wrestle-mania

This week’s sport section was short on space as I had so much more to put in the B tab. Most of the week’s content is wrestling as an astonishing 42 wrestlers from Lake County make their way to Billings this weekend.
Many have a shot at placing or taking home the crown.
Story lines:
Ronan, as a team, took third last year while Polson has the tools to make a run at a top-three team finish.
Ronan senior Micky Cheff looks to defend his state title from last year
His brother, Ronan junior Toby Cheff, looks for his first state title after finishing third in the past two tourneys
Polson senior Ty Fouty took fourth last year
Ronan senior Cameron Neiss will go for his second state title
Arlee junior Cole Rice is looking for his first state title after taking second last year
Polson senior Kaden Thomas took fourth
Polson senior Brock Picard is going for his third title which would make him the second Pirate to get three state championships. In an interview with the Leader last year Picard said, “Getting two down is a pretty big accomplishment, but I’m not going to settle for two, I’m going to settle for three.”

At the end of the tournament, 1350 matches will have taken place between the three classes.
The brackets came out on Tuesday at http://www.mhsa.org/
Here’s a preview of the match-ups:
Class A- full brackets
98
Polson’s Pat Sumner vs Frenchtown’s Glen Hensley
Ronan’s Lukas Conklin vs Frenchtowns’s Rot Schutter
Polson’s Craig Feistner vs. Butte Central’s Tyler Arelleto

105
Polson’s Lucas Polk vs. Frenchtown’s Carson Wabaunesee

112
Ronan’s Andrew Teigan vs Hamilton’s Michael Ledford
Polson’s Razz Walhood vs. Corvallis’ Levi Gingerich

119
Polson’s Jesse Alfiero vs. Dillon’s Shawn Tezak
Polson’s Drew Fouty vs. Anaconda’s Jake Stock

125
Ronan’s Kyle Lawson vs. Corvallis’ Travis Davis
Polson’s Nick Howell vs. Dillon’s Marcus Osbourne

130
Ronan’s Shelby Grant vs. Sidney’s Lane Houchen
Ronan’s Cameron Neiss vs Glendive’s Cole Bilbrey

135
Polson’s Jacob Young vs. Glendive’s Alex Palmer

140
Polson’s Mike Devlin vs. Glendive’s Dillon Beeler
Polson’s Randy Kelley vs. Laurel’s Tommy Cooper

145
Polson’s Brock Bleazard vs. Glendive’s Kyle Rushing
Ronan’s Dustin Goldsby vs. MCY’s Shane Cooley

152
Polson’s Ty Fouty vs Glendive’s Jake Scheetz
Ronan’s Quenton Denton vs. Laurel’s Dylan Kramer
Ronan’s Micky Cheff vs. MCY’s David Dey

160
Ronan’s Cole McArthur vs Belgrade’s Justin Ricker

171
Ronan’s Tyler Wheeler vs. Havre’s Casey Schlaub
Polson’s Brock Picard vs. Livingston’s Kyle Dirette

189
Polson’s Devin Kamarainen vs. Belgrade’s Austin Rehyer
Ronan’s Toby Cheff vs. Browning’s Wyatt Wippert

215
Ronan’s Colby Robers vs. Belgrade’s Michael Lingo
Polson’s Josiah Clairmont vs. Browning’s Collin Johnson

285
Ronan’s Aaron Yazzi-Whitworth vs. Belgrade’s Clint Robinson
Polson’s Kaden Thomas vs. Livingston’s Kyle Satre

Class B-C- Full Brackets

98
Mission/Charlo’s Dillon Edwards has a bye

105
Arlee’s Austin Rubel has a bye

112
Mission/Charlo’s Russell Schultzvs. Forsyth’s Trey McDonald

125
Arlee’s Logan Lefler vs. Shepard’s Ty Seader
Mission/Charlo’s Scotty Gilleard vs. Forsyth’s Craig Nelson

140
Arlee’s Cole Rice vs. Harlem’s Sheldon Hofer

145
Mission/Charlo’s Jame Petersen vs. Big Sandy’s Lane Martin

152
Mission/Charlo’s Travis Dumont vs. Malta’s Noah Harms

160
Mission/Charlo’s Chad Anderson vs. Choteau’s Own DeBruycker

189
Mission/Charlo’s Joel Lewsi vs. Jake Stewart

215
Arlee’s Cody North vs. Augus Lorenzen
Arlee’s Bryce Norling vs. Choteau’s Taylor Buck

Hwt
Mission/Charlo’s Nick Dinnell vs. Fort Benton’s Rovert Shinaberger

Another wrestling note, courtesy of Anders Blewett

Blewett Wrestling Scholorship

For the 4th year in a row, Alexander (Zander) Blewett, III, a trial lawyer from Great Falls who practices in the law firm of Hoyt & Blewett PLLC intends to award $1000 for the single wrestler in Class AA, Class A and Class B/C who has displayed the best combined qualities of wrestling and academic achievement. The award will go to one senior in each class around the state who best qualifies.
Applicants need not be state champions in order to qualify for this scholarship; if they are state champions, they must still exhibit good academic achievement. The winner of each class must attend a college somewhere in the United States and a check in the amount of $1000 will be sent to that college to help defray the cost of tuition.
For more information about the scholarship, including past winners see the website. To request an electronic copy of the application, contact Jeri at Hoyt and Blewett PLLC in Great Falls by phone at 761-1960. The typed application must be postmarked by March 31, 2010.
In 2008, Polson wrestler Logan Togison won the Class A scholarship.

Trust me, any scholarship is worth applying for. My Big Ten university student loan repayment has started.

As if the state tournament isn’t enough, the same group also puts on an all-state wrestling tournament, to crown the champions in each weight class from all classes.

“Every year three state champions are crowned at each of the fifteen weight classes, and every year the fans leave the state tournament a little unfulfilled. Why is it wrestling fans in Montana are denied the opportunity to watch the best wrestlers in the state, regardless of division, square off against each other? Imagine state champions from Miles City, Poplar or Glasgow tangling with state champions from Flathead, Helena or Billings. How much excitement and energy would an event like that generate for the sport of wrestling? And how enjoyable would it be for the wrestlers themselves to get an opportunity to compete against the best at their respective weight classes and ultimately decide mat supremacy?”

This year, the event will be a one-day, single elimination wrestling tournament that will take place at the Great Falls High School Old Gym on Saturday, February 20, 2010, one week after the All Class State Tournament in Billings (Feb. 12-13).

Eight wrestlers from all four teams in Lake County have been ranked on the Feb. 8 list:
Polson freshman Craig Feistner, 98
Ronan senior Cameron Neiss, 130
Arlee junior Cole Rice, 140
Mission/Charlo senior Jame Petersen, 145
Ronan senior Micky Cheff, 152
Ronan junior Cole McArthur, 160
Polson senior Brock Picard, 171
Ronan junior Toby Cheff, 189

Last year, Picard won the 171 weight class.

More information can be found on their website.