Polson High School – Home of the Pirates
Friday/Saturday February 11-12, 2011
Individual Pirate results following main story
Laurel steamrolls A field for first title in 13 years
By BRUCE SAYLER Montana Standard
BUTTE – The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel turned out to be the Laurel Locomotives.
Considered a contender to earn a trophy at the State A wrestling tournament, Laurel stormed through Saturday’s rounds to win the championship at the Butte Civic Center.
It is the Locomotives’ fourth state wrestling title in school history, and their first since 1998; they also are the first State A champs not named Sidney or Havre this century.
Havre entered as the four-time defending state champion and Sidney had won the four before then. Havre had also ruled in 2001 and Sidney in 2000.
Laurel trailed Corvallis, Belgrade and Havre after Friday’s rounds, but won five semifinal-round bouts Saturday and wound up with three champions. The list included brothers Kolter Kukes at 125 pounds and Karson Kukes at 98. The other was Josh Padden at 215 pounds. Laurel tallied 198 points. Havre was second with 186 and Belgrade third with 179.
The clincher for Laurel came on Kolter Kukes’ win in the second bout of the championship round. Kukes scored an 8-0 major decision over Justin Whitman of Columbia Falls.
“They wrestled to where they should have been wrestling all year long,” ecstatic sixth-year Laurel head coach Ted Hill said. “We had a great day and it was a fun round this morning. We took advantage of our opportunities and that goes on the kids. They did a great job. We peaked at the right time. We couldn’t have done this earlier this year.”
Hill graduates just one wrestler and should be loaded for next year. Tommy Cooper placed second at 140 pounds and Dylan Kramer did the same at 160. The Locomotives also notched two fourth-place finishes, a fifth and two sixths.
Hill, himself a former standout at Missoula Sentinel and then Montana State-Northern, said it was a good day to be a wrestling fan.
“The lead changed five times (Glendive, Havre, Belgrade and Corvallis were all in front at different times),” he said.
The championship round opened with two 2010 state champs vying at 119 pounds. Duell Stadel of Havre out pointed Bryce Weatherston of Belgrade 6-3 .
Stadel completed a 42-0 season with the win. He was the state Class A champion at 112 pounds last year while Weatherston ruled at 105. Stadel is a senior and Weatherston a sophomore.
There was controversy in the 130-pound finals: Dillon head coach T.J. Nelson was incensed when officials seemingly changed their minds about awarding the Beaveres’ Shawn Tezak a penalty point. Originally, it looked that Zac Westre of Frenchtown had been called for stalling. The call tied the score at 5-all. However, after a conference at the scorers’ table, the 5-4 lead returned to Westre.
Nelson argued the change animatedly, but to no avail.
Westre claimed the title, though nearly spilled him into a reversal as the buzzer sounded.
Tezak’s second-place finish topped the list of Beaver place-winners. Dillon wound up with 84 points for 11th place and Anaconda had 30 for 18th. Butte Central posted three points for 21st.
Frenchtown 152-pounder Brad Nordahl finished off an unbeaten, 36-0 campaign by toppling 2010 state 145-pound champion Shane Cooley of Miles City on a 10-8 decision.
Lewistown’s Connor Malone successfully defended his 160-pound title from last year, edging Laurel’s Kramer 4-3.
Another repeater from 2010 was Toby Cheff or Ronan at 189 pounds. He escaped a 3-2 deficit at the hands of Belgrade’s Levi Cade by pinning the Panther in 3:19. Cade, a Montana Tech football signee, showed a very physical style in the bout.
Glendive’s Tyler Kinn won the 112-pound championship on an 8-2 decision over Craig Feistner of Polson. Kinn ruled the 98-pound class last year.
Glendive freshman Dillon Tennant capped an unbeaten season with a 4:59 pin over teammate Tyler Forcella in the championship match of the 105-pound class. Tennant’s record is 24-0.
Other state champions crowned were Kyle Leir of Libby at 140 pounds, Eli Hinebach of Havre at 145, Cole McArthur of Ronan at 171 and Chris Kurkowski of Miles City in the 285-pound weight limit class.
Hinebauch was announced the winner of the quick-pin award, but no elapsed time for his three wins by fall was announced.
The state tournament will return to Billings next year as part of the state All-Class meet at The Metra. The facility was damaged by a tornado last June and repairs could not be done in time for it to hold it this year. The tournament had been held there since 1989.
