Kalispell Flathead held off Billings Senior to win the inaugural all-class girls wrestling state title on Saturday in Lockwood.
The Bravettes didn't win a championship match on Saturday, as their only top-two finish came from Aleeyah Derlatka, who lost by pinfall to Bozeman Gallatin's Lily Schultz.
Flathead had depth this weekend, though, as that propelled them to 142 points, seven more than the second-place Broncs.
"I just love the energy of girls and being part of history," Flathead head coach Jeff Thompson said. "To be part of a such an incredible program this first year, this is up there with all the other achievements that we've seen with Flathead wrestling."
Flathead had a a third-place finish by Alyssa Poe-Hatten at 103 pounds, a fourth-place finish at 113 pounds by Hania Halverson and sixth-place finishes at 120 pounds (Trinity Bolvin), 170 pounds (Boston Howell) and 205 pounds (Lucille Libby).
The Bravettes had seven female wrestlers grappling with the boys last season but saw that number triple to 21 female wrestlers this year.
"It was a roller-coaster ride for us as a team this weekend. You really don't know what to expect," Thompson said. "I don't think anybody would have expected to see the numbers, the quality of wrestling, the support, the energy in one year. It's time. ... Girls wrestling is made for Montana. We have tough girls in Montana. I think we're going to see a lot of our girls on that national stage a lot more because of this opportunity. This door has been opened wide and the girls are just going to flow through it."
Runner-up Billings Senior had one champion on Saturday afternoon. Kendal Tucker pinned Plains-Hot Springs' Lillian MacDonald 1:07 into the match to win a title at 152 pounds. The Broncs had a pair of third-place finishers, as well, in Paige Gershmel at 132 and Gracy Jones at 145.
Cascade's Lily Grismer finished second to Sidney's Amaiya Kirn at 126 pounds, falling to the freshman by 5-3 decision. The Class C Badgers got a fourth-place finish from Lindsey Faldzinski at 152 pounds and a fourth-place finish by Skye Smith at 205 pounds to finish with 68 points, seven clear of fourth-place Butte.
Full results of Saturday's action can be found here.
