HELENA — So far, 2022 looks an awful lot like the end of 2021 for the Butte High wrestling team.
The Bulldogs opened the new year Tuesday picking up a pair of Western AA dual victories. Butte High beat Helena High 63-10 before heading to Helena Capital to top the Bruins 45-30.
“It was a great start to the new year,” said Butte High coach Cory Johnston, whose Bulldogs are coming off an outstanding December. “It was a good primer for a really though weekend ahead.”
The Bulldogs got seven pins and a thrilling decision by Connor Konda to take down Capital in their second dual of the day.
Konda went to overtime before downing Capital’s Cole Graham 3-1 in a 152-pound dual.
Butte’s Trey Whitlock (113 pounds), Kyler Raiha (120), Kip Pumnea (132), Maverick McEwen (145) and Gavin Vetter (170) all won by way of first-round pins. Riley Downey (182) and Mason Christian (205) picked up pins in the second round.
Cashton Spolar (103), Hunter Rahn (126), Carson Derosier (138), Connor Kovick (160) and Talon Marsh (285) picked up pins for the Bruins.
Butte used six pins, a decision and four forfeits to beat the Bengals.
Whitlock (113), Cole Worley (120), Konda (145) and Christian (182) needed less than a minute to pin their opponent’s. Worley’s 22-second pin was the fastest of the day, and Bulldog Wiley Dallaserra (160) needed just 1 minute, 5 second seconds for a pin.
At 285 pounds, Kade Schleeman stuck David Luby in a 4:43 battle, and Bryton Hardesty edged J.T. Gehring 10-4 at 138 pounds.
Butte’s Will Stepan (126), Gunner Yelenich (132), Aiden Cuchine (170) and Cohen Grunhuvd (205) won by forfeit.
Zane Gehring (103) picked up a pin for the Bengals. Team Ian Mehrens (152) won by major decision.
Next up for the Bulldogs is the prestigious Tom LeProwse Invitational, which is Friday and Saturday in Bozeman.
Butte High’s girls, who will also compete at the LeProwse, will head to Deer Lodge for a mixer on Thursday. The Bulldogs will also enter grapplers in Saturday’s Bozeman JV Invitational.
Butte High 63, Helena High 10
103 — Zane Gehring, Helena, p. Tyrese LeProwse, 4:55
113 — Trey Whitlock, Butte, p. Asa Wood, :48
120 — Cole Worley, Butte, p. Steven Yargo, :22
126 — Will Stepan, Butte, won by forfeit
132 — Gunner Yelenich, Butte, won by forfeit
138 — Bryton Hardesty, Butte, d. J.T. Gehring, 10-4
145 — Connor Konda, Butte, p. (name unavailable), :35
152 — Ian Mehrens, Helena, maj. dec. Trey Hansen, 13-0
160 — Wiley Dallaserra, Butte, p. Dhestin McKinnis, 1:05
170 — Aiden Cuchine, Butte, won by forfeit
182 — Mason Christian, Butte, p. Kaleb Kirklin, :27
205 — Cohen Grunhuvd, Butte, won by forfeit
285 — Kade Schleeman, Butte, p. David Luby, 4:43
Butte High 45, Helena Capital 30
103 — Cashton Spolar, Capital, p. Tyrese LeProwse, :53
113 — Trey Whitlock, Butte, p. Cohen Sassano, 1:50
120 — Kyler Raiha, Butte, p. Dustin Campbell, :45
126 — Hunter Rahn, Capital, p. Karson Pumnea, 1:50
132 — Kip Pumnea, Butte, p. Boston Lay, 1:14
138 — Carson Derosier, Capital, p. Bryton Hardesty, 1:57
145 — Maverick McEwen, Butte, p. Nick Flies, 1:16
152 — Connor Konda, Butte, d. Cole Graham, 3-1 (OT)
160 — Conner Kovick, Capital, d. Morgan McClernan, 3:25
170 — Gavin Vetter, Butte, p. Tyler Crum, :54
182 — Riley Downey, Butte, p. Tuff Adams, 3:55
205 — Mason Christian, Butte, p. Tucker Zanto, 2:22
285 — Talon Marsh, Capital, p. Kade Schleeman, 5:25
