Chiefs wrestling gets ready for divisonal round at C-Falls

Ronan High School wrestling coach Dylan Kramer has his Chiefs team focused on prime for the biggest stages of the year as his team prepares to head into the Class A Divisional Meet Feb. 2-3 at Columbia Falls High School.

The Chiefs got a tremendous boost defeating their cross-county rival Polson in dual match.

“It was definitely an uplifting moment for us to send their seniors out on a winning note against their cross-town rivals,” Kramer said. “They went out and did it and I was proud of them for that.”

Kramer said he will focused on much shorter, more condensed practices as he gets his team and individuals prepared for divisional with their sights set on qualifying for the Class A state wrestling tournament Feb. 9-10 at MetraPark in Billings.

“We are focused on being in top physical condition and we are having much shorter and more condensed periods of practice,” Kramer said. “We are not going as long and we are focusing on ways to keep in shape so that we have a little bit left during each and every match. Because our wrestlers need to be prepared to wrestle for the full six minutes.”

Though Kramer is proud of what his team has accomplished during the regular season he said he is now focused completely on the postseason.

“Its nice to look back on the divisional round but that is all in the past and now we have to focus on getting better for divisional,” Kramer said. “I have some goals and ideas in mind and to use the old Wild Wild West analogy you want to fire all six shots from your gun, throw your gun at them and when the dust settles that is where the chips lie. We just have to do our best and I just want our kids to wrestle to their ability and we will see what happens after that.”

Kramer, who will not have defending Class B-C state champion Noah Cheff for the Divisional or state tournament, will feature several other competitors headed to state.

Trapper McAllister (103): McAllister has entered his freshman year and didn’t take long for his impact to be felt, according to Kramer.

“He had an excellent year and made huge leaps and bounds in his progress every week,” Kramer said. “He is a good all-around kid and is always doing something and most of the time he is doing the right thing.”

Spencer Stagg (120): Stagg is a senior that made an impact on the Chiefs’ wrestling squad.

“He is a returning state champion at divisional and even though he has lost a few times this year he seems to get better every week,” Kramer said. “We will just have to wait and see what happens.”

Hunter Peterson (138): Hunter Peterson has overcome adversity this year and now is looking to medal as he enters the divisional round.

“He has battled all year and our kids will have a shot at anyone.”

Other wrestlers Kramer said he felt will make an impact at divisionals and possibly punch their ticket to state are Zane Walchuk (120), Seth Cheff (152) and Justin Mays (182).

“My ultimate goal is to get first, second, or third but for our kids to go out there and compete and when the dust settles as long as we competed well I am pretty happy,” Kramer said. “I just want to fight and give us a chance to go to the state tournament.”