Two Glasgow Wrestlers Make Their Presence Known On and Off The Mat

Glasgow Scotties Kyler Hallock and Mayson Phipps had the privilege and opportunity to compete in the world's largest and toughest offseason high school wrestling competition, the U.S. Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals at the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., July 13 through 19. The competition, which has seen previous competitors go on to the college-level and compete in the World and Olympic wrestling arenas, featured talented athletes who are currently making names for themselves in the wrestling world. Both young men finished with three wins and four losses over the full week competing for the Montana USAW Cadet and Junior National Team.

Phipps, who has only been wrestling for three years after being persuaded by Glasgow Scotties Wrestling Coach Jory Casterline to try out, found the tournament experience a neat one, though overwhelming. "It was pretty cool to be able to wrestle there. The dome is huge, I got butterflies in my stomach," recalled Phipps. Hallock on the other hand was ready for the experience. "I wrestled there in fifth-grade so I wasn't nervous when I got on the mat. I was certainly surprised, but not nervous," he recalled.

Both Hallock and Phipps have different backgrounds of how they became wrestlers, however their current story is the same, work hard and wrestle harder. Both young men not only wrestle for the Glasgow Scotties but they have also been wrestling for Team Montana, two years for Phipps and four years for Hallock, giving them the opportunity to wrestle in different arenas and against different people throughout the country. Case in point, their parents have hardly seen them this summer as they have spent time in Missoula, Spokane, Wash., Dickinson, N.D., and Bozeman in addition to the tournament in Fargo, furthering their skills and improving their performance on the mat.

Hallock has been wrestling since he was three years old, first being introduced to the sport after watching his brother wrestle and being tagged along to the meets. Twelve years later and beginning his sophomore year of high school, Hallock has not only fallen in love with sports in general but has also become a role model for his peers and those within the wrestling world. "Winning matches makes me feel good so I just keep going," said Hallock. His mother on the other hand can't believe how quickly the time has gone. "Just yesterday, he was three-years-old and in his little singlet," recalled Hallock's mother, Jessica Ost.

Phipps is relatively new to the world of wrestling. When he first started as an eighth-grader, he went to many tournaments to gain the experience and skills necessary to succeed. With the assistance of assistant coach Dusty Kittleson and the Glasgow Wrestling Club, he has been able to gain the skills necessary to become a better wrestler. In the short time he has competed on Team Montana, he has been able to build the camaraderie and learn from other coaches at the meets.

Even though wrestling keeps them busy during the off season, both young men still find time to excel at school work and volunteer their time to help out the community. This past winter, both Hallock and Phipps helped shovel the driveway and sidewalk of Marilyn Smith, the widow to Scottie mega-fan Bob Smith who passed away unexpectedly last February. They have also cleaned the fair grandstands, help with kids at the yearly football camp and do countless other things that aren't asked of them. "They are just good kids. They are good role models for younger wrestlers, and I'm very proud of that." stated Ost.

During the off-season, in addition to volunteering, both play football for the Glasgow Scotties, weight-lift, play basketball, and spend as much time on the lake as possible. As their high school careers continue to pass, it's still up in the air whether or not wrestling will be in their futures. Phipps would love to play D1 football for either the Cats or Griz and Hallock hasn't decided fully if he wants to wrestle in college. Regardless what their future holds in the sport, both young men are paving the way for future success.

Freestyle Results from USAW 16U Nationals in Fargo:

Junior Mayson Phipps 285 lbs.

Round 1 – Bye

Round 2 - Loss by Dec. to Neloms (Georgia) 4-3.

Conso 32 - Won 15-3 over Lapachinsky (Pennsylvania)

Conso 16 - Won 11-1 over Ketzenberg (Washington) 

Finishes the Day 2-1.

Sophomore Kyler Hallock 160 lbs.

Round 1 – Bye

Round 2 - Won by dec. over Muro (Florida) 8-3

Round 3 - lost 10-0 to Endicott (Ohio)

Conso 32 - lost 9-0 to Powell (Oklahoma)

Finishes the tournament 1-2.