Ronan Girls win first A-C wrestling title in state history

The Ronan Girls Wrestling Team made state history in Billings last weekend, winning the first Class A-C title as four different wrestlers placed, and Tirza TwoTeeth picked up a state championship at 235 pounds.

After a first-round bye, TwoTeeth won by pin over Sidney’s Autumn Ownby in under two minutes. She then pinned Flathead’s Boston Howell in the quarterfinals and Billings West’s Marika Bonner in 3:06.

The championship match went quickly as TwoTeeth pinned Billings West’s Evy Mackey in 39 seconds for the victory.

Ronan got a fifth-place finish from Saellah Nomee at 100 pounds. She picked up a 20-second pin over Wolf Point’s Jeina Reum in the second round and a three-minute pin over Lincoln County’s Samantha Day in the quarterfinals.

After falling in the semifinals and consolation semifinals, she bounced back in the fifth-place match, pinning Day again in 4:20.

At 126 pounds, Katie Dolence placed third for Ronan. She pinned Flathead’s Peyton Walker in the second round and Harlem’s Kaitlyn Johnson in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, she lost but bounced back with a pin in the consolation semifinals over Dillon’s Faye Holland. In the third-place match, she won a 6-4 decision over Missoula Big Sky’s Lucia Schlapfer.

Brynn Courville was also third for Ronan at 132 pounds. Courville notched a pin over Flathead’s McKenna McCarthy in 1:20 in the second round. In the quarterfinals, she pinned Columbus’ Emily Zachary in 1:22. After losing in the semifinals, she picked up a 9-2 decision over Butte’s Teya Edwards and in the third-place match she won by injury default over Billings Skyview’s Evija Cagle.

Polson’s Brylie Reum (132), Harli Kinney (145), Abigail Sorrell (152), and Vanessa Wheeler (165) won matches in their respective brackets but did not place.

Ronan Boys place seventh at State

Ronan placed seventh as a team and had four wrestlers make the podium at the Class A State Wrestling Tournament in Billings. Columbia Falls took home their first state title since 1990, showcasing the strength of the Northwest A Conference.

August Courville placed sixth for Ronan at 103 pounds. He picked up a pin in the first round over Hardin’s Will Nedens, and an 8-6 decision over Miles City’s Caleb Smith. The hot start propelled him to the fifth-place match after a couple of losses where he fell to Lockwood’s Philip Westrick.

Teammate Ridge Cote was second at 120 pounds, notching a pin against Mile City’s Carson Gardner in a minute, scoring a 6-0