Young 'Dogs open on mats

By Pat Ryan - 12/05/2008

The Kevin Parvinen era in the Butte High wrestling program gets its first test Friday in competition, as the Bulldogs host Kalispell Glacier at 2 p.m. and Kalispell Flathead at 4 p.m. Both duals will be held at the old Butte High Gym.

Parvinen took over the reins of the Butte High program in August after the resignation of Abe Boomer, and though his first starting lineup is made up of

40 percent freshmen, Parvinen's team benefits from the lack of a forfeit in any weight class.

"We're awfully young and inexperienced, but the kids are ambitious and willing to learn," Parvinen said. "We ask them to do something and they're right in there doing it."

The Bulldogs return two of three placewinners from last year's state meet, including

105-pound state champion Jake Dallaserra and fifth-place fin-isher Justin Rowling, also at 105.

Neither will be available for action Friday, as both are nursing injuries. Both Rowling and Dallaserra are expected to be in the lineup this season, though no specific dates were given.

See MATS, Page B6

The Bulldogs will field freshmen in the first five weight classes Friday, led off by 98-pound Zach Harney. Parvinen said they youngster has only one year of experience under his belt, but that Harney is a "go-getter."

The coach's son, Logan Parvinen, is the JV 98-pounder who moved up to the vacant slot at 105, while Cody Laird will get the start at 112. Coach Parvinen said that Laird, "another hard worker," will probably make the move down to 105 before long.

Freshman Jordan LeProwse at 119 pounds is one of a number of wrestlers who drifted away from the sport after competing for a while, only to return to the mats in high school.

Logan Shrader, a standout as a freshman on the cross country team, may already have his lungs in shape, but Parvinen noted the difference between running shape and wrestling shape.

"Logan's been wrestling for a while," Parvinen said. "As a freshman, he'll be seeing some pretty tough competition at 125, but he's asking questions and learning more every day."

Sophomore Chris Renz qualified for the state meet last February, but missed placing, though Parvinen said the wrestler's sheer toughness will carry him a long way.

Cody LeProwse, a junior 135-pounder has done some wrestling, but the varsity action will be his first. That's not the case for junior 140-pounder Jason Kellogg, who saw some time in the varsity ranks last season.

Kyler Gardipee, a 145-pound junior, spent much of last season wrestling JV, but moved into a varsity slot due to injuries. He made the most of the opportunity and was undefeated when he suffered a broken collarbone. Gardipee counted among his wins the fourth-place wrestler at last year's state meet.

Junior Austin Pesanti checks in at 152 pounds.

"Pesanti's come a long way," Parvinen noted. "He's getting good and he's wrestling really tough."

Freshman 160-pounder Dennis Casagranda will compete in place of Skyler Cruiscuolo, who hasn't got enough practices to compete Friday.

"Dennis has been coming in every day and getting after it," Parvinen said. "He's all for it wants to get in and wrestle varsity."

Zach Fellows, one of two seniors in Friday's lineup, will be looking to capitalize on the experience he's gained over the past few years. A hard-nosed battler, Fellows will likely drop from 171 to 160.

Junior Zach Gleason at 189 pounds has come a long way since last year, when he was a "pleasant surprise" in qualifying for the state meet.

"Zach is a lot more physical, he's stronger, and he's developed talent-wise within the last year," Parvinen said. "Even his balance has improved."

Butte's other senior in the lineup is 215-pound Mike Waldman, who is wrestling for the first time ever.

"It's his first year, bless his heart," Parvinen said. "He just decided ‘What the heck, why not?'"

Parvinen added that having athletes like Mack Ferko helps in preparing for the heavier weights, though Ferko is also currently out with an injury.

Junior heavyweight Cody Hass is back and looks like he put on 15 pounds of muscle since last season. He'll get some work from rookie teammate Cole Tripp, also out for the first time.

With 44 wrestlers out, the roster isn't the biggest Butte High has ever seen, but it's a move in the right direction for the Bulldogs.

