Ronan ready to host Western Montana Duals

The Ronan High School wresting team has worked on making significant strides towards one of their premier home showcases of the season: the Western Montana Duals.

Chiefs coach Dylan Kramer said his team has put in a lot of effort during the first half of the season in order to make a strong second half push.

Ronan will host the Western Montana Duals Friday at the Ronan Events Center. Unlike last year, this year will not feature a special team like the Japan National Team, which is something that Ronan does every other year.

“I thought we took some good steps forward and spent some time in the weight room working on getting stronger and more physical,” Kramer said. “We also were able to get healed up too. Every week, we want to build our momentum, get a little bit better and eventually peak towards the middle of February.”

Kramer, whose team continues to get healthier as the season progresses, said he and his Chiefs are looking forward to wrestling in front of their home town.

“Wrestling in front of your home town is always exciting and always fun,” Kramer said. “(Events like these) are really important. I think it will help bond us as a team and compete well. This will bring us to a high level, keep us together and keep us moving forward in the right direction that we are.”

Kramer said he felt he and his team continue to make strides as they work towards Billings and get ready to showcase the team’s skill in front of the home crowd for the first time since the beginning of the season at the Owen Invitational in Polson.

“I am just impressed with the whole team effort in doing what they need to do,” Kramer said. “I think the team (and its coaching staff) is putting in long hours in the weight room and they are doing what they need to do in order to be successful.”

Kramer said he felt the team is beginning to buy in to the first-year coach’s philosophical approach towards the sport.

“I think our whole team is doing what they need to do, buying in, putting in the time and work and I am excited to see which kids pull away (in the second half of the season),” Kramer said. “I think with that mindset that we are going to be able to do our best every single tournament and with putting forth nothing but our best effort in practice will allow us to have a successful transition into the tournament.”