Local grapplers reach state

The Malta Mustangs took advantage of hosting the Northern B-C wrestling divisional tournament Saturday. But, Harlem, Chinook and Fort Benton/Big Sandy made some noise too.

Malta ran away with the B-C title, scoring 195.5 points, but it was a strong showing for Chinook, which finished fifth with 86 points. Fort Benton/Big Sandy was seventh with 61 points and Harlem was ninth with 50.

Though Harlem was behind in the team race, the Wildcats did crown a champion at 120 pounds as Ken Todd beat Chinook's Garrett Pruttis in the championship match. Curtis Humphreys also reached the title match at heavyweight, before falling to Choteau's Dakota Daley, while Gavin Horn placed third at 113 pounds.

Harlem also got Zach Jackson through to state with a fifth place at 113 pounds, while Moses Smith placed sixth at 160.

Pruttis helped pace the Beeters, who also qualified Rebecca Stroh for this week's state tourney. Stroh was the divisions only entrant at 103 pounds. J.T. Hauer (152) and Ross Reed 145) each placed third for the Beeters, while Favion Couturior finished fourth at 160, as did Reubin Swenson at 205. Rielly Weigand was fifth at 182 pounds, and Colton Liddle was sixth at 132.

Fort Benton/Big Sandy also had a divisional champ in Connor Schnabel, who beat Valier's Tanner VandenBos at 126 pounds, while Landon Taylor reached the 152-pound final before falling to Malta's Ceaton Mears. Weston Allderdice was third at 170 pounds and Ethan Davis was fifth at 160, while Hayden Axtman placed sixth at 170.

All of the local qualifiers from the Northern B-C will now head to the Class B-C state tournament, Friday and Saturday in Billings.