Twice for Rice

BILLINGS — Cole Rice was the first wrestler this year to win gold.

After his weight class of 140 pounds was drawn to start the championship round at the state tournament in Billings, the Arlee wrestler pinned Townsend’s Shea Christianson in 1:41.

Rice capped off his junior season by not allowing his opponents to score a single point during the state tournament.

He advanced to the gold medal round after beating Malta’s Jarrod Williamson 15-0. On the first day of competition, Rice pinned Harlem’s Sheldon Hofer in 51 seconds and won a 17-0 tech fall over Columbus-Absorkee’s Derik Zeigler.

Logan Lefler

Six hours away from home, sophomore Logan Lefler faced an opponent who lives only 25 miles away in the third-place match.

Lefler won 11-4 over Scotty Gilleard, of Mission/Charlo, to take the medal at 125 pounds.

Lefler earned two pins on the first day of competition, taking out Shepherd’s Ty Seader and Columbus-Absorkee’s Drake Lorance.

He went on to drop a 20-10 decision to Forsyth’s Garrett Rath but rallied to defeat Superior’s Mason Chatterly with a 2:45 pin.

Arlee took six wrestlers to state, but Rice and Lefler were the only two to make it out of the first round.

“All wrestled well but eventually were eliminated from the tournament,” head coach Ken Hill said. “We have a young team, and will lose our only senior Shane Gillette for next season. We will be tough again and I really look forward to next year. Our boys have worked hard all season and have gained a lot of experience on the mat.”