Chiefs wrestling shines at Montana Duals

Ronan High School wrestling coach Dylan Kramer said his team is gradually progressing from the start of the season at the Owen Invitational to the Western Montana Duals.

“I think we are making steps every weekend to get better and think our grittiness, toughness and mental toughness have really improved,” Kramer said. “Our team is finding ways to gut out matches and finding ways to win when sometimes we shouldn’t. They are doing a good job of that.”

Ronan, who was in their 49th year of doing the Western Montana Duals, had a lot of success hosting the 18-team tournament, according to Kramer.

“Hosting the Duals was fun,” Kramer said. “Seeing the support from the community from the volunteer workers and the amount of help that we had was great. We were very grateful for it.”

Kramer said he felt the key to his team’s second overall finish was their ability to focus during the meet.

“I think some of the guys are really focused on what makes them successful and they are figuring out what they need to work on,” Kramer said. “They are working on their weaknesses and assessing themselves. They know what they need to work on and they are doing a good job figuring that out.”

During the Duals, Kramer said he was impressed with programs like Class A Columbia Falls and Frenchtown. Frenchtown won the entire invitational.

“I would say they are very well-coached and they bought in to the coach’s program all the way through,” Kramer said. “He is committed to the weight room and off season program, and they are solid. Frenchtown, in the finals, beat us up pretty good. They are a good marker to see the next level and give us an assessment on where we need to improve.”

The Chiefs wrestling team will take part in the Rocky Mountain Classic, a tournament located in Missoula that is considered one of the biggest tournaments in the region on Friday and Saturday.

“That is a classic grinder tournament,” Kramer said. “The Rocky Mountain Classic is sometimes tougher than the state tournament and there can be multiple state champions in one bracket. It’s another good tournament.”

2018 Western Montana Duals

Ronan Events Center

Ronan, MT

Friday-Saturday, January 5-6

Final standings: 1, Frenchtown; 2, Ronan (Ron); 3, Columbia Falls; 4, Libby; 5, Thompson Falls; 6. Mission/Charlo (MC); 7, Broadwater; 8, Flathead JV.

ROUND 11

Thompson Falls 39, Mission/Charlo 33

Frenchtown 54, Ronan 15 3:30pm

152: Seth Cheff (Ron) 1:17 p. Christian Wyant; 170: Jesse Little Boy (Ron) 3:49 p. Canyon Shope; 182: Justin Mays (Ron) 6-1 d. Tate Jones. Frenchtown won by pin: 103,113,126,132,145,205,285. Frenchtown won by decision: 120,160.

ROUND 9

Mission/Charlo 49, Flathead JV 0

Ronan 37, Libby 33

120: Spencer Stagg (Ron) 2:50 p. Zach Morrison; 126: Zane Walchuk (Ron) 7-5 d. Mason Sams; 145: Eric Dolence (RON) 1:27 p. Jeff Offenbecher; 182: Justin Mays (Ron) 20-7 md. Tanner Wood; 205: Wesley Pablo (Ron) 0:57 p. Ethan Bordon. Ronan won 103, 113 by forfeit. Libby won 138 by forfeit. Libby won by pin: 132,152,170,285. Libby won by decision: 160.

ROUND 7

Ronan 46, Mission/Charlo 27 10am

113: Walker Murphy (MC) 2:59 p. Trapper McAllister; 120: Spencer Stagg (Ron) 3:37 p. Robert Dempsey; 132: Cole Gilleard (MC) 7-6 d. Kolby Reum; 138: Hunter Peterson (Ron) 15-7 md. Darwin Adams; 145: Eric Dolence (Ron) 0:41 p. Denzel Lefthand; 160: Daniel Bishop (Ron) 0:34 p. Isaiah Allik; 170: Miles Anderson (MC) 1:43 p. Jesse Little Boy; 182: Gus Bosley (MC) 3:26 p. Justin Mays; 205: Wesley Pablo (Ron) 1:09 p. Lucas Wholtmann; 285: Chris Anderson (MC) 2:51 p. Sam Mocabee.

Ronan won 103, 126, 152 by forfeit.

ROUND 6

Ronan 45, Corvallis 28

ROUND 5

Columbia Falls 42, Mission/Charlo 30

Ronan 51, Broadwater 19

ROUND 4

Mission/Charlo 36, Hamilton 36

Mission/Charlo winner by criteria

ROUND 2

Mission/Charlo 39, Sentinel JV 32

Ronan 76, Clark Fork 0

ROUND 1

Ronan 42, Glacier 36