State A wrestling
Saturday at Butte
Team scores: Laurel 198, Havre 186, Belgrade 179.5, Glendive/Terry 152, Corvallis 151, Frenchtown/Alberton 139, Polson 120, Miles City 115, Sidney 105.5, Ronan 92.5, Dillon 84, Lewistown 84, Hardin 66.5, Libby/Troy 57, Columbia Falls 54, Billings Central 36, Hamilton 33, Anaconda 30, Livingston 23, Whitefish 6, Butte Central 3, Browning 1.
Championship
98 – Karson Kukes, Laurel, dec. Bryant Dorn, Hardin, 6-2; 105 – Dillon Tennant, Glendive, pinned Glenn Hensley, Frenchtown, 4:59; 112 – Tyler Kinn, Glendive, dec. Craig Feistner, Polson, 8-2; 119 – Duell Stadel, Havre, dec. Bryce Weatherston, Belgrade, 6-3; 125 – Kolter Kukes, Laurel, major dec. Justin Whitman, Columbia Falls, 8-0; 130 – Zac Westre, Frenchtown, dec. Shawn Tezak, Dillon, 5-4; 135 – Travis Davis, Corvallis, dec. Brennan Gorder, Sidney, 4-2; 140 – Kyle Leir, Libby, dec. Tommy Cooper, Laurel, 6-4; 145 – Eli Hinebauch, Havre, major dec. Riley Nagel, Corvallis, 8-0; 152 – Brad Nordal, Frenchtown, dec. Shane Cooley, Miles City, 10-8; 160 – Connor Malone, Lewistown, dec. Dylan Kramer, 4-3; 171 – Cole McArthur, Ronan, dec. Casey Schaub, Havre, 10-6; 189 – Toby Cheff, Ronan, pinned Levi Cade, Belgrade, 3:19; 215 – Jess Padden, Laurel, dec. Trevor Conrad, Glendive, 4-2; Hwt – Chris Kurkowski, Miles City, dec. Allen Neulib, Sidney, 7-2.
Third place
98 – Carlos Quinones, Polson, pinned Zach Wall, Billings Central, :55; 105 – Glenn Hensley, Frenchtown, dec. Lyle Degen, Belgrade, 12-10; 112 – Levi Gingerich, Corvallis, dec. Gilbert Bara, Havre, 3-2; 119 – Sal Baccaro, Columbia Falls, pinned Travis Kaufman, Glendive, 1:55; 125 – Jordan Stevens, Laurel, dec. Ethan Bristol, Belgrade, 2-1; 130 – Marty Etchemendy, Miles City, major dec. Zackary Smith, Havre, 12-1; 135 – Brandon Gifford, Hardin, dec. Robert Nalewaja, Miles City, 6-4; 140 – Jayme Kelly, Sidney, pinned Cole Bilbrey, Glendive, :50; 145 – Rex Martin, Lewistown, major dec. Dilan Starkel, Dillon, 12-4; 152 – Kameron Pribyl, Havre, dec. Mike Devlin, Polson, 1-0; 160 – Dylan Berget, Libby, dec. Jordan Malarchick, Belgrade, 5-1; 171 – Matt Merenz, Dillon, dec. Ryan Gosselin, Laurel, 7-5, OT; 189 – Skyler Carroll, Livingston, dec. Jared Ruttkofsky, Havre, 7-3; 215 – Zeke Koslosky, Dillon, pinned Austin Reyher, Belgrade, 2:40; Hwt – Josiah Clairmont, Polson, pinned DeVante Wilson, Frenchtown, 2:32.
Fifth place
98 – Josh Venema, Corvallis, dec. Lucas Polk, Polson, 8-2; 105 – Dylan Moll, Polson, pinned Jake McCarthy, Anaconda, 2:34; 112 – Cody Lemons, Frenchtown, pinned Jon Verlanic, Laurel, 2:25; 119 – Tyler Orchard, Glendive, dec. Andrew Teigen, Ronan, 12-7; 125 – James DuBose, Corvallis, pinned Tucker White, Billings Central, 2:48; 130 – John Chamberlin, Lewistown, dec. Jeremy Quinterro, Belgrade, 2-1, OT; 135 – Dillon Seeley, Havre, dec. Keaton Sterling Belgrade, 7-4; 140 – Jim Malone, Lewistown, dec. Ethan Sterling, Belgrade, 8-4; 145 – David Preller, Miles City, won by injury forfeit over Bryce Akers, Belgrade; 152 – Colton Devers, Belgrade, pinned Auston Hergenrider, Laurel, 4:32; 160 – David Anderson, Frenchtown, dec. Kyle Thomas, Corvallis, 5-0; 171 – Layne Johnson, Miles City, dec. Troy Capp, Hamilton, 1-0; 189 – Forest Fortney, Hamilton, pinned Randy Green, Sidney, 4:07; 215 – Austin Boucher, Laurel, pinned Colby Roberts, Ronan, 3:29; Hwt – Cody Stone-Murphy, Laurel, pinned Tyler Adams, Havre, 1:33.
