State Wrestling 2017: Tate Niederegger closes career in style

Tate Niederegger had maybe his worst day at the All-Class State wrestling tournament Friday in Billings at the Rimrock Auto Arena at the Metra. But Saturday, on the final day of the meet, he had one of his finest.

After losing in the quarterfinals Friday, Niederegger knew he wasn't going to be a three-time state champion. However, he still had a chance to reach the podium and with three wins Saturday, he won the consolation final over Ty Bradley from Colstrip, the same wrestler who beat him Friday, to end up third.

The finish, which wasn't quite what he was hoping for, still gave Niederegger four top-three finishes in his storied career. As a freshman, he finished second. The next two years, he won an individual crown, before closing things out as a senior in third.

"It's not the ending that I was hoping for," Niederegger said. "But I was glad I was able to finish on a positive note and get some redemption after he beat me (Friday)."

Chinook head wrestling coach Perry Miller was also proud of his star wrestler and spoke glowingly about him afterwards.

"Tate is just a good all-around person," Miller said. "He's a good wrestler, a good athlete, a good student and a good person. I have had a lot of great kids over the years, but he ranks right up there with all of them."

In his opening match, Saturday, Niederegger won a 5-0 decision over James Dunn of Lincoln, followed by an 18-2 technical fall over Trey Taylor. Then in his final high-school match, the senior capped his career poetically, knocking off Bradley by way of an 8-3 decision.

While Niederegger finished off his career in style, the Sugarbeeters were unable to defend their Class C state championship. Chinook finished with meet with 18.5 points and finished well behind Hot Springs, which won going away with 86 points. Fairfield/Simms was second with 45 points and St. Ignatius/Charlo was third with 41.5.

Harlem and Fort Benton, which both advanced one wrestler to Saturday, each finished well back in the pack. Harlem scored 13.5 in the Class B ranks; Fort Benton finished with nine.

For more coverage, see Monday's edition of the Havre Daily News.