Area grapplers shine in Billings

BILLINGS — After strong regular season of Class B-C wrestling on the Hi-Line, area teams headed south this weekend for the grand finale.

And competing at the Class B-C state tournament at the Rimrock Auto Arena at Metra Park in Billings, it was Harlem and Chinook which were really able to put a stamp on another successful season in 2014.

The Class C Chinook Sugarbeeters were able to finish in second place as a team in the Class C only competition, returning to Chinook with some hard-earned hardware. Saturday night was a good night for Harlem, too, as senior Seth Adams earned the Wildcats a coveted individual state championship.

“Belt beat us by seven points, and the bottom line is we could have had better wrestle backs last night (Friday),” Chinook head coach Perry Miller said. “But we did get Tate Niederegger on the podium as a freshman and Jesse Dannels on the podium as a sophomore, and we have no seniors. It is only up from here for us.”

And the Beeters were able to move up in the team standings with just eight wrestlers quailed to compete. Niederegger (120) led the Beeters to 43 team points with the team’s only appearance in the championship round Saturday night. Niederegger ended the weekend as the second best in the state after losing a 16-0 technical fall to Colstrip’s Gage Currier, now a three-time state champ. Niederegger pinned (1:03) his first-round opponent, and followed suit with a 17-8 major decision win, then a narrow 3-2 decision over Zach Durden of Eureka in the semifinals.

But then, Niederegger ran into one of the state’s best for the last three years in the chipper.

Niederegger finished with a 3-1 record. Donovan Moon (113) went 1-2 on the weekend, as did Jake Norby (126) and Kevin Young (182). Ken Pruttis (152) and Alexander Rimkus (132) both went 0-2, but Jesse Dannels (170) was also able to go 2-3 and got out of Billings with a sixth-place finish. Dannels’ weekend ended with a loss to Evander Wilbur of Townsend. He started out 2-0, reaching the semifinals.

“It was pretty cool wrestling in the finals in front of the crowd,” Niederegger said, “but it was a tough match all around and I just didn’t come out firing on all cylinders. I had a slow start and he took advantage of that. It was a tough loss, but the team did all right, too. We would have liked to have brought a first-place trophy back, but there is always next year.”

Harlem also had a standout showing in the team competition.

The Wildcats entered the weekend with nine individuals, but found out just how deep and talented the Class B ranks are. Colstrip ran away from everybody with 224 points. The Wildcats finished sixth overall with 94.

Adams was the anchor for the Wildcats and was the lone Wildcat getting his arm raised Saturday night. Adams went 4-0 on the weekend and earned the individual title at 220 pounds with a dominating 10-4 decision over Huntley Project’s Tanner Miller in the title match. Adams jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first period and added a near fall in the second to lead 8-0. From there he never looked back. But Adams was a force all weekend long. Adams also had three wins by way of fall, taking down the opposition with times of 3:35, :35, and 1:30 on his way to his second straight finals appearance. Adams placed second at 215 pounds as a junior.

“This feels amazing, you don’t know what it means to work so hard all year and have all these great teammates and coaches to push you,” said Adams, who’s headed to Montana Tech to play football. “This is the ultimate payoff. Our whole team is good; to have four guys in the finals is a great feeling. It made it way easier for me, with all of that support and atmosphere, it is a brotherhood.”

Shay Snider (126), Teague Jones (132) and Brenden Johnson (145) also wrestled in the championship round, but all finished in second place and with 3-1 records. Snider lost a narrow 2-0 decision, Jones lost a 7-4 decision, and Johnson lost a 5-0 decision. Snider lost to defending state champ Matt Weber of Forsyth, and was runner-up for a second straight season. So was Jones. A four-time state placer, Jones settled for second for the second year in a row after losing to Plains’ Russell Kujala in the final. Johnson gave Harlem a big lift by getting to the finals where he lost to repeat champion Luke Weber of Forsyth.

Challance Jackson (120), Franki Taylor (120), Kevin Hawley (152), Denton Cornell and Trent Noel (HWT) also took to the mats at the state tournament, but combined for just two more Wildcat wins. Cornell and Noel both went 1-2 before losing out.

“Overall they (Wildcats) wrestled up to our expectations,” Harlem head coach Lyle Faulkinberry said. “But there in the end we didn’t get the breaks going our way, and that is the nature of the beast. We are the same caliber as those guys that beat us, we are just as good, but we didn’t create our own breaks. My heart goes out to our senior boys, Trent Noel we thought would place doesn’t. And Teague (Jones) and Shay (Snider) lived their whole lives for this moment, but it seemed like we would just get that one bad break or one mistake. They are great kids and great wrestlers, and when they leave this arena and things wear off, they will be great individuals with great futures. But this whole group worked hard every day and are a great bunch, from our freshmen to seniors.”

The Big Sandy Pioneers were represented by Adrian Gasvoda (170), who went 0-2 with a 9-0 major decision and 9-2 decision loss. Chester/J-I was represented by Sam Deffinbaugh (182), Wyatt Wickum (195) and Jack Fritz (220). All three Hawks also went 0-2.

