Glacier Qualifies 23, Flathead 22: Kalispell Sends 45 Wrestlers to State

When it comes to wrestling, there's no town in Montana quite like Kalispell. During the Western AA seeding tournament in Missoula on Feb. 5-6, Kalispell's two high schools qualified a remarkable 45 wrestlers for the state tournament, including nine first-place finishers.

Glacier is sending 23 to state, the most in Western AA, while Flathead is right behind with 22. Flathead gets the nod in first-place finishers, however – the Braves have eight No. 1 seeds to Glacier's one. Any way you look at it, this weekend was yet another fine moment in Kalispell's storied tradition of wrestling greatness.

Flathead is seeking its fifth straight Class AA state championship, while Glacier is seeking its first.

Meanwhile, Polson ruined Ronan's bid for a third consecutive Northwestern A divisional crown. Polson won the tourney over the weekend with 232 points, compared to Ronan's 180. Kelly Houle, a senior wrestler at Columbia Falls who I wrote a story about earlier this year, continued his run of dominance by claiming the 215-pound championship with yet another pin. Polson's Brock Picard, a two-time state champion, won the 171-pound divisional title.

I will post the state wrestling tournament brackets for Class AA, A and B/C when they're made available. The tournament is held at MetraPark in Billings on Feb. 12-13.