For the second year in a row, Montana’s smaller schools from Class B/C dominated the Tournament of Champions wrestling showdown, an event that pits the state’s best wrestlers against each other, regardless of class size. Though not all of the top-ranked wrestlers from each class attend the event, this weekend”s tournament featured a record-high 31 state champions and 61 all-star wrestlers altogether.
The third annual Tournament of Champions, sponsored by Great Falls law firm Hoyt and Blewett PLLC, took place at the Great Falls High School Old Gym on Feb. 19. Class B/C won a tournament-high nine titles, including two by Broadwater’s Jade and Val Rauser. The Rausers have each won three straight titles at the tournament. Combined, they claimed seven state titles in their decorated high school careers.
Class A won four titles and Class AA, representing the state’s largest schools, had two champions. In 2010, Class B/C won eight titles, Class A won six and Class AA only claimed one. At the first tournament in 2009, Class B/C had five champions, Class A had three and Class AA had seven.
Results are below, listed with pigtail matches, semifinals and championships. Pigtail matches are loser-out contests to move on to the semifinals. For more information, go to www.montanawrestling.blogspot.com.
Tournament of Champions 2011 Results:
98
Pigtail
Dylan Schulte, Missoula Sentinel dec. Gage Currier, Colstrip, 11-1.Semis
Karson Kukes, Laurel pin Dylan Schulte, Missoula Sentinel, 3:54.
Grant Boggs, Helena tech. fall Maestro Martinez, Wolf Point, 15-0.Finals
Grant Boggs, Helena dec. Karson Kukes, Laurel, 9-2.105
Pigtail
Glenn Hensley, Frenchtown pin Tyler Forcella, Dawson, 5:14.Semis
Zac Harney, Butte dec. Dillon Tennant, Dawson, 8-6.
Teague Jones, Harlem pin Glenn Hensley, Frenchtown, 3:11.Finals
Zac Harney, Butte dec. Teague Jones, Harlem, 4-2.112
Pigtails
Josh Mann, Colstrip dec. Gabe Schroeck, Helena, 2-0.
Chris Nile, Forsyth dec. Craig Feistner, Polson, 4-0Semis
Luke Schlosser, Conrad dec. Chris Nile, Forsyth, 3-1
Tyler Kinn, Dawson dec. Josh Mann, Colstrip, 14-9.Finals
Luke Schlosser, Conrad pin Tyler Kinn, Dawson, 1:35.119
Semis
Jade Rauser, Broadwater maj. dec. Bryce Weatherston, Belgrade, 15-2.
Duel Stadel, Havre maj. dec. Braden Hallock, Glasgow, 14-1.Finals
Jade Rauser, Broadwater pin Duel Stadel, Havre, 1:01.
125
Semis
Taylor French, Forsyth pin Tanner Lund, Florence, 4:31.
Justin Whitman, Columbia Falls pin Tanner Johnson, Broadwater, 3:54.Finals
Taylor French, Forsyth dec. Justin Whitman, Columbia Falls, 13-6.130
Pigtail
Brandon Weber, Forsyth dec. Shawn Tezak, Dillon, 4-0.Semis
Val Rauser, Broadwater tech. fall. Zach Westre, Frenchtown, 20-5.
Cole Mendenhall, GFHS dec. Brandon Weber, Forsyth, 10-2.Finals
Val Rauser, Broadwater dec. Cole Mendenhall, GFHS, 11-3.135
Finals
Luke Zeiger, Glasgow pin Travis Davis, Corvallis, 5:35.140
Semis
Jesse Werdal, Choteau dec. Tyler Christians, Helena, 9-3.
Dallen Brauer, Forsyth pin Kyle Leir, Libby; 1:18.Finals
Dallen Brauer, Forsyth dec. Jesse Werdal, Choteau, 4-1.145
Semis
Eli Hinebauch, Havre dec. Dylan Mendenhall, GFHS, 3-2.Finals
Eli Hinebauch, Havre dec. Cole Rice, Arlee, 4-1.152
Semis
Shane St. Onge, Glacier dec. Jacen Petersen, St. Ignatius, 10-2
Brad Nordahl, Frenchtown pin Josh Seeberger, Missoula Sentinel, 4:31.Finals
Brad Nordahl, Frenchtown dec. Shane St. Onge, Glacier, 4-2.160
Semis
Dylan Kramer, Laurel dec. Barrett Stanghill, Drummond, 7-3.
Connor Malone, Fergus pin Dylan Berget, Libby, 5:15.Finals
Connor Malone, Fergus dec. Dylan Kramer, Laurel, 9-3.171
Semis
Taylor Vaughn, Eureka dec. Cole McAruthur, Ronan, 5-4.Finals
Taylor Vaughn, Eureka dec. Chris Yocum, Butte, 9-3.189
Pigtail
Levi Cade, Belgrade dec. Skyler Carroll, Livingston 6-3.Semis
Toby Cheff, Ronan dec. Boyce Ballard, Glacier, 8-0.
Ben Stroh, Chinook pin Levi Cade, Belgrade, 2:41.Finals
Ben Stroh, Chinook dec. Toby Cheff, Ronan, 17-6.215
Semis
Jorrell Jones, Chinook dec. Trevor Conrad, Dawson, 6-0.
KC Sutton, Florence dec. Brock Calvi, Cut Bank, 5-4.Finals
Jorrell Jones, Chinook dec. KC Sutton, Florence, 9-1.Hwt.
Semis
Josiah Clairmont, Polson pin Tucker Yates, Colstrip, 1:50Finals
Josiah Clairmont, Polson pin Chaz Hopstad, Glasgow, 2:37.