"I feel like the attitude is more ‘get after 'em,'" Parvinen said. "We've only got six seniors, but right now injuries is what's hurting us.

"Still, we've got a bunch of young guys coming in and they're full of ambition. They're getting after it."

The Bulldogs will first take on Kalispell Glacier, entering its second year in the Class AA ranks. The Wolfpack will have an advantage over last year's squad, which had no seniors. The Wolfpack finished 12th as a team out of 14 at last year's state meet, but will be reaping the benefits of having all the wrestlers return.

Glacier's top finisher was Stormy Day, who took fourth at 125, but he's out with an injury this weekend. The Wolfpack also return fifth-place 215-pounder Josh Frandsen and sixth-place 130-pounder Jordan Nelson.

The second dual against Flathead should be a good indication of any weak areas in the Butte High lineup, as the defending state champion Braves should be solid from top to bottom — again.

Shawn Lau, second at 112 last year, has moved up to 130. Joaquin Calderon placed third at 119 while Jeremiah Gaiser was fifth. Calderon is at 125 and Gaiser is the varsity 140-pounder.

Tanner Beaman is the returning 130-pound titlist, though he'll compete at 135 Friday. Bryce Stacy, the runner-up last year at 145, will try his hand Friday at 160

Caleb Allen-Schmid took second last year behind teammate Tyler Wells at 152, but is down to 145 this year. Ryan Thiel was fourth at 145 last year, but is in the 152-pound slot Friday.

Ian Damon was fourth at 189 last season, but dropped to 171 for Friday. Heavyweight Tyler Thomas took second at state last year.

Butte High will return to the mats on Saturday at the Helena Duals, while the JV squad is at the Cascade Invitational Friday and Saturday.

Butte Central is back in action this season, but just barely. Coach Robin Moodry said he has but one wrestler out for the Maroons in junior 145-pounder Kevin Cox.

Cox missed qualifying for state last season, but went as a freshman two years ago.

"Kevin's done a lot of freestyle over the summer," Moodry said. "Hopefully that'll help out this season."

Cox also has the benefit of his brother Jake and Bear Stillwagon at practices. The slight Maroon contingent will travel to Havre this weekend, where Cox may get up to eight matches over two days.

"That will be some good experience for the first weekend," Moodry said.

Friday's lineups

Butte High

98 — Zach Harney, fr.

105 — Logan Parvinen, fr.

112 — Cody Laird, fr.

119 — Jordan LeProwse, fr.

125 — Logan Shrader, fr.

130 — Chris Renz, so.

135 — Cody LeProwse, jr.

140 — Jason Kellogg, jr.

145 — Kyler Gardipee, jr.

152 — Austin Pesanti, jr.

160 — Dennis Casagranda, fr.

171 — Zach Fellows, sr.

189 — Zach Gleason, jr.

215 — Mike Waldman, sr.

285 — Cody Hass, jr.

Kalispell Glacier

98 — open

105 — Zach Barber, fr.

112 — Dan Howell, sr.

119 — Sam Overton, jr.

125 — Cooper Sipe, sr.

130 — open

135 — Shane St. Onge, fr.

140 — Lucas Cummings, jr.

145 — Tyler Hendrickson, jr.

152 — Larry Francis, fr.

160 — Clayton Hamilton, jr.

171 — Dane Sandelin, jr.

189 — Jake Criner, jr.

215 — John Frandsen, sr.

285 — Dan Gilbert, sr.

Kalispell Flathead

98 — Jake Kinkel, fr.

105 — Caleb Piasecki, so.

112 — Ryan Swelland, sr.

119 — Alejandro Calderon, sr.

125 — Joaquin Calderon, jr.

130 — Shawn Lau, jr.

135 — Tanner Beaman, sr.

140 — Jeremiah Gaiser, so.

145 — Caleb Allen-Schmid, jr.

152 — Ryan Thiel, sr.

160 — Bryce Stacy, sr.

171 — Ian Damon, sr.

189 — Jonah Franchi, sr.

215 — Paul Streich, sr.

285 — Tyler Thomas, sr.