When the crosstown wrestling match between Helena High and Capital High ended in a 36-36 tie Friday, the referee and two head coaches convened at the scorers bench. The winner would be determined on a list of criteria, so they broke out the rulebook. The match was still tied after checking the first two tiebreaker criteria. But then the third tiebreaker on the list determined that Helena was the winner.

"I knew it was going to be close, and you can't get any closer than that," said Bengal coach Marty Kloker of the narrow win over Capital in the HHS Jungle.

Going in to the last contested match, at 171 pounds, Helena trailed the Bruins, 36-27. The bout featured a pair of all-state football players, in Bengal quarterback Matt Upham and CHS linebacker Tait Strom. The first period ended tied at 1-all, and then Strom took a 2-1 lead with an escape going into the third frame. Upham pulled an escape and scored a single leg takedown to go up 4-2. Next, Strom escaped to close to within one at 4-3, and the two finished the tilt on their feet for Upham's victory.

That pushed the team score to 36-30, and the six forfeit points awarded to Helena's Andy Riordan at 189 knotted things up, thus forcing the criteria search.

The Bengals have fared better in tournaments this year, but dual competition is different, and coach James Sheridan's matmen won a couple swing matches and registered the necessary pins to make it an even contest.

"My kids grew up tonight," Sheridan said. "This was a hardnosed match in a pressure-packed environment. We missed a couple breaks, but they came through. Caleb Spangler and Patt Legg both had great matches. I'm proud of all of them, especially the young kids."

Spangler decisioned Chance Burrows 12-9 at 140, avenging two previous losses to the Bengal this year. At 152, Legg was behind Kale Kamerzel 5-4 early in the final period, but achieved a pin in 5 minutes, 29 seconds.

"I pinned him with a head-and-arm. It was a good match against a good kid. I just had to keep calm and stay after it," Legg said.

A big win for Helena came at 98, when junior Jimmy Mayer, who is in his very first year of wrestling, pinned Austin Lundin in 4:59. "He was dominating me most of the match, he was squeezing the breath out of me with that leg ride," explained Mayer, who was trailing 6-0 prior to his comeback. "The coaches had me take top in the third, and I barred it up (used an arm bar) for the pin."

"I think Jimmy Mayer's pin was the difference for us," Kloker said.

The matchup at 130, which featured a pair of the top grapplers in the state, was the most heated battle of the night. Capital's Simon Asay decisioned Tyler Christians, 12-5. Christians finished sixth at state last year at 112, and Asay has placed in two invitational tourneys this season.

The rest of Helena's wins were pins by Niko Guymon (125) and Toby Erickson (heavyweight), and decisions by Ryan Fuss (135), J.T. Street (145) and Jacob Silbering (160).

Capital's other wins came by way of pins for Alex Markle (105) and Steve Emge (112), and forfeits for Quinn Markle (119) and Nick Alamia (215).

Reporter Curt Synness: 449-2150 or curt52s@bresnan.net

Capital 36, Helena 36 (Helena wins on criteria)

98 - Jimmy Mayer (HHS) pinned Austin Lundin (CHS), 4:49; 105 - Alex Markle (CHS) pinned Wyatt Boyer (CHS), 5:10; 112 - Steve Emge (CHS) pinned Brady Bertagnolli (HHS), 3:51; 119 - Quinn Markle (CHS) won forfeit; 125 - Niko Guymon (HHS) pinned Evan Asay (CHS), 4:42; 130 - Simon Asay (CHS) dec. Tyler Christians (HHS), 11-6; 135 - Ryan Fuss (HHS) dec. Maverick Mansfield (CHS), 12-9; 140 - Caleb Spangler (CHS) dec. Chance Burrows (HHS), 12-9; 145 - J.T. Street (HHS) dec. Kyle Emge (CHS), 6-0; 152 - Patt Legg (CHS) pinned Kale Kamerzel (CHS), 5:29; 160 - Jacob Silberling (HHS) dec. Cody Fiske (HHS), 10-6; 171 - Matt Upham (HHS) dec. Tait Strom (CHS), 4-3; 189 - Andy Riordan (HHS) won forfeit; 215 - Nick Alamia (CHS) won forfeit; Hvwt - Toby Erickson (HHS) pinned Tom Larson (CHS), 1:00.