Neiss wins dual for Ronan

RONAN — Last week was Cameron Neiss’ week.

After a dual-winning pin last Thursday, the senior went on to take first place at the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula last weekend.

With a slap on the head and a shove towards the mat, Ronan wrestling coach Dustyn Azure sent him out to battle in his 135-pound match.

The No.1 ranked wrestler was the Chiefs’ last hope for a win during last Thursday’s dual meet against Libby. Ronan was down 36-41 before Neiss’ match, needing a pin to win.

The two have faced each other before, and Neiss has never pinned Elliot, as Elliot always narrowly escaping a pin each time.

Neiss delivered this time.

Halfway through the first period, Neiss flipped Libby’s Kyle Leir onto his back. With 46 seconds left in the period, Libby needed a blood time out. Three out-of-bounds whistles later, Neiss ended the first period up 3-2.

Libby elected to start in the neutral position. Elliot lunged at Neiss, but Neiss grabbed a hold of him. With some quick moves, Neiss got him on his back and gained the pin and win for Ronan.

Azure said Neiss maintained his composure and showed leadership.

“He stepped up,” he said. “He pulled that one off for us in the end.”

To start the dual, Libby shut out the Chiefs for two weight classes before senior Micky Cheff and junior Cole McArthur each earned six points with a pin.

“They pulled off a couple wins in the beginning,” Azure said. “We had to turn things around.”

After senior Tyler Wheeler was pinned in the 171 match, junior Toby Cheff took the lead back with a pin. The Chiefs gave up the lead in the next match but regained it after heavyweight junior Aaron Yazzie won by forfeit for a 24-20 score.

Freshman Lukas Conklin added a pin before Ronan forfeited 105 and 119 but won 112, by forfeit, for a 36-32 lead.

Forfeits have been the Chiefs’ downfall, Azure said.

“We counter with trying to pin and not be pinned,” he said.

After two Libby wins, Ronan trailed 36-41 before Neiss earned the final six points.

Neiss continued his winning ways when he took home the championship in Missoula in the 130 weight class. He won a close 1-0 decision over Great Falls High Dylan Mendenhall.

“He had a great tournament,” Azure said.

Toby Cheff also took home first place, but in the 189 class.

“He went out and battled every match and fought hard,” Azure said. “He went out and dominated.”

His brother, Micky, took third at 152 with a third-period pin. He lost a 9-7 decision to Havre’s Kent Pattison in the semifinals.

“Up until the semis, he was doing great,” Azure said. “Against Kent, he didn’t open up. If he wants his state title, he will have to open up.”

McArthur returned with a seventh place finish in the 160 class.

As a team, Ronan finished eighth in the competitive tournament, with its best showing all year, Azure said.

“We just went in ready to wrestle,” he said. “We have to fight for every point, every takedown. [The competition] is tougher than state.”

Ronan travels to Columbia Falls on Thursday before going to the Class A duals in Lewistown.

“We need to work on confidence and have the team believing they can all be state placers,” Azure said.