GREAT FALLS — The Great Falls High wrestling team defeated rival CMR in the second crosstown dual meeting of the season 51-21 on Tuesday.
The dual featured a few wild finishes in the lighter weights before the Bison pulled away for a convincing victory in the heavier weights.
Great Falls High’s Cooper Samson opened up the dual with a 14-11 decision win over Dalton Ecklund at 103 pounds. Gavin Cotton followed suit with a pin at 113 pounds to put the Bison up 9-0.
Things got interesting at 120 pounds. Peyton Scofield and Logan Younkin went to overtime tied at 6, when Scofield secured a takedown and a pin in the final seconds to give the Bison a 15-0 lead.
CMR answered at 126 pounds when Ethan Jarrett scored a defensive pin over Aaron Liscum while trailing on points to bring the Rustlers within striking distance at 15-12.
The match at 138 pounds saw CMR’s Colton Martello shoot out to a 7-0 lead after two periods, before Mason Huber responded with a pin in the third period.
A Calvin Carroll pin at 145 pounds gave CMR another six points and made the score 21-18. Cache Hilliard needed only 19 seconds at 152 pounds for a Bison pin.
CMR’s last points came from AJ Lafurge, who earned a decision win over Donovan Mahoney, but then the floodgates opened for the Bison.
Brendan Lockhart earned six points via forfeit followed by pins from the heart of the Bison lineup -- Liam Swanson (182 pounds), Elijah Davis (205) and Ethan DeRoche (285).
Both teams await the seeding process and will next compete at the State AA tournament in Kalispell on March 5-6.
