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Mission-Charlo wrestling coach Lyle Cronk is aware this is the time of year when the intensity of each event and practice gets amplified in preparation for the Class B-C state wrestling tournament in Billings on Feb. 9-10.

His team is making a case for themselves down the stretch to have another solid showing at the B-C Tournament finishing second as a team at the Ted Kato Tournament.

Mission-Charlo did something, according to Cronk, it hasn’t done all season and that is finish ahead of Plains and Florence.

“Plains and Florence have been finishing ahead of us in tournaments,” Cronk said. “That is a good battle just behind Thompson Falls that got first and second. I think it was excellent validation for us because we’ve been talking about focusing, really working hard and picking up the intensity in our practices. The last two weeks (our team) has been going in and competing well. How we performed is kind of a validation for these kids because they are working hard and doing the right things. It is paying off.”

The Bulldogs’ wrestling team had the following placers: Walker Murphy (113) finished second, Bailey Weibel (126) finished second, Cole Gilleard (132) finished second, Darwin Adams (138) finished third, Isaiah Allick (160) finished third, Miles Anderson (170) finished third, Lucas Wholtmann (205) finished third and Chris Anderson (285) finished third at Kato.

“All of our players did a great job and Miles Anderson is really wrestling well,” Cronk said. “He has improved a lot this season (from last season). Having Bailey Weibel on the team is a big plus, Darwin Adams has been consistent all year long and wrestling tough, and Walker Murphy is just consistently tough.”

Cronk said at this point of the season the main emphasis for his team to improve is simply “focus.”

“We focus every day on just trying to improve and work hard as a team,” Cronk said. “Our philosophical approach doesn’t change by this time of the year and practice gets pretty intense. We focus a little more specifically on different components at this time of year, who we are going to see and where we are going to see them. We are specifically working on strategies to beat certain opponents and there is just a little bit of a difference.”

Earlier in the week, the Bulldogs defeated Florence 54-22 to commemorate their senior night with a victory.

Cronk said he felt like the Florence wrestling program was a “tough,” team that allowed the Bulldogs to get tuned up for the Ted Kato Tournament.

“Florence is pretty salty this year and it is nice that they were ranked in the top 10 in the coaches poll in the state,” Cronk said. “It was nice to be able to beat them twice this week. Wrestling at home was a big boost for us.”