Local grapplers qualify for state at Eastern B-C

Under the new format, Hi-Line B-C wrestling teams were going to be part of a stacked divisional tournament this weekend in Glasgow. And that’s exactly how things turned out.

The Eastern B-C Divisional in Glasgow this past weekend was loaded with great teams and saw an exciting finish as Huntley Project edged top-ranked Clasgow 260-255.5 for the divisional title. Circle and Colstrip were a distant third and fourth, respectively.

Meanwhile, Fort Benton/Big Sandy was the top local team in the tournament, as they finished with 91 points to tie Poplar for seventh. The Longhorns advanced seven grapplers to the state tournament, including heavyweight Brock Hanford, who finished fourth, 103-pounder Trevor O’Hara who also placed fourth, Cade Ball, who took fourth at 152, and veteran Hayden Axtmen, who took fifth at 182. Brady Pleninger also placed seventh at 205, as did Bayley Genereaux at 145. Reinhard Bold rounded out the scoring for the co-op with a sixth-place finish at 138.

Chinook wound up finishing 12th in the divisional tournament with 47 points. Wyatt Dunbar led the way for the Sugarbeeters with a third-place finish at heavyweight. Tyler Schoen did the same for Chinook at 170 pounds, while Drake Berreth took seventh at 152.

Harlem will send three grapplers to state, led by Mikkel Rider, who took sixth at 205 and Lance Blackcrow, who was sixth at 182. Darrius Longknife also finished eighth at 145 for the Wildcats.

Now, all the qualifiers from the Eastern and Western B-C tournament will converge on Shelby Friday and Saturday for the Class B-C state tournament. The All-Class State Tournament in Billings was canceled this year due to cornavirus.