Ronan wrestlers chasing favorites at State

While the Class B portion of the All-Class State Wrestling Meet seems preordained — three-time defending champion Huntley Project isn’t going anywhere — the A portion is tough to call.

Ronan swept the boys and girls team titles at the Western A Divisional last weekend, but the sledding will get tougher at First Interstate Bank Arena in Billings. 

Ronan’s boys are ranked fifth in the latest Class A coaches’ poll; the Maidens, who topped Class A girls teams the last two years at state, are ranked second behind Miles City. 

“I think it’s going to be a fun ride,” Ronan coach Cameron Neiss said. “It’s going to be interesting too because there are some tough girls out there.” 

Ronan, of course, has one of the toughest: Two-time state champion Tirza Two Teeth at the 235-pound class. 

“She’s definitely on a different level,” Neiss said. “The last couple weeks, she’s been locked in at practice. She’s looking good.” 

The Jan. 10 high school rankings at flowrestling.org have Two Teeth ranked No. 1 in the nation. She and fellow defending state champion River Cote lead a contingent of 13 Maidens to state, yet Miles City is favored based on the latest rankings. 

“Both teams have a lot of seniors,” Neiss noted. “It’s about who’s willing who’s able to show up on Friday and Saturday.” 

The same can be said for the A boys, where Ronan is one of a quintet of strong teams: Defending champion Laurel, Sidney, Lockwood and Hardin.  

Tahj Wells of Browning is back to defend his individual title; he won last year’s 145-pound title over Columbia Falls’ Dylan Delorme, who won the Western A title at 157 Saturday while Wells won at 150. 

Rowdy Crump, second at 182 last year at state, is No. 2 behind Hardin’s Bruno Pallone at 190 this season as a senior for the MatCats. It was Crump that helped Ronan secure the boys team title last weekend, with his 190-pound win. 

Blaise Crump was also a runner-up last year as well, and could wind up in title rematch from last weekend with Ronan’s Koda King at 165. King leads 12 Chiefs into state, including 132-pound standout Ridge Cote. 

“The boys are going to have to also show up,” Neiss said. “That’s just what state weekend is, what state wrestling is all about. If you show up that day, you can be the unranked  seed that wins State.” 

Eureka is sending nine boys to Billings, along with four girls. The Lions generally pack a more wallop than depth, and Timothy Schmidt (126) and Wes Banks (235) are the fiercest of the bunch. 

Then there’s Huntley Project, which is sending 15 wrestlers including six divisional champions. The Red Devils qualified two wrestlers in three different weight classes and won the Eastern B-C with 327 points.  

Three qualifiers are state champs, including Balke and Hayden Ramaeker. Blake won 113 last year as an eighth-grader. 

Glasgow was next atthe Eastern B-C at 201.5 points, followed by Columbus at 144. 

"Obviously Huntley is going to be favorite,” Eureka coach Dan Lemer said. “They have the numbers, they are very deep. Then it will be a straight up battle from two to four.” 

Eureka, Western B-C runnerup Conrad and Glasgow will be fighting for two pieces of state tournament hardware. 

Flathead boys 2nd on Thursday

BILLINGS — Flathead’s Dawson Hamland scored a first-round upset and the Braves sit in second after the first day of the All-Class State Wrestling tournament. 

Hamland’s 9-7 decision over Gallatin’s Tanner Laslovich at 118 pounds put him into Friday’s quarterfinal matchup against Helena Capital’s Wyatt Shull. Kellen Downing scored a pin to also advance at 118. 

“Good first round for the Braves,” Flathead coahc Jeff Thompson said. “We won a few toss up matches that will help us in the team score race. Dawson Hamland had a great win at 118 that opens some doors for him tomorrow.” 

The Braves 54 points leaves them two behind Billings West after one day, Butte sits in third at 35. Glacier are 12th with 20 points. 

Aiden Sweat, Jerin Coles and Niko Coles wrapped up their opening matches with first-period pins for the Wolfpack. 

Ronan sits in seventh in the A team standings with 25 points behind leader Laurel at 59.5. Columbia Fall round out the top 10 with 22 points.  

Eureka wrapped up a solid first day with 24 points, good enough for third in the B/C team standings behind Glasgow (28) and Huntley Project (54). 

Flathead’s girls sit in second in AA at 46 points, behind Billings Senior with 86. The Wolfpack are fourth with 29 points. 

Ronan holds second place in the girls A team standings with 36 points in its quest for another title, trailing Miles City at 62. Top ranked Terza Two Teeth is yet to wrestle for the Maidens after an opening round bye. 

Full results can be found at trackwrestling.com.