Colstrip won its first state title since dropping down to Class B, while Choteau was second with 169 points and Forsyth was third with 151. The Dogies had won the previous three state titles. Huntley Project finished fourth and Northern B-C champion Conrad was fifth. Chinook finished in 18th place overall. Belt, which claimed its first Class C title, and is only the second team besides Chinook to ever claim the trophy, finished in 14th place overall. Chinook has won five Class C titles since the trophy was first handed out seven season's ago.

Class B-C

Final team scores

Colstrip 224, Choteau 169, Forsyth 151, Huntley Project 116.5, Conrad 100.5, Harlem 94, St. Ignatius-Charlo 91.5, Malta 82, Fairfield 80, Plains-Hot Springs 70, Baker 67, Cut Bank 66, Eureka 52, Belt 50, Ronan 49, Columbus-Absarokee 44, Wolf Point 43.5, Chinook 43, Townsend 40, Whitehall 39, Cascade-Simms 38, Superior 32, Florence 28, Glasgow 27, Broadus 26.5, Circle 26, Shepherd 21, Drummond-Philipsburg 19.5, Arlee 18, Noxon 12, Deer Lodge 10, Shelby 10, Fort Benton 5, Bigfork 5, Thompson Falls 4, Poplar 3.

Finals

98 - Lane Bradley (CLS) major dec. Tony Roso (CAS), 15-2; 106 - Maestro Martinez (WPT) dec. Morgan Schultz (STI), 8-6; 113 - Clayton Currier (CLS) pinned Garrett White (EUR), 4:23; 120 - Gage Currier (CLS) tech. fall Tate Niederegger (CHK), 16-0; 126 - Matt Weber (FOR) dec. Shay Snider (HRM), 2-0; 132 - Russell Kujala (PLA) dec. Teague Jones (HRM), 7-4; 138 - Rico Stormer (CIR) dec. J.J. Werdal (CHO), 5-0; 145 - Luke Weber (FOR) dec. Brenden Johnson (HRM), 5-0; 152 - Brandon Weber (FOR) pinned Austin Blaede (CLS), 3:12; 160 - Chris Nile (FOR) pinned Garrett Moritz (CON), 4:51; 170 - Jacen Petersen (STI) pinned Hunter Croff (BLT), 5:04; 182 - Mason Melby (BAK) dec. Layne Durfee (CHO), 7-5; 195 - Jake French (CHO) major dec. Dylan Reed (FRF), 12-0; 220 - Seth Adams (HRM) dec. Tanner Miller (HPH), 10-4; Hwt - Tucker Yates (CLS), pinned Kelin King (MAL), :46.

Third place

98 - Parker Snyder (HPH) pinned Chase DeBoo (CHO), 2:02; 106 - Ben Galloway (CLS) dec. Trevor Moore (CHO), 5-3; 113 - Jess Lockwood (BRO) pinned Anthony Parkin (SUP), 4:56; 120 - Taner Stone (CHO) dec. Jake Reinschmidt (WHL), 11-6; 126 - Jamie Mullins (STI) dec. Lane Torgerson (CLS), 3-2; 132 - Seth Currier (CLS) pinned Logan Harms (FOR), 4:54; 138 - Jace Berkram (CBH) dec. Tony Bergerson (DRM), 7-3; 145 - Reid Vandenbos (CBH) dec. Travis Koenig (BAK), 11-6; 152 - Justin Meier (COL) pinned Brandon French (CON), 1:49; 160 - Nolan Simanton (MAL) dec. Joe Detienne (PLA), 6-4; 170 - Steeler French (CHO) pinned Blake Jessen (HPH), 3:32; 182 - David Hopson (WPT) dec. Hunter Mycke (CON), 5-3; 195 - Koni Dole (HPH) pinned Antonio Lopez (MAL), 2:37; 220 - Jake Sessions (CLS) pinned Christian Cottingham (BLT), 2:42; Hwt - Ben Gorham (PLA) dec. Gerome Lamb (MAL), 7-1.

Fifth place

98 - Devon Rowe (WHL) pinned Blaine Parkin (SUP), 1:49; 106 - Donte Wohlfeil (HPH) pinned Robert Rhodes (FRF), 3:46; 113 - Austin McArthur (TSD) pinned Kasey Seyfert (GLA), 2:34; 120 - Zach Durden (EUR) dec. Eli Walston (COL), 9-6; 126 - Travis Vermulm (CBH) pinned Connor Rogers (DLG), 4:00; 132 - Cache Giles (FRF) pinned Torren Lawson (FLC), 4:58; 138 - Blaine Berg (CON) pinned Tristian Busch (FOR), :42; 145 - Brandon Dumont (RON) major dec. Ben Rauscher (CON), 9-1; 152 - Joel Graf (FRF) dec. Tyler Schultz (CON), 12-8; 160 - Robert Jennings (CBH) major dec. Alex Bertolt (ARL), 14-0; 170 - Evander Wilbur (TSD) pinned Jesse Dannels (CHK), 2:56; 182 - Steven Bravo (STI) dec. Kian Brown (HPH), 14-7; 195 - Kaelan Yanak (EUR) dec. Travis Field (CHO), 3-0; 220 - Keenan Hendricksen (FLC) pinned John Onofrey (NOX), 1:25; Hwt - Michael Irvine (RON) pinned Dustin Irgens (BAK), 3:24.

Chinook Individual Results

113 – Donovan Moon

1st rd – pinned Colton Hillyard, CAS, :36; Quarterfinals – pinned by Kasey Seyfert, GLA, 2:31; Consolation 2nd rd – pinned by Michael Werk, SHP, 5:19.

120 – Tate Niederegger

1st rd – pinned Sean Prevost, DRU, 1:03; Quarterfinals – maj. dec. Eli Walston, CLU, 17-8; Semifinals – dec. Zach Durden, EUR, 3-2; Final – lost tech. fall Gage Currier, COL, 16-0.

126 – Jake Norby

1st rd – pinned by Jamie Mullins, SI, 2:48; Consolation 1st rd – pinned Michael Sherwood, CLU, 1:23; Consolation 2nd rd – lost dec. Lane Torgerson, COL, 4-0.

132 – Alexander Rimkus

1st rd – pinned by Logan Harms, FSY, 1:28; Consolation 1st rd – pinned by Chase Rhine, RON, 3:28.

138 – Anthony Hoag

1st rd – pinned by Rico Stormer, CIR, :30; Consolation 1st rd – pinned by James Dunn, EUR, :54.

152 – Ken Pruttis

1st rd – pinned by Austin Blaede, COL, :49; Consolation 1st rd – lost dec. Luke Crowe, NOX, 6-4.

170 – Jesse Dannels (6th Place)

1st rd – pinned Roman Lorance, CAS, 3:45; Quarterfinals – pinned Jace Pancake, FLO, 2:50; Semifinals – pinned by Hunter Croff, BEL, 1:50; Consolation Semi – lost tech. fall Steeler French, CHO, 16-0; Fifth/Sixth – pinned by Evander Wilbur, TOW, 2:56.

182 – Kevin Young

1st rd – pinned Dillon Hoerauf, WHT, :54; Quarterfinal - pinned by Mason Melby, BAK, 1:39; Consolation 2nd rd - pinned by Kian Brown, HP, 2:12.

Harlem Individual Results

120 – Challance Jackson

1st rd – pinned by Zach Durden, EUR, :19; Consolation 1st rd – pinned by Jake Reinschmidt, WHT, :20.

120 – Franki Taylor

1st rd – lost tech. fall Gregory Weatherwax, SI, 16-0; Consolation 1st rd – pinned by Connor DeBruckyer, CHO, 3:40.

126 – Shay Snider (2nd Place)

1st rd – pinned James Detienne, PLA, 3:32; Quarterfinals – dec. Logan Schwope, TOW, 8-2; Semifinals – dec. Connor Rogers, DL, 3-2; Final – lost dec. Matt Weber, FSY, 2-0.

132 – Teague Jones (2nd Place)

1st rd – pinned Spencer Losing, BAK, 2:52; Quarterfinals – maj. dec. Torren Lawson, FLO, 12-4; Semifinals – maj. dec. Seth Currier, COL, 22-10; Final – lost dec. Russel Kujala, PLA, 7-4.

145 – Brendan Johnson (2nd Place)

1st rd – dec. John Manning, HP, 6-0; Quarterfinals – dec. Brandon Dumont, RON, 5-2; Semifinals – dec. Ben Rauscher, CON, 6-2; Final – lost dec. Luke Weber, FSY, 5-0.

152 – Kevin Hawley

1st rd – pinned by Brandon Weber, FSY, :18; Consolation 1st rd – pinned by Ty Pocha, DRU, 1:55.

170 – Denton Cornell

1st rd – pinned by Hunter Croff, BEL, 1:33; Consolation 1st rd – maj. dec. Ronny Cullis, RON, 12-2; Consolation 2nd rd – pinned by Thayne Hage, COL, 1:58.

220 – Seth Adams (State Champion)

1st rd – pinned Walter Snyder, CHO, 3:35; Semifinals – pinned Jake Sessions, COL, :35; Semifinals – pinned Keenan Hendrickson, FLO, 1:58l; Final – dec. Tanner Miller, HP, 10-4.

HWT – Trent Noel

1st rd – pinned Joe Stewart, TOW, 1:14; Quarterfinals – lost dec. Tucker Yates, COL, 7-2; Consolation 2nd rd – pinned by Lucas Dekker, SHP, 2:43.

Chester/J-I Individual Results

182 – Sam Deffinbaugh

1st rd – pinned by Layne Durfee, CHO, :45; 1st rd Consolation – pinned by Kian Brown, HP< :47.

195 – Wyatt Wickum

1st rd – pinned by Dylan Reed, FF, :23; 1st rd Consolation – pinned by Kaelan Yanek, EUR, 2:09.

220 – Jack Fritz

1st rd – pinned by Denver Krone, CHO, :15; 1st rd Consolation – pinned by Thomas Bell, FSY, :24.

Big Sandy Individual Results

170 – Adrian Gasvoda

1st rd – lost dec. Steeler French, CHO, 9-0; 1st rd Consolation – lost dec. Kevin Frigon, GLA, 9-2.