Pinfest at the Metra
Cameron Neiss of Ronan talks with assistant coach Monty Cheff. Neiss is undefeated this season and going for his second state championship this weekend.
BILLINGS — At the rate they are going, Ronan’s Cameron Neiss (130), Polson’s Brock Picard (171) and Columbia Falls’ Kelly Houle (215) just might pin their way to Class A state championships in wrestling.
All three Northwestern A standouts stuck their opening and quarterfinal foes on Friday to earn spots in today’s semifinals in Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.
Neiss, now 38-0, had pinning times of 3:07 and 4:48. For Picard it was 1:14 and 4:43.
Houle was the overall winner of the trio, sticking his first two opponents in 1:13 and 1:27.
“Ever since I was little, my coach has always emphasized the pin,” Houle said after his quarterfinal win.
“So I always try to get the pin.”
To date, he has 30 this season, one shy of the school’s season record of 31 held by Caleb Schaeffer. With two matches to go, he’s on pace to break that.
Up first for Houle today is Paul Donaldson of Hamilton.
“He’s a big, big strong kid,” Houle, now 36-2 on the season, said of Donaldson.
“He can power through a lot of things just because he is so strong.
“He’s a tough kid,” Houle added.
“I’m looking forward to the match. It should be fun.”
In the six matches in which Houle has gone the full distance, he’s 4-2. One loss was in overtime, the other by one point.
“Oh yeah,” he said of being nervous for today’s final session.
“Goose bumps, butterflies ... before every match I get nervous.”
Houle, who is looking for his first state championship, was a runner-up the last two years at 189.
Picard, now 33-1, is looking for a three-peat. The senior has a career mark of 140-13.
“If I can, I will,” Picard said of closing out his prep career with two more falls.
“In the state tournament you take a win by pin, a win by one point. A win is a win.”
Up first today for Picard is Levi Cade of Belgrade. The two have never met on the mat.
“He was in my bracket last year,” Picard said.
“He ended up taking third.
“I’m not too concerned,” he said of the semifinals.
“I’ll just stay solid, work my technique and go for the W, the win, whatever it is.”
Picard was the champ last year at 171, the year before at 160. If he pulls off three titles, he would be the second Polson wrestler to accomplish that feat. Pat Owen, who graduated in 1999, also won three.
“You never go in overlooking an opponent,” he said.
“I don’t care who it is. You wrestle every match like it’s a state championship.”
Neiss pretty much follows the same philosophy. It’s helped him go undefeated to this point in 38 matches.
Today he will tangle with Ryan Guenther of Belgrade in his semifinal outing.
“I’ll just go out and wrestle like I have been,” he said.
Neiss has only had two close calls this season, winning twice by 1-0 scores.
“They didn’t feel as close as they were,” he said.
“The scores showed a lot didn’t get done in those matches.”
Neiss is shooting for his second straight title. Last year he won it all at 125. He placed third in 2008 at 112 and was second as a freshman at 98.
“My junior year, my coach said we should write down our goals and give it to him,” Neiss said.
“I lost four times, maybe.
“(This year) he knew what to expect from the seniors. We didn’t do them.”
Still, an undefeated season was in the back of his mind.
“It’s a good thing to have them,” he said of goals.
“It teaches the younger kids to be goal-oriented. It gives them something to look forward to.”
Neiss has already won titles at the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic and the Holiday Classic in Great Falls.
A state championship would be a fitting way to go out.
“We’ve had some tough guys come through here,” he said.
“My dad (John) was a three-time state champ.
“I’ve always expected to be the best I can be,” he continued.
“I guess I’m not surprised (with my success considering) all the work I have put in.”
And his coach agrees.
“He’s really a hard worker,” Ronan coach Dustyn Azure said.
“Always the first one in the wrestling room, the last one to leave.”
And if that wasn’t enough ...
“He’s one of the most mentally tough kids I’ve been around,” he added.
“He’s got goals past high school and that’s what sets him apart.”