'Beeters second in Harlem, crown four champions, Wildcats place six on podium

The Chinook Sugarbeeters continued to shine on the mat as the season begins to wind down. The 'Beeters finished second at the Harlem Invitational scoring 117 points and crowning four individual champions.

The host Harlem Wildcats turned in one of their best efforts of the season as they crowned one champion and placed six on the podium and finished fourth in the team race with 81 points.

The 'Beeters began the weekend by hosting their final mixer of the season and honoring their senior wrestlers and manager Hattie Niederegger.

The team wrestled well in front of a solid, boisterous hometown crowd.

Saturday in Harlem several county athletes found themselves at the top of their weight class.

At 126 pounds Harlem's Kolton Bishop was pinned in the championship match finishing second in the weight class.

Chinook junior Tate Niederegger added yet another title to his resume winning the 138 pound division with an 8-1 decision over Glasgow's Mick Reyling.

In his second week back senior Jake Norby took home the 152 pound title with a pin in 1:20 over Havre's Jared Lauex. Norby also won the Tyler Faulkinberry Quick Pin Award Saturday.

Chinook's Ken Pruttis claimed the 170 pound title with a 11-4 decision over Cut Bank's Jace Berkram. Pruttis took over the number one ranking in the division from Berkram in last weeks polls.

Pruttis also was winner of the Brad Bishop Memorial Outstanding Wrestler award.

Senior Jesse Dannels was Chinook's fourth individual champion, winning the 182 pound weight class with a pin in just :33 over Corey Kelly of Chester-Joplin-Inverness.

After battling each other for three overtimes a week ago Harlem junior Reece Hutton and Chinook senior Kevin Young renewed their rivalry in the 205 pound title match.

Young came out on top a week ago, however this week it was Hutton that turned the tables and secured a hard fought win by pinfall over Young in 5:10 to claim the championship.

Harlem senior Colten Stiffarm wrestled his way to the heavyweight final before falling to Justin Pfeifer of Cut Bank to finish second.

Senior T'Jay Allen provided the Wildcats with points in the 138 pound consolation final by pinning Ethan Davis of Big Sandy/Fort Benton in 2:34.

Wildcat junior Marcus Castillo finished fourth at 145 pounds and sophomore Curtis Humphreys was fourth in the heavyweight division.

With regular season winding down, getting everything worked out in Big Sandy on Thursday and Malta on Saturday is paramount as the teams will head to the Northern B/C Division the following weekend in Chinook.

"The kids wrestled extremely well over the weekend," stated Chinook co-head coach Perry Miller.

"It was a great atmosphere Friday in front of the home fans, a great crowd, everyone came out and supported the kids, everyone helped put on a great event," added Miller.

Chinook fielded a full team for the first time last week in Choteau but illness kept the team a wrestler short Friday and two on Saturday.

"We need to get well, illness had us down a bit and we suffered a some hits on the mat this weekend so we're a little banged up as well," added Miller.

"We have been working really hard with the younger kids and will do everything we can this week (in Big Sandy and Malta) to get them ready for the Divisional and hopefully we can help get them a spot on the podium," commented Miller.

"Everyone is working hard and the seniors know what's on the line. They know what they need to do and what they need to work on individually. That's where we're at, we look really good right now as we head into the post season," said Miller.

The Northern B/C Divisional wrestling tournament rotates from school to school each year so the next time the tournament will be held in Chinook could be at least ten years from now.

"It's a huge boost to have the tournament in front of your home crowd on your own mat. It's a huge opportunity that doesn't come around often and we want to get everyone on the podium if at all possible," concluded Miller.

The top four wrestlers in each class will advance to the State tournament in Billings the following week.