Pirates win final dual vs. Ronan

RONAN — The latest Polson and Ronan wrestling dual featured 12 ranked wrestlers, with six wrestling against each other in three matches.

The Pirates won one of those matches and overcame a 6-25 deficit to win 45-31 last Friday. Ronan won seven of the contested matches, but was forced to forfeit three weight classes.

“Our kids went out and wrestled all six minutes, something that we have been preaching,” Ronan head coach Dustyn Azure said.

Starting at 130 pounds, Ronan freshman Shelby Grant got the ball rolling with an 8-6 decision over Polson freshman Nate Brooks.

The 135-pound match featured No. 1 Ronan senior Cameron Neiss and No. 5 Polson junior Jacob Young. Neiss dominated the match, winning 17-5.

Polson senior Randy Kelley put the Pirates on the board with a pin over Ronan junior Alex Greenfield in the end of the second period for a 6-7 dual score.

The 152 match also featured two ranked wrestlers. Second-ranked Ronan senior Micky Cheff went against  fourth-ranked Polson senior Ty Fouty. The close match ended with Micky Cheff winning 6-5.

“That was a dandy match,” Owen said. “That was a real fight.”

In previous meetings between the two, Micky Cheff had beat Fouty by more points and even had a pin.

“Fouty slowed Micky down,” Azure said.

Ronan junior Cole McArthur, ranked third at 160, pinned Polson sophomore Jake Skelton in the second period for a 19-6 lead for the Chiefs.

Ronan senior Tyler Wheeler increased the lead to 19 points with a pin in the 171-pound match.

The 189 battle also featured two top-ranked wrestlers. Polson senior Brock Picard, who is ranked first at 171, moved up a weight class to battle Ronan junior Toby Cheff, who is ranked first at 189.

“I think that was good for everyone, especially the fans,” Owen said.

Picard earned the first of five-straight Polson wins with a 5-4 decision.

“It was a good match,” Azure said. “We have been waiting for that all year. Brock is a solid wrestler.”

Picard got the first take down, forcing Toby Cheff to be on offense.

“He needed the loss,” Azure said. “Better now than in divisionals or state.”

Polson sophomore Josiah Clairmont added six to the Pirates’ score with a first-period pin over Ronan freshman Colby Roberts.

Ronan forfeited both heavyweight and 98 pounds as Polson took the lead 27-25.

“The forfeits are something that have been haunting us all year,” Azure said. “We try to counter it with pins.”

Polson freshman Pat Sumner pinned Ronan freshman Lukas Conklin to increase the Pirate lead to 36-25. Sumner is ranked fourth at 105 pounds.

Ronan freshman Andrew Teigen temporarily stopped the bleeding when he pinned Polson freshman Razz Walhood in the second period but the Chiefs forfeited their third weight class at 119 and Polson had a 39-31 lead going into the last match.

“That’s a tough thing,” Owen said of Ronan’s three forfeits. “That’s 18 points right there.”

At 125, Polson sophomore Nick Howell recorded the quickest pin in 44 seconds over Ronan freshman Kyle Lawson and secured the win for the Pirates.