Trujillo has gold

BILLINGS — At the Class B-C State Wrestling Tournament in Billings, the Arlee Warriors walked away with plenty to be proud of - topping the list was a gold medal earned by Arlee senior Jake Trujillo at 119 pounds.

To do it, Trujillo needed to pass a series of obstacles. And three of those obstacles were champs for their divisions.

It started with a 7-1 win by decision over Fort Benton wrestler Kayle Axtman.

In the quarterfinals, Trujillo met his first division champ, Conrad wrestler Colt Harris, who took the honors in the north. Trujillo started dicing divisional champs right then with a pin at 1:22 the first round.

The pace was set and Trujillo didn’t slow.

Going into Saturday with confidence, Trujillo met eastern B-C champ Daryl Fulton out of Forsyth. This time, Trujillo had to fight through the entire six minutes to come out with the 4-3 decision win in the semifinal round.

It was championship time. Trujillo had been there three times before and walked away with the win his last go around. It was an epic battle.

After things remained even for three regular periods, it went into overtime. After the first sudden death period still didn’t produce a winner it went to double OT. Wrestling fans in Billings were already getting their money’s worth but what Arlee fans got was priceless.

Since Trujillo had taken seven losses this season so far, after taking only nine in the last three years, the question of whether he still had what it took to be a champion was all around him.

And Trujillo answered. He finished the match with a 2-1 decision win and stood up to celebrate two championships in two years.

Arlee head coach Ken Hill described the challenge Trujillo overcame. 

“By the time you get to that point, all of those kids are so tough that it’s whoever is mentally the toughest that day, and that was Jake,” Hill said. “His desire to win and to win the state championship is amazing.”

Arlee Warrior sophomore Cole Rice battled for a second place medal at 130 pounds. After pinning Baker wrestler Alain Jacobsen in 33 seconds and pinning Conrad wrestler Brett Bishop in 51 seconds he faced his toughest competitor, Conrad wrestler Jared Giard in the final. That’s the way championships should be and though Rice fought hard in the final to keep it close, he ended up losing by a 6-2 decision.

Hill said with confidence that Rice will get another chance at glory.

“He’ll be there again next year,” he said.

Warrior senior Jordan Lefler finished in sixth at 135 pounds. He lost a difficult semifinal match to Deer Lodge wrestler Bobby Ray that just shut him out of the finals by a 6-5 decision and then had two more tough losses to finish it out.

Lefler finished a fantastic season on a hard to swallow note, Hill said.

He finished with three divisonal championships and a career record of 128-37.

“Lefler will be dearly missed as all the seniors will be from the Arlee Warriors,” Hill said.

Lefler said wrestling has been passed down in his family as a tradition and he plans to continue to be a part of the team after he graduates. He said wrestling has taught him a lot over the years – more than what he can use on a mat.

“It’s super hard but it helps you in life in so many ways,” he said. “All the pain you have to endure, mentally and physically – it’s really helpful in life.”

Arlee finished the tournament in 10th place.