What to watch for at Montana's All-Class State Wrestling Tournament in Billings
Some of the state’s finest high school athletes are ready to assemble at the Billings Metra once again, as the two-day Montana All-Class State Wrestling Tournament commences Friday morning in the Magic City.
First-round matches on 12 mats are scheduled to kickoff at 10:20 a.m. following the Parade of Athletes at 10, with quarterfinal bouts slated for 1:30 p.m. Championship matches are set for 3:15 on Saturday, beginning with the Parade of Finalists.
Here are some story lines heading into state from Class AA down to B-C:
20: Great Falls High qualified the second most grapplers in Class AA for the state meet, with two-time defending champion Kalispell Flathead sending the most with 23. Sophomore Elijah Davis earned the No. 1 seed out of the East at 182 pounds for the Bison, while Hayden Azure (138) was second.
Seniors Braeden Lomas (132) and Caden Hilliard (152), junior Easton Shupe (113) and sophomore Dre Coles (103) are all returning placers for head coach Steve Komac, while heavyweight Ethan DeRoche also has been a consistent performer this year. The Bison were fifth a season ago and have not earned a trophy since completing a three-peat from 2013-15.
145: This weight class figures to be as competitive as any in Class AA this weekend. Eastern AA champ and Minot State signee Kai Stewart of C.M. Russell High is a defending state champion and two-time finalist for the Rustlers at 138. Stewart defeated Bozeman’s Brock Rodrigues, who had taken the pair’s previous three meetings this season, 3-2 in the divisional title match last Saturday.
Western AA champion Hunter Meinzen of Missoula Big Sky, who fell to Stewart in the 138 state finals in extra time last season, took the last match between the two in the consolation title bout at the Jug Beck. The Rustler senior earned a major decision over Meinzen in the championship match at the Holiday Classic. Needless to say, a lot of parity here.
RUSTLERS: Senior Carter Carroll (138), a University of Providence commit, earned third at 126 last season. Carroll fell to Great Falls High’s Azure in the divisional semifinals last weekend, but battled back to earn the No. 3 seed. Chance Buday (205) is the East’s No. 2 after making the finals in Bozeman, while Colton Martello (103) finished third for the Rustlers. Head coach Aaron Jensen brings 10 grapplers to Billings, up from eight a season ago.
MARTIN WILKIE: The senior could become the third four-time champion in the storied tradition of the Havre program, joining Parker Filius and Jase Stokes (2014-17). The Minnesota commit is undefeated this season for the Blue Ponies, who finished second at the Eastern A Divisional to defending state champion Sidney last weekend. Mick Chagnon (103) and Cameron Pleninger (120) also picked up individual Eastern A titles for first-year mentor Beau LaSalle.
DOGIE DYNASTY: A tournament victory at 152 for Forsyth’s Michael Weber would not only make the senior one of just 30-plus four-time state champions in Montana history, but the third member of his immediate family to do so. Older brothers Luke (2013-16) and Matt (2012-15) were also four-time B-C champs for the Dogies, coached by father Scott, while Brandon won three (2012-14) and Nathan (2015, 2018) was a two-time champ and four-time finalist.
FAMILY BUSINESS: Colstrip’s Jackson Currier (138) is in line to capture his fourth crown as well, aiming to join older brother Clayton (2014-17). Reigning champ Nakoda Siegel, a cousin of the Curriers who suffered an ACL injury during football season but is 22-1 in partial action this season according to 406 MT Sports, also headlines a Colts squad that is seeking its third title in four years. Ty Bradley (160) — a reigning state champ — Beau Peterson (205), Cody Blaede (170) and Rylin Burns (145) were also Eastern B-C champs for Colstrip last weekend.
COOPER BIRDWELL: The sophomore is on the verge on a repeat perfect season for the Golden Eagles, competing at 126 following a championship at 113 last February in his rookie campaign. The younger brother of four-time finalist and 2018 champ Caleb, Cooper has posted major tournament wins including the CMR Holiday Classic and the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula.
GLASGOW: The Scotties were third a season ago and will be well-represented once again after finishing second to Colstrip at the Eastern B-C tourney. Senior Oden Hallock (138) and sophomore Dylan Nieskens (170) are returning state runners-up for mentor Jory Casterline, joined by third-place winners Colten Fast (126) and Kaden Zimmerman (138). Hallock and Fast both picked up divisional crowns in Forsyth, while Nieskens dropped a 9-5 decision to Colstrip’s Blaede in the finals and Zimmerman was second to Currier.
BOZEMAN: The Hawks have finished second as a team the past two seasons but could be in position to break through for gold with 19 athletes in the field and three returning individual champs. Senior Chance McLane (152), an Oklahoma State recruit, is a two-time champion as is junior Leif Schroeder (132), while Sterling Quinn (126) grabbed gold last season at 120.
THE NORTH: A number of northcentral Montana grapplers will look to make their way back to the podium after successful divisional triumphs last week. Valier’s Matt Connelly (126), Choteau’s Pete Henderson (138), Shelby’s Wyatt Brusven (152), and Cut Bank’s JR Seewald (170) all captured Northern B-C titles and are seeking to earn another place at the Metra.
SIDNEY: The Eagles are seeking back-to-back Class A titles and mentor Guy Melby’s ninth after running away with an Eastern A tourney championship. Sidney is led by defending state champ Kaiden Cline (113) as well as runners-up Christian Dean (138) and Jace Winter (152). The Eagles bring in five No. 1 seeds overall including Jett Jones (182), Riley Waters (160), Aden Graves (132), Dean and Cline.