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New Thompson Falls High School head wrestling coach Mike Thilmony was the best available man for the job.

Now the head honcho, the man in charge of Blue Hawk wrestling, Thilmony’s first official act as coach will be guiding his 15-strong team into the Bob Owens Invitational in Polson Friday and Saturday.

Thilmony said the mat action is slated to begin at 3 p.m. Friday in the 20-team tournament which features Class AA, A and B-C squads in one of the tougher open tourneys of any high school season in Montana.

Recently hired as the head coach after serving as an assistant for several years, and dedicating himself to the sport of youth wrestling at almost all times otherwise, Thilmony remains all in on wrestling as he takes on his first high school head coaching job.

Thilmony works for First Security Bank in Thompson Falls during his real 9 to 5 life away from wrestling.

“I love wrestling, I just think it is a great life-sport,” he said. “It builds good things, teaches you life lessons like nothing else.

“Of course you have to enjoy being tested to realize it,” he added, “but I think wrestling is a great sport to raise a kid on.”

One of those kids raised on wrestling, Thilmony’s own son Trae, now a sophomore, will be a team leader for the Hawks after winning a third place medal at 113 pounds in the 2019 State B-C tournament.

Junior Roman Sparks, who won second place at 120 pounds in the State B-C last winter, is Thompson Falls’ other returning medal-winner, and senior Dakota Irvine (182 pounds) and sophomore Shane Reishus (126) are the other returning State B-C qualifiers.

Junior Lucas Andersen, who narrowly missed earning a berth to State last year at 145 is back and his twin brother Derek Andersen is out for wrestling for the first time.

Junior Dane Chojnacky suffered an injury late in the season last year and could not compete in the post season, but has been looking good in practice and will probably wrestle at 170 pounds this season, Thilmony said.

Also working out in the Hawks’ wrestling room are seniors Seth Allarcon and Will McPherson, junior Josh Baldwin of Noxon, sophomore Eric Strom and freshmen Elijah Ratliff and Weston Brown.

A teacher in the junior high system, Jase Miller has agreed to be Thilmony’s assistant coach. Thilmony accepted the head coaching job only after previous coach Ian Taylor resigned during the off season.

Thilmony seems happy with his new position in the sporting world.

“It’s been exciting seeing us in the room working out, we have some great leadership in there,” he said. “We are thinking the program is in a good place right now, we look forward to the season.”