Ronan Chiefs wrestlers roll in CMR
Libby's Trey Thompson, in blue, defends a leg ride from Ronan's Hunter Peterson Tuesday night at Libby High School. (John Blodgett/Special to the Lake County Leader)
Libby Logger Laine Young looks to finish a takedown against Ronan's Seth Cheff Tuesday at Libby High School. (John Blodgett/Special to the Lake County Leader)
Since the start of the season Ronan wrestling has been steadily progressing as they continue to prepare for the Class A state wrestling tournament at the end of the season.
According to coach Dylan Kramer, the team continued to progress in this weekend’s meet CMR wrestling meet in Great Falls.
“This was our first tournament that we were able to have our whole team and it was good to see how the kids respond with one another,” Kramer said. “We are trying to keep the momentum going and it was pretty fun to watch. I think the kids are working hard and that all carries over. In wrestling, that means much more. We win matches by putting in time during the week and on the weekend, and taking advantage of every opportunity that we have.”
Trapper McAllister finished fifth at the 103-pound division, Spencer Stagg finished fifth at the 120-pound division, Owen Brown finished sixth at the 126-pound division, Noah Cheff finished fifth at the 132-pound division and Hunter Peterson finished second at the 138-pound division.
“I don’t think there is ever a time when the team is ever at 100 percent strength and we definitely had a good showing this weekend,” Kramer said.
Kramer cited the performances of McAllister. Stagg and Brown in what he said was a successful tournament by every Chiefs’ member that participated.
“(McAllister) as a freshman who really stepped up this weekend,” Kramer said. “He was able to get a really quick pin award in the very first round he competed in and battled against the eventual champion. He just did a great job and took fifth place.”
He said Brown had a “great tournament” en route to his sixth-place finish.
“Brown had a great tournament, took sixth place and was very close in overtime in all three of his matches,” Brown said.
Noah Cheff, the defending Class B state champion, was in a loaded bracket, according to Brown.
“He had four state champions and it was a grinder,” Kramer said. “He battled his way through the consolation bracket and ended up taking fifth place. It was a loaded bracket.”
Stagg and Peterson also had a “solid” tournament, according to Brown.
“Stagg battled all the way back and had some big pins in the consolation round,” Kramer said.
Kramer also cited Brown and Peterson for having solid tournaments as his team returns to full strength.
“I think we are getting healthy, we are working on our basics, and how we are getting to outscore and outlast some guys,” Kramer said. “We need to find our opportunity to capitalize and position ourselves to win against some top-notch opponents in future matches.”
The follwing are Chiefs’ placers for the CMR:
103 Trapper McAllister 5th
120 Spencer Stagg 5th
126 Owen Brown 6th
132 Noah Cheff 5th
138 Hunter Peterson 2nd.