Only the best wrestlers get the opportunity to compete on the sport's biggest stage in Montana at storied Metra Park in Billings in the State All-Class Tournament, and the road to Billings runs through Thompson Falls this time around.

Hoping to qualify for the most important tournament of this or any season, Western B-C grapplers will gather in Thompson Falls Saturday where they will face a simple math test counting one to four – if you finish in the top four of your weight class, you are in, and on your way to Billings.

Finish anywhere below fourth and you are out, and left to wonder what all the fuss about that big tournament in Billings is all about.

Thompson Falls, Plains-Hot Springs, Florence, Mission-Charlo, Clark Fork, Eureka, Bigfork and Arlee will be the teams vying for Western B-C honors Saturday.

"It should be a good tournament," Thompson Falls coach Ian Taylor said. "We really don't have enough wrestlers to challenge in the team race, but we will try to get all five of our guys through."

The five Taylor is talking about are 113-pound standout Trae Thilmony, who has already won five tournament titles this season, Roman Sparks at 120, Shane Reishus at 126, Lucas Anderson at 145 and Dakota Irvine at 182. Wrestling at 160, Dane Chojnacky broke a knuckle on his hand and will not be able to compete this week.

Plains-Hot Springs coach Jeff Kujala entertains similar hopes for his scrappy but also undermanned Savage Horsemen squad, and is glad his team is finally regaining a semblance of good health after battling the flu bug through most of January.

Taylor Angle will go at 103 pounds for P-HS, Peter Carey will wrestle at 120, Conrad Vanderwall at 132, Josiah Vanderwall at 138, Bert DeTienne at 152, Jesse Uski at 160 and Steven Yother at heavyweight. Kenzie Angle (138 pounds) and Mason Ganarelli (152 or 160) have suffered season-ending injuries and will not wrestle in Thompson Falls.

"We are finally getting healthy, everybody is looking real good," Kujala said, "and our goal Saturday will be put all seven of our kids through and on to the State B-C tournament."

Both local coaches think that Mission-Charlo, Eureka and Florence (not necessarily in that order) will be the teams in the hunt for the Western B-C team title at TFHS Saturday. Wrestling is set to begin at 10 a.m.

Both Sanders County teams completed the regular season last week, Thompson Falls hosting a quadrangular meet with Mission-Charlo, Florence and Clark Fork Thursday, and then wrestling in the Whitefish Duals Friday, and Plains-Hot Springs hosted a mixer match in Plains Saturday.

Mike Thilmony is Thompson Falls' assistant coach and Jake Lile and Rocky Wagoner assist Kujala in guiding the Savage Horsemen.