Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Kevin Young, Chinook Wrestling

Chris Peterson

Havre Daily News

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Few people can say they have been a part of a state championship football team as well as a state championship wrestling team. One of the people who can is Chinook's Kevin Young.

Young, who is a senior and set to graduate this year, is enjoying his final year of playing sports for the Sugarbeeters. And not only is he a talented wrestler, he is a dominant football player who played a key role in Chinook winning the 2015 Class C 8-Man state football championship.

As an offensive guard and defensive lineman, Young dominated along the line of scrimmage for the Beeters over the past two seasons, earning Northern C All-Conference and Class C All-State honors in both his junior and senior seasons. He also finished as the school's all-time leader in sacks.

During his junior season, the Beeters went on a magical run to the state title game, before losing on the road to Wibaux. But this past season, Young and the fellow members of what is affectionately known as the "Hoon Squad" (named after Hoon Field, where Chinook play its games), were determined to get back.

And get back they did. The Beeters won their first 11 games en route to the title game. Their 12th victory of the season made them state champions, which is something that Young said he would never forget.

"After getting there as juniors and losing," Young said, "we were really determined to get back. I got to play with a great group of guys. We always had fun and played together and played for each other. We really were like brothers and I think that's why we were able to play so well in the trenches."

One thing that also made the Chinook football team outstanding was that it was filled with wrestlers. Not only was Young a wrestler, but a number of other key contributors such as Kenny Pruttis, Jesse Dannels, Derek Bell, Jake Norby and Tate Niederegger are all standouts on the wrestling team in addition to starring for the football team.

Because of their experience on the mat, the Beeters knew what it felt like to win a state championship coming into football last fall, because they won a state title in wrestling last winter. Young, who has made it to state wrestling but hasn't yet medaled, said that was his goal for this season, along with helping Chinook bring home a second consecutive team title.

If Young and the Beeters are going to hoist the Class C trophy once again in Billings, they will first need to take care of business this weekend at the Northern B-C Divisional, which just so happens to be in Chinook.

Young said he and his teammates are looking forward to wrestling at home one final time before their careers are over. Before they do, though, the Havre Daily News caught up with Young for five questions:

HDN: Which championship was more fun to win, the one in football or wrestling?

Young: "That's a hard question. I don't think I could really choose between the two. They were both great achievements."

HDN: How important is it to your team to repeat as state wrestling champions?

Young: "That has been our goal all season long. When we came here, they had won four years in a row and we lost it our first two years, only to get it back last year. So we want to make sure to be known as the kids that won it back-to-back titles. It's important to us to carry on the winning tradition we have here in Chinook."

HDN: What is your goal this year as an individual?

Young: "I want to win it all. I want to win the individual title and the team title."

HDN: What do you think is going to be the key for you to do that?

Young: "I need to wrestle smart and to the basics. That is what I work on every day. I try to be as sound as I can be and wrestle smart on top of it."

HDN: This weekend you will have your last match at home. What will that be like?

Young: "It's going to be pretty emotional. The Chinook wrestling fan base is just amazing and you dedicate your life to a sport and when it's done, it's an emotional time."