98 – Karson Kukes, Laurel, major dec. Josh Venema, Corvallis, 12-0. Bryant Dorn, Hardin, technical fall Zach Wall, Billings Central, 15-0.
Semifinals
98 – Karson Kukes, Laurel, major dec. Josh Venema, Corvallis, 12-0; Bryant Dorn, Hardin, technical fall Zach Wall, Billings Central, 15-0. 105 – Dillon Tennant, Glendive, dec. Glenn Hensley, Frenchtown, 9-6; Tyler Forcella, Glendive, dec. Lyle Degen, Belgrade, 7-0. 112 – Tyler Kinn, Glendive, dec. Levi Gingerich, Corvallis, 8-1; Craig Feistner, Polson, dec. Gilbert Bara, Havre, 10-5. 119 – Bryce Weatherston, Belgrade, major dec. Tyler Orchard, Glendive, 9-0; Duell Stadel, Havre, major dec. Sal Baccaro, Columbia Falls, 11-3. 125 – Kolter Kukes, Laurel, dec. Tucker White, Billings Central, 8-3; Justin Whitman, Columbia Falls, dec. James DuBose, Corvallis, 6-2. 130 – Zach Westre, Frenchtown, dec. John Chamberlin, Lewistown, 3-0; Shawn Tezak, Dillon, dec. Jeremy Quinterro, Belgrade, 7-4. 135 – Travis Davis, Corvallis, pinned Robert Nalewaja, Miles City, 3:05; Brennan Gorder, Sidney, pinned Dillon Seely, Havre, 5:03. 140 – Kyle Leir, Libby, dec. Jayme Kelly, Sidney, 4-2; Tommy Cooper, Laurel, dec. Jim Malone, Lewistown, 7-2. 145 – Riley Nagel, Corvallis, dec. Rex Martin, Lewistown, 9-8; Eli Hinebauch, Havre, pinned Dilan Starkel, Dillon, 2:38. 152 – Bret Nordahl, Frenchtown, pinned Mike Devlin, Polson, 1:51; Shane Cooley, Miles City, dec. Kameron Pribyl, Havre, 2-1. 160 – Connor Malone, Lewistown, major dec. Kyle Thomas, Corvallis, 11-1; Dylan Kramer, Laurel, pinned Dylan Berget, Libby, 5:59. 171 – Casey Schaub, Havre, dec. Matt Merenz, Dillon, 11-5; Cole McArthur, Ronan, pinned Ryan Gosselin, Laurel, 2:36. 189 – Levi Cade, Belgrade, major dec. Forest Fortney, Hamilton, 10-2; Toby Cheff, Ronan, dec. Skyler Carroll, Livingston, 12-6. 215 – Jess Padden Laurel, dec. Austin Boucher, Laurel, 4-0; Trevor Conrad. Glendive, dec. Colby Roberts, Ronan, 6-3. Hwt – Chris Kuekowski, Miles City, major dec. DeVante Wilson, Frenchtown, 9-1; Allen Neulib, Sidney, dec. Josiah Clairmont, Polson, 3-2.
Individual Pirate wrestling results
| 98 Carlos Quinones Record: 4- 1 3rd Place | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Lost | Bryant Dorn | Hardin | Dec 6-4 |
| Won | Tate Stortz | Dawson Co. (Glendive) / Terry | Fall 2:18 |
| Won | Andrew Olson | Fergus (Lewistown) | Fall 0:30 |
| Won | Josh Venema | Corvallis | Dec 5-0 |
| Won | Zach Wall | Billings Central | Fall 0:55 |
| 98 Lucas Polk Record: 2- 3 6th Place | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Lost | Karson Kukes | Laurel | Fall 2:53 |
| Won | Colten Cox | Hamilton | Dec 7-1 |
| Won | Layne Shafer | Sidney | Fall 2:09 |
| Lost | Zach Wall | Billings Central | Fall 3:51 |
| Lost | Josh Venema | Corvallis | Dec 8-2 |
| 105 Dylan Moll Record: 4- 2 5th Place | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Won | Brandon Schuhen Hardin | Fall 3:33 | |
| Lost | Tyler Forcella | Dawson Co. (Glendive) / Terry | Dec 5-2 |
| Won | Taylor Martin | Polson | Fall 4:00 |
| Won | Matt Wolter | Frenchtown / Alberton | Fall 2:54 |
| Lost | Glenn Hensley | Frenchtown / Alberton | Fall 2:39 |
| Won | Jake McCarthy | Anaconda | Fall 2:34 |
| 105 Taylor Martin Record: 1- 2 | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Lost | Nate Kennelly | Havre | Fall 2:56 |
| Won | Hunter Grover | Laurel | Def |
| Lost | Dylan Moll | Polson | Fall 4:00 |
| 112 Craig Feistner Record: 3- 1 2nd Place | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Won | Trystan Armstrong | Whitefish | Fall 0:23 |
| Won | Carson Waubaunsee | Frenchtown / Alberton | Fall 5:48 |
| Won | Gilbert Bara | Havre | Dec 10-5 |
| Lost | Tyler Kinn | Dawson Co. (Glendive) / Terry | Dec 8-2 |
| 119 Drew Fouty Record: 0- 0 | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Lost | Bryce Weatherston | Belgrade | Frft |
| Lost | John Lemon | Hardin | Frft |
| 125 Jesse Alfiero Record: 0- 2 | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Lost | Ethan Bristol | Belgrade | Fall 4:36 |
| Lost | Cody Ishler | Frenchtown / Alberton | Fall 3:29 |
| 130 Jose’ Quinones Record: 0- 2 | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Lost | Shawn Tezak | Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) | Dec 8-1 |
| Lost | Zackary Smith | Havre | Dec 4-1 |
| 135 Jacob Young Record: 2- 2 | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Won | Landen Faulk | Hamilton | Fall 1:25 |
| Lost | Robert Nalewaja | Custer Co. (Miles City) | Dec 4-2 OT |
| Won | Kohl Thompson | Columbia Falls | Dec 4-2 |
| Lost | Brandon Gifford | Hardin | Fall 2:15 |
| 135 Alex Nystrom Record: 2- 2 | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Won | Logan Fisher | Frenchtown / Alberton | Fall 1:26 |
| Lost | Brennan Gorder | Sidney | Fall 3:34 |
| Won | Jerime Granot | Fergus (Lewistown) | Dec 4-0 |
| Lost | Keaton Sterling | Belgrade | M-Dec 11-2 |
| 140 Skylar Anderson Record: 1- 2 | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Lost | Raymond Jessop | Corvallis | Fall 2:53 |
| Won | Riley LaBuda | Havre | Fall 2:20 |
| Lost | Devan Williams | Corvallis | Dec 7-1 |
| 145 Jared Young Record: 0- 2 | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Lost | Riley Nagel | Corvallis | Fall 1:36 |
| Lost | Dillon Beeler | Dawson Co. (Glendive) / Terry | Fall 1:27 |
| 152 Mike Devlin Record: 3- 2 4th Place | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Won | Chad Stenerson | Frenchtown / Alberton | Fall 0:48 |
| Won | Colter Devers | Belgrade | Dec 7-1 |
| Lost | Brad Nordahl | Frenchtown / Alberton | Fall 1:51 |
| Won | Auston Hergenrider | Laurel | Fall 1:13 |
| Lost | Kameron Pribyl | Havre | Dec 1-0 |
| 152 Colton Lenz Record: 0- 2 | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Lost | Quincy Jessop | Corvallis | Fall 1:25 |
| Lost | Jordan Tillett | Park (Livingston) | Fall 0:45 |
| 189 Marlin Burke Record: 0- 2 | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Lost | Randy Green | Sidney | Def |
| Lost | Alex Masters | Hamilton | Def |
| 215 David Plant Record: 2- 2 | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Lost | Austin Boucher | Laurel | Fall 2:50 |
| Won | Sam Bennin | Park (Livingston) | Fall 1:29 |
| Won | Mike Wigert | Anaconda | Fall 2:08 |
| Lost | Austin Reyher | Belgrade | Dec 6-1 |
| HWT Josiah Clairmont Record: 4- 1 3rd Place | |||
| Result | Opponent | School | How |
| Won | Jayme Hafemann | Hardin | Fall 0:46 |
| Won | Dan Morstein | Beaverhead Co. (Dillon) | Fall 2:59 |
| Lost | Allen Neulib | Sidney | Dec 3-2 |
| Won | Tyler Adams | Havre | Dec 3-2 |
| Won | DeVante Wilson | Frenchtown / Alberton | Fall 2:32 |