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Coaching Updates
The revolving door of the
state's high school wrestling coaches seems to have slowed from its once dizzying speed. At one
point, more than a half dozen vacancies for head wrestling coaches peppered various employment sites.
At least two of those
vacancies can be scratched from the list. Deer Lodge High School has hired from within, naming former assistant coach Clint
Stevenson as its new head coach. Much like Deer Lodge, Butte also hired a new mentor who is familiar with the program. Abe
Boomer, who had previously served as an assistant with the Bulldogs for five years, will take over for Montana wrestling legend
Jim Street.
Thivierge Takes Reigns at Northern Montana
Former Montana State-Northern
standout Tyson Thivierge has been named the new wrestling coach at his alma mater. The former four-time
All American and National Champion will take over for Dan Troupe, whose contract was not renewed after three seasons at the
helm.
Thivierge, who spent the past
two seasons coaching the Carson City Bulldogs in Carson, Nevada, is no stranger when it comes to success in Havre. The 2002
National Champion competed on a pair of NAIA National Championship teams while wrestling for the Lights under the
tutelage of David Ray and Olympian Terry Brands. Thivierge's success as competitor was not limited to the NAIA level. In 2002,
he finished second in the Midlands, in front of a host of Division I All Americans, including Iowa State's Jessman Smith and
Minnesota's Damion Hahn.
Upon graduating with a degree
in Physical Education, Thivierge followed Brands to Tennessee-Chattanooga, putting that program on the radar at the Division
I level.
The Former Clarkston Bantam will
take over a MSUN program that, although has showed consistent improvement in recent years, has not competed at the
level it had grown accutom to under David Ray when the Lights captured four National titles and a runner-up finish in a span
of seven seasons.
Thivierge was one of three finalists
for the position, which included former Light wrestler Mitch Overlie and Montana high school coaching legend Guy Melby.
Kalispell's
Thompson Steps Down
It is often said that
those meteors that burn the brightest often burn out the fastest, such may very well be the case of Kalispell wrestling
coach Jeff Thompson, whose programs have streaked a brilliant glow over the Montana wrestling landscape. Thompson,
who has guided for the Braves for the past eight seasons, has announced his retirement from the nationally-ranked
program.
Little can be said about
Thompson's Braves that has not already been stated. The Braves have captured three consecutive state titles, have earned national
rankings in each of the past two seasons, and have, in the simplest and shortest of terms, set the standard for Montana wrestling
in terms of putting points on the board with a program that is as complete and well-rounded as the state has likely ever witnessed.
The former multiple Montana state champ, cited
family as his primary reason for exiting a program that will return fourteen state placers. The search for Thompson's
replacement will begin immediately.
Where Are They Going?
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State Champion; 3x Placer
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North Dakota State University (DI)
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David Lau
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Kalispell
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State Champion; 3x State Placer
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Dickenson State (NAIA)
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Brian Ham
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Kalispell
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2x State Champion; 4x State Finalist
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North Dakota State (DI)
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Trent Sprenkle
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Billings Senior
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3x State Champion (Returning from 2-yr mission)
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North Dakota State (DI)
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Ty Vinson
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Great Falls High
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2x State Champion
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Oregon State (DI)
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Ryan Leonard
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Simms
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4x State Champion
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U-Great Falls (NAIA)
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Michael Hader
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Columbia Falls
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State Champion; 2x State Placer
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U-Great Falls (NAIA)
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Scott
Schlosser
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Conrad
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3x State Champion
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U-Great Falls (NAIA)
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Jared Foust
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Arlee
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State Champion
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U-Great Falls (NAIA)
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Cobra Keeps Montana on the Map at Folkstyle Nationals
Four wrestlers competing for the USA Cobra
program combined for nearly twenty wins while competing at the prestigious Asics Folkstyle Nationals, April
4-6 in Cedar Falls,
Iowa.
Leading the charge for the Cobras were twin brothers
Jade and Valyen Rauser of Townsend. Jade, whose
victory over defending Triple Crown champion Hayden Zillmer (MN) earned front page news on TheMat.com, claimed a runner up
finish. The Livingston freshman and defending Montana High School State Champion (98) posted
four consecutive wins to advance to the finals. There, he was joined by brother Valyen.
In posting five victories, Valyen, also a defending
Montana High School State Champion (103), captured the Cadet 105-pound national title.
The hardware did not stop there, however, for
Team Cobra. Schoolboy Grant Boggs posted five wins against two losses to finish in fifth place.
Joining the Rausers and Boggs in Iowa
were Johnny Lafountain and Britton Thompson, both of whom posted multiple victories.
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Quick News....
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Auers Steps down at CMR; Position Vacant
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After six seasons at the helm, Joel Auers has stepped down as the head wrestling coach at CMR High School in Great Falls.
Auers had recently guided the Rustlers to trophy finishes in 2007 and 2008.
The position is currently vacant.
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Bazant steps down as Billings Senior coach; position vacant
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After guiding Billings West's wrestling program for eighteen seasons, former University of Montana standout Rob
Bazant has stepped down. Bazant, who guided the Golden Bears to a state title in 1994, will continue teaching at the school.
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