State Wrestling 2022: Hi-Line represented at the Class B-C state tournament

While all eyes will be on the Havre High wrestling team this weekend as they will compete in the Class A state tournament in Billings, Hi-Line wrestling fans should also pay attention to the Class B-C State tournament as well. Many wrestlers from Fort Benton, Chinook and Harlem will represent the Hi-Line this weekend as they compete for state titles.

The Fort Benton Longhorns will take six wrestlers with them to state this weekend. Brock Hanford is coming off a first-place finish wrestling in the 285-pound weight class at the Eastern B-C Divisionals last weeked. Trevor O'Hara is also coming off a strong performance at divisionals where he placed third wrestling at 113 pounds.

At 182 pounds, Colter Ball took fourth at divisionals to qualify for state. Both Teagan Reimer and Cade Ball took fifth at divisionals as Reimer wrestled at 126 pounds and Ball wrestled at 160. Damian Ort took eighth wrestling at 205 pounds to make it to this weekend's state tournament.

The Chinook Sugarbeeters will take three wrestlers to state this weekend. Tyler Schoen hopes to build off his first-place finish at divisionals where he wrestled at 170 pounds. Wyatt Dunbar will wrestle at 285 pounds after taking second at divisionals. Lane Snider qualified for state after taking fifth at 145 pounds last weekend. The Sugarbeeters are led by Ben Stroh, who is in his first year as head coach.

"It is a new experience heading into my first state wrestling as the head coach. However, I know all the coaches on our staff feel the same uneasiness for our wrestlers," Stroh said. "These wrestlers have put a lot of time and effort into their goals. Simply put, we want the best for them. Anything we can do or say to help them we will do, but the hard work they have to do themselves."

The Harlem Wildcats will also send three wrestlers to Billings this weekend. Darrius Longknife heads into this weekend after a fifth-place finish at 170 pounds this past weekend. Mike King is coming off a sixth-place finish at divisionals where he wrestled at 182 pounds. Landen Gray will also get a shot at state after taking seventh at 132 pounds at divisionals.

Chester-Joplin-Inverness will also be represented in Billings this weekend as Ryder Cole will be the lone Hawk to go. He qualified for the tournament after taking sixth at 138 pounds this past weekend.

Many other schools from Class B and Class C will compete through the weekend. Hi-Line wrestlers will compete against schools such as Colstrip, Poplar, Malta, Baker, Anaconda, Shepherd and defending state champion Glasgow. But Stroh believes the teams to beat this weekend are Huntley Project in Class B and Circle and Cascade in Class C. Despite the tough competition, Stroh wants to see his wrestlers be at their best to end the season.

"I hope to see hard wrestling, as well as wrestling through every whistle," Stroh said. "Of course I want them to win, but the more important thing is how they compete. If they compete like I know they can, things will work out just fine for them individually as well as for the team."

The Class B-C state tournament will begin this Friday at the Metra in Billings.