6 Chinook and 2 Harlem Wrestlers advance to the State Tournament

The Chinook Sugarbeeters and Harlem Wildcat wrestling teams were in Conrad this past Saturday at the Northern B/C Divisional.

With realignment coming next year to include two divisional tournaments instead of four, this was the final time for the Northern B/C to be held.

The top four wrestlers in each weight class would advance to the State B/C Wrestling Tournament this Friday and Saturday at the Rim-rock Auto Arena at Metra Park in Billings.

The Sugarbeeters took seven wrestlers to the Northern B/C and qualified six for the state tournament. The Wildcats took five to compete in Conrad and will send two down to Billings.

The Sugarbeeters contingent in Conrad consisted of junior Rebecca Stroh (113), freshman Lane Snider (120), sophomore Drake Berreth (132), freshman Tyler Schoen (152), senior JT Hauer (170), senior Rielly Wiegand (182) and sophomore Wyatt Dunbar (285).

Hauer (33-14) had an outstanding Divisional, finishing second in the tournament. He began the day with a quarterfinal win over Jacob Major of Choteau by pin-fall (0:27) to advance.

In the semi-final Hauer earned a 12-5 decision over Kendall Moore (Malta/Whitewater to advance to the final.

In the championship was pinned by Shelby's Cameron Brusven to finish second at 170 pounds.

Sophomore Drake Berreth also had himself a fine divisional tournament. Berreth finished second at 132 pounds and will take a 29-20 overall record into the state tournament.

Berreth began the tournament with a 7-6 win by decision over Jacob Hjartarson (Cut Bank) in the quarterfinal round. He then added a win over Mariah Wahl (Cut Bank) by pin-fall in 5:53 to advance to the championship round.

In the 132 pound finale, Berreth wrestled hard but fell short falling to Michael Leach (Simms).by fall.

Sophomore Wyatt Dunbar (24-15) finished second at 285 in what was a fine divisional effort. Dunbar won a 2-1 decision over Cut Banks Wes Omsberg in his opening match to advance to the championship. Dunbar would be pinned by Chester/Joplin-Inverness's Reubin Swenson to finish second.

Senior Rielly Wiegand will also represent the Sugarbeeters in Billings after earning a third place finish in the 182 pound division at the Northern B/C.

Wiegand picked up wins over Michael King of Harlem in the consolation semi-final and a win by decision, 9-2 over Conrad's Bryce Lohman in the consolation final.

Also picking up a third place finish for the Sugarbeeters was freshman Tyler Schoen (26-13). Schoen earned wins over Spenser Gibbs of Malta/Whitewater by pin-fall in 3:13.

Schoen then lost by sudden victory 10-8 in a hard fought battle against Fairfield's Miguel Perez. He finished the tournament with a win by pin-fall over Harlem's John Hughes and Valier's Kasen Kovatch.

Junior Rebecca Stroh (7-17) completes the 'Beeter squad heading to Billings after she finished fourth at 113 pounds for the Sugarbeeters.

Harlem will be represented on the mats in Billings by junior Lance Blackcrow (160) and sophomore Mikkel Rider (205).

Blackcrow earned a fourth place finish at the Northern B/C in the 160 pound weight class and will take a 22-17 overall record into the state tournament.

Blackcrow picked up wins over Colt French (Malta - Whitewater) by pin-fall in 0:31. Blackcrow added another win by pin-fall in the consolation rounds by defeating Karson Byle of Fort Benton - Big Sandy.

Rider finished fourth in the 205 pound weight class and will bring a 12-21 overall record into the state tournament this weekend.

Rider picked up a couple of wins by pin-fall, defeating Jeremy Gallagher (Cut Bank) (0:46) in the quarterfinals. He later pinned Dre Oshio (Malta/Whitewater) in 0:26 to advance to the consolation final.

The state tournament will begin with weigh ins and time on the mat Thursday afternoon. First and second rounds plus wrestle backs will take place on Friday with the consolation and placing rounds happening Saturday. The Championship rounds will get underway Saturday afternoon.