Northern B-C Divisional hits Big Sandy's mats

One day is all that stands between local prep wrestling teams and the All-Class State Tournament next weekend in Billings.

But it’s a big day.

Saturday, area teams like Chinook, Harlem, Chester/J-I and Big Sandy will wrestle in Class B-C Divisional tournaments, with spots in the state tournament on the line.

The action will be intense as the Northern B-C tournament comes to Big Sandy Saturday afternoon. The Chinook Sugarbeeters are among the favorites to win the divisional title, after they finished fourth a year ago. But the Beeters’ depth may not be able to keep up with Conrad, Cut Bank and Malta, three more strong programs in the field Saturday.

Still, Chinook should make a strong push and will likely have a host of grapplers wrestling for divisional titles. Chinook is led by sophomore Tate Niederegger, who is ranked No. 1 at 132 pounds and has suffered just two losses all season. Jake Norby, Jesse Dannels and Kevin Young are among the Beeters who also have a strong chance of claiming an individual title Saturday, while Chinook head coach Perry Miller could push as many as nine or 10 Beeters through to the state tournament. Kenneth Pruttis and Derek Bell should also make noise for the Beeters this weekend.

Harlem, which had a strong showing at last year’s Northern B-C, doesn’t have the depth it had a year ago, when the Wildcats won five individual titles on their home mats at the 2014 divisonal tourney. But, Harlem does have senior Brendan Johnson at 160 pounds. Johnson should win a divisional title and contend for a state championship next week in Billings. Johnson was a state runner-up a year ago. Trent Noel should also do well in the heavyweight division this weekend.

Meanwhile, Chester/J-I and Big Sandy won’t have enough wrestlers to keep pace in the team scores in Big Sandy, but both the Pioneers and Hawks are hoping to advance grapplers to the upcoming state meet. C/J-I’s Cory Kelly could contend for a divisional title as well this weekend, while other top wrestlers in the field include, Malta’s Trey Simonton (113) and Quintan Boos (152), Conrad’s Ben Rausher (152) and Hunter Mycke (170), Cut Bank’s Jace Berkram (145) and Reid VandenBos (152), and Shelby’s Streeter Sterling (205).

The 2015 Northern B-C Divisional tournament gets underway at 12 p.m. Saturday in Big Sandy. The finals are scheduled for 4 p.m. The top four wrestlers from each weight class advance to next weekend’s B-C state tournament at the Billings Metra.