The Harlem Wildcats have had an outstanding wrestling season thus far. And Saturday in Conrad, they kept it going.
Harlem finished second at the Northern B-C Divisional tournament, scoring 142 points and advancing nine wrestlers to next week’s Class B-C state tournament in Billings. The Wildcats also crowned two individual champions Saturday afternoon in Conrad.
The Northern B-C was a good meet for many area teams. Chinook scored 112 points to finish fourth overall, while Big Sandy scored 76.5 points and Chester/J-I garnered 69 points. All four Hi-Line teams advanced wrestlers to the state tourney. Conrad placed first with 183 points. Malta was third.
As expected, the big guns of the Hi-Line cruised to divisional titles. Chinook’s Ben Stroh won the 189-pound weight class with more pins and earned his fourth straight divisional title in the process. Stroh pinned teammate Robbie Klingman in the championship match. Fellow Sugarbeeter Jorrell Jones pinned Harlem’s Cody Blackcrow in the 215-pound final. Jones earned the Jug Beg Quick Pin Award on the day. Harlem’s No. 1-ranked Teague Jones was also dominant, capturing the title at 112 pounds. Jones beat Cut Bank’s Kylan Berkam, 6-1 in the final. Harlem’s other top-ranked wrestler, Shay Snider was injured, but did enough to earn fourth and advance to the state tournament.
Chinook put four wrestlers into the finals Saturday with three champions. Geoff Qualls took home the 125-pound championship by defeating rival Brendan Johnson of Harlem by pinfall. Cord Anderson also reached the finals at 171 pounds but was beaten by Conrad’s Lucas Schultz.
Harlem had five wrestlers reach the championship round, with Chris Schupe adding a divisional title to his impressive season. Schupe beat Cut Bank’s Robert Jennings in the 140-pound finale. Gus Taylor reached the 98-pound final for the Wildcats, losing to Conrad’s Morgan Koening 4-0.
Chester/J-I crowned a champ at 145 pounds in senior Leonard Pugsley. He pinned Big Sandy’s Dusty Gasvoda in the final match. C/J-I heavyweight Shalon Norvick reached the championship match, falling to Shelby’s Cody Nelson. Big Sandy's Jace Solf won the 160-pound title.
Also qualifying for state for the Wildcats was Deion Hammet, who took third at 130 pounds, Denton Cornell, who finished third at 160 pounds and Seth Adams, who placed third at heavyweight.
Chinook also advanced Donovon Moon at 98 pounds and Flint Brewer, who placed fourth at 160 pounds. C/J-I moved Erik Kelly, who took third at 140 pounds to state, as well as Jake Fritz, who placed fourth at heavyweight. Big Sandy advanced Kasey Martin, who placed third at 145 pounds, Lane Martin, who placed third at 189 and Colter Darlington, who placed fourth at 215.
The 2012 Class B-C state tournament will get underway at 9 a.m. Friday at the Billings Metra.
Team scores — Conrad 183; Harlem 142; Malta 127; Chinook 112; Cut Bank 89.5; Shelby 85; Big Sandy 76.5; CJI 69; Heart Butte 17.
First place
98 — Joe Rappold, MAL, pin Randon Anderson, CB, 1:24.; 105 — Morgan Koenig, CON, dec. Gus Taylor, HRM 4-0; 112 — Teague Jones, HRM, dec. Kylan Berkram, CB 6-1.; 119 — Luke Schlosser, CON, pin Travis Vermulm, CB, 3:46.; 125 — Geoff Qualls, CHK, pin Brenden Johnson, HRM, 4:49.; 130 — Chris Doney, MAL, pin Garrett Moritz, CON, 3:18.; 135 — Nolan Simanton, MAL, pin Colt Harris, CON 4:58.; 140 — Chris Shupe, HRM, dec. Robert Jennings, CB, 2-10.; 145 — Leonard Pugsley, CJI, pin Dusty Gasvoda, BSY, 2:33.;152 — Natahn Carlson, MAL, pin Keane Stewert, SHE, :36.; 160 — Jace Solf, BSY, pin Lucas Brachle, SHE, 3:53.; 171 — Lucas Schultz, CON, dec. Cord Anderson, CHK, 9-7.; 189 — Ben Stroh, CHK, pin Rob Klingaman, CHK, :56.; 215 — Jorell Jones, CHK, pin Cody Blackcrow, HRM, :09.; 285 — Cody Nelson, SHE, pin Shalon Norick, CJI, 3:09.
Third place
98 — Donovon Moon, CHI, bye.; 105 — Reid VandenBos, CB, by inj. Default over Shay Snider, HRM.; 112 — Blake Underdahl, CON, pin Henry Ramirez, MAL :43.; 119 — Blaine Berg, CON, pin Brenden Johnson, CB, 3:26; 125 — Derek Stewart, SHE, pin Jessen Lafond, MAL, :33.; 130 — Deion Hammett, HRM, pin Dakota Suta, CON, 2:43.; 135 — Neil Johnson, CB, pin Tyler Richter, CON 4:36.; 140 — Erik Kelly, CHI, dec. Brandon French, CON, 11-4.; 145 — Kasey Martin, BSY, pin Tyler Schultz, CON, 1:50; 152 — Brayne Underdahl, CON, pin Austin Running Crane, HB, 1:35.; 160 — Denton Cornell, HRM, pin Flint Brewer, CHK, :52.; 171 — Clarence McNabb, HB, md. Ron Kinyon, SHE, 9-0.; 189 — Lane Martin, BSY, dec. Tyler Nelson, CON, 5-0; 215 — Henry Oyler, MAL, pin Colter Darlington, BSY, 1:55.; 285 — Seth Adams, HRM, pin Jake Fritz, CJI 3:49.
