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News you can use
Harlem's Teague Jones, top, will look to win a Northern B-C individual title, as well as help the Wildcats repeat as divisional champions at Saturday Northern B-C Divisional in Harlem.
Postseason wrestling is about to invade the Hi-Line. And when area wrestlers take to the mat for the Northern B-C Divisional tournament, all that matters is getting to Billings.
Coveted state tournament spots and divisional team titles will be on the line when the Northern B-C tourney takes place Saturday in Harlem. The tournament will consistent of local powers Harlem and Chinook, as well as area grapplers from Chester/J-I and Big Sandy. Also in attendance will be Cut Bank, Malta and Shelby.
The host Wildcats will be the heavy favorite to capture the team title, but they’ll be pushed by Cut Bank, Malta and Chinook. The Wolves probably have the most depth after Harlem, the defending Northern B-C champ, but the Sugarbeeters and Mustangs have some individual firepower as well.
The meet should be intense as well, as only four spots from each weight class will advance to next week’s Class B-C state tournament in Billings.
Local preps vying for divisional titles this weekend include Harlem stars Shay Snider, Teague Jones Brendan Johnson and Seth Adams. Snider, Jones and Adams are defending divisional champions, with Snider currently ranked No. 2 at 126 pounds, Jones No. 1 at 132 and Adams No. 1 at 220 pounds. Johnson is ranked No. 4 at 145 pounds and should meet third-ranked Reid VandenBos of Cut Bank in the final. Harlem also has Trent Noel ranked No. 5 at heavyweight, and he’ll battle Malta Kelin King for the divisional title on Saturday.
Other Wildcats looking to push through to the state tournament include Denton Cornell (160), T’Jay Allen (132), John Bell (138) and Colten Stiffarm (HWT).
Meanwhile, Chinook may not have the depth to keep up with the Class B schools this weekend, but the Beeters are still the top-ranked Class C school in the state. Tate Niederegger is a heavy favorite to win the 120-pound divisional title, while Donovan Moon is tops in the division at 113 pounds. Jake Norby (126), Ken Pruttis (152), Jesse Dannels (170), Kevin Young (182) and Gage Haugen (220) should also score points for the Beeters and move on to state as well.
Big Sandy and C/J-I have only a handful of wrestlers entered in the divisional tourney, but a few of those individuals could find their way into the state meet as well. C/J-I’s Sam Deffinbaugh is a strong contender at 170 pounds.
Cut Bank’s Travis Vermlum (126) Jace Berkram (138) and Robert Jennings (160) are finals’ contenders this weekend, as is Malta’s Nolan Simonton (160).
The 2014 Northern B-C Divisional meet begins at 12 p.m. Saturday in Harlem. The finals are scheduled for late afternoon. The Class B-C state meet is set for Feb. 14-15 at the Billings Metra.
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