Once again, Flathead High School proved over the weekend that it’s equipped to win its fifth straight Class AA wrestling championship. Of course, anything can happen and there are a lot of factors that make five consecutive state titles in any sport extremely difficult. But after finishing second at the Pacific Northwest Classic in Spokane on Jan. 9, it’s clear the Braves are, yet again, one of the Northwest’s elite teams. And that’s Northwest United States, not just Northwest Montana.
The Braves have been ranked No. 1 in Class AA all season. In December they won Butte’s Mining City Duals, a huge tournament that draws teams from across the state. At the Pacific Northwest Classic, the Braves scored 219 1/2 points, second only to Spokane’s University High School, which finished with 244. Joaquin Calderon claimed the 130-pound crown, while Shawn Lau (140) and Connor Thomas (285) also won individual titles.
The state tournament is scheduled for Feb. 12-13 at MetraPark in Billings. A couple of teams will be nipping at Flathead’s heels, including crosstown rival Glacier, one of the highest ranked programs in Class AA this year.