquis, Sims, and Trooper Stiles.

The freshman class consists of Skylar Gilkerson, Kayden Green, Kenan LaBrie, Tripp Lefdahl, and Lane Spencer.

Malta went 11 for 12 in their mixer with Fairfield last Thursday, December 7.

At 145, Kelsey pinned Nick Snyder at 5:26. At 138, Stiles won by 3-1 decision over Wilson Giles. At 145, Schipman won 10-2 over Layne Carter. At 182, Green pinned Jesse Jensen at 1:34. At 120, Bucks pinned Colter Dowdy at 1:12. At 205, Sk. Gilkerson pinned Cade Leversee at 3:18. At 126, Lane Spencer pinned Nick Snyder at 3:55. At 152, Salveson pinned Nick Snyder at 2:20. At 182, Co. Mears pinned Benjamin Rau at 3:02. At 138, Stiles won by 12-3 decision over Cyler Yeager. At 120, Bucks was pinned by Ashyr Tweet. At 182, LaBrie pinned Jesse Jensen at :30.

At the Glasgow Invitational on Saturday, December 9, LaBrie was second in the 182 class, Hanson was second in the Girls 165 class, Schipman was third in the 145 class, Co. Mears was fourth in the 182 class, AJ Marquis was sixth in the Girls 114 class, Spencer was sixth in the 126 class, Sims was seventh in the 152 class, Hines was seventh in the Girls 145 class, Sa. Gibbs was eighth in the Girls 145 class, and Sy. Gibbs was eighth in the Girls 152 class.