George Ferguson Column: Thank you for being so inspirational

If the Chinook high school wrestling team had decided to forgo the 2016 Class C state tournament, no one would have blamed them. Dealing with the tragedy that has befallen the Chinook community, the loss of beloved Jesse Dannels is something that will be ongoing.

But, for five high school wrestlers, dealing with the loss of their best friend and teammate, in front of 10,000 people, that’s a burden unlike any other. However, the Sugarbeeters decided to carry that burden with them to Billings. And they did it because they knew that’s what Jesse would have wanted them do to. They knew, Jesse would have wanted them to wrestle.

Chinook also went to Billings with Jesse with them, and they went to Billings, despite their pain, their heartache and their emotions having to be born out in front of an audience, because they wanted to win for Jesse. Because, they wanted to give Jesse the state championship he so deserved.

And, Saturday night, in front of a capacity crowd at the Rimrock Auto Arena, Chinook did just that. They capped an emotional and remarkable two days of wrestling by delivering the state championship to their fallen friend and teammate, Jesse Dannels.

It was a tribute unlike any other, and it was also a remarkable display of wrestling by the talented Beeters, who not only won two individual state championships, but also placed all five wrestlers, scored 100 team points with just five guys, and wrestled some of the best matches of their lives.

To wrestle as well as the Beeters did, with all that has happened, and with all that was going on in their hearts and minds, that’s something truly incredible. Wrestling is a tough, grueling, demanding sport, and one that takes the strongest amounts of mental concentration in order to succeed. And the fact that the Sugarbeeters could do that, with how their lives have been altered, it just speaks volumes to how good of wrestlers all five of them truly are.

It also speaks to the angel on their shoulders this past weekend, as Jesse was with them for each and every one of their matches.

But, as impressive as the Beeters were on the mat in Billings, what was more impressive was how these young men have carried themselves through all of this. The way they opened their hearts and souls to the public, to the media, to total strangers who just wanted to wish them their best and offer condolences, that’s what I’ll always remember most about this Chinook team.

The way these young men lifted their heads high and met the challenges they were faced with head on, it’s truly a remarkable display of the human spirit. It’s a remarkable display of maturity, honesty and emotion. And, it’s also a testament to how much they love their friend, Jesse Dannels.

What these five young men did this past weekend in Billings, not just inside the circle, but outside of it, with so much attention on them, with their hearts torn wide open, is one of the most incredible acts of courage, and maturity I’ve ever known, from anyone, at any age.

I know nothing, absolutely nothing came easy for Tate Niederegger, Jake Norby, Kenny Pruttis, Derek Bell and Kevin Young this weekend. The matches weren’t easy, the attention wasn’t easy, the talking to the media about their beloved friend Jesse wasn’t easy. Just being in Billings wasn’t easy for them.

But, they did it anyway. They did it because they are incredible young men, special young men, and, most of all, because they love and miss their friend and they wanted to honor him, no matter how challenging ot would be.

At the end of the day, the Chinook wrestling team taught me a lesson, they taught us all a lesson in how to be strong, how to persevere, and most of all, how to love. And I learned that lesson from just observing what was going on in Billings from 275 miles away in Havre.

And I promise, it’s a lesson I’ll never forget. So thank you to the Chinook Sugarbeeters, not just for being some of the very best wrestlers in the state, but for being the special men that you are, and for uplifting and inspiring so many people during the most difficult times in your lives.

Again, all I can say is, thank you to the Beeters, and I’m so proud to know you.