MISSOULA – The Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic has come and gone. Hundreds of wrestlers from Montana and beyond tested their mettle on the mats, but only a select few became champions.
Michael Lee, wrestling for Kalispell Flathead, was just one of 23 athletes competing in the 285-pound weight class. He took sixth overall last year. Going into this year’s contest he had one goal in mind: win.
Lee, at 220 pounds, toppled opponent after opponent over the weekend, many of which outweighed him by up to 60 pounds. His victories culminated in a bout against Central Valley’s Wyatt Whickman. That challenge, too, was overcome by the Flathead standout.
And while that personal sense of accomplishment is deeply satisfying, Lee says he’s glad of the comradery and support of the entire team.
“It feels actually really good, because our (junior varsity) kids came to the Jock Fisher at Missoula and they came over after they were done to come support who was in the finals, and having them there is actually a really good team support,” said Lee.
