WRESTLING PREVIEW 2012

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Class A

Corvallis scored its first team championship in 10 years last season by edging defending state title holder Laurel by 3.5 points.

The Blue Devils appear to be just as strong this season with seven grapplers ranked in the top four in their respective weight classes in the campaign’s first Class A coaches’ poll. Chase Connor (112) and Tyler Olsen (125) are ranked first, Morley Jessop (145), Wyatt Jessop (160) and James Weidow (215) are ranked third, and Josh Venema (119) is ranked fourth.

First-year Frenchtown wrestling head coach Jesse Long likes his team’s mix of experienced upperclassmen and spirited freshmen and sophomores.

The Broncs will be paced by junior Cody Lemons (140), senior Logan Fisher (152), senior David Anderson (171), senior Sam Gordon (189), and 98-pound freshman Cody Warner.

Defending Northwestern A champion Polson should be in the mix for a trophy at state with the help of returning state placers in seniors Craig Feistner (140) and Mike Devlin (152), and junior Carlos Quinones (125).

The Pirates will also get a boost from junior 130-pounder Dylan Moll, senior 135-pounder Drew Fouty, and sophomore Alex Helgeson at 125.

Standout wrestlers at Libby include defending state champion Mitch Haugen at 135, Zach Crace at 130, Josh Bowers at 160, Austin Bailey at 171 and Zach Dolezal at 215.

Other area wrestlers in the mix for a trophy at state are Shonn Roberts (112), Seth McCall (125), Colton Grove (145) and heavyweight Spencer Ross at Columbia Falls, and heavyweight Wolf Zinke from Whitefish.