COLUMN: A second chance, then third place, second and fourth

The goal, coming off an appearance in the 2021 State AA finals, was a state championship in 2022.

Flathead’s Asher Kemppainen had it in sight and reasons to believe: In January he beat Billings West’s Jesse Aarness and Billings Senior’s Idren Peak in back-to-back matches at the AA Duals in Great Falls.

Kemppainen finished fourth at last weekend’s state tournament, at 138 pounds. It was another near-miss, certainly. But the young man — he turns 18 in 16 days — also had some makes.