C-Falls' Shonn Roberts takes 3rd straight mat title
BILLINGS — Columbia Falls junior Shonn Roberts (126) dominated every aspect of his 6-0 decision over Ethan Graves of Sidney to finish the year 39-0 with his third consecutive state championship in Class A at the MHSA State All-Class Wrestling tournament on Saturday.
Roberts hit a single-leg dump in the middle of the first period and rode Graves out to take an early 2-0 lead.
The wrestlers’ started the second period in the neutral position and, again, Roberts hit a single-leg short dump. He rode Graves out for the rest of the second, nearly turning Graves several times, but never earning near-fall points.
“Everything felt very smooth,” Roberts said.
“I felt like I wrestled really well on my feet. I just didn’t want to get too high forcing a turn.”
Another neutral start in the third led to another Roberts takedown, this time on a double leg. He controlled Graves for the rest of the period, never in threat of giving up a point.
“It feels awesome,” Roberts added. “I look forward to going for a fourth.”
Roberts was joined in the finals by teammate Bryan Shaffer, but unfortunately for the 152-pounder, he could not bring home the title, losing to Jase Stoke of Havre after being pinned in the final 10 seconds.
Columbia Falls wrestled to a third-place team finish as nine Wildcats made it to the podium.
Manny Guzman (sixth), West Winfield (fourth), Mason Fetters (fourth), Haze Bell (sixth), Zayne Brunce (fifth), Cody Walters (third) and Spencer Ross (third) helped total 172 team points.
Libby had a successful medal round as well. Garret Chappel (170) dominated Sidney’s Cody Christian with a 10-5 decision for the state title.
Chappel thought he pinned Christian in the first period after the referee slapped the mat, but the second referee talked it over and concluded it was an illegal hold. Chappel was up 8-1 at this point and finished the next two periods to earn his place in Class A history.
“At first I was kind of shocked because you think you’ve won and it gets taken from you,” Chappel said. “My coach said ‘Hey, you’re up 8-1 go out there and finish the match’ and I did. It feels amazing.”
He was joined by teammates Zach Crace (138), who took home a third-place medal, and Skyler Higareda who placed fifth.
The Polson Pirates brought home six medals and 73 team points.
Polson’s Tel Motichka (170) made it to the podium with a fourth-place finish as did teammate Carlos Quinones (126).
Thunder Morales (106) and Jaron Morgan (113) placed fifth for the Pirates while Tele Seeman (182) and Isaiah Williams (220) came in sixth.
Havre won the team state championship with 294.5 points.
In Class B-C, Eureka’s only title contender, Garret White (113), brought home a second-place medal after being pinned by Colstrip’s Clayton Currier.
Teammate Zach Durden wrestled the distance against Colstrip’s Eli Walston and won the fifth place medal with a 9-6 decision.
Colstrip won the B-C team state title with 224 points.
NOTE: Columbia Falls advanced five wrestlers to the semifinal round. Shaffer’s name was not mentioned in Saturday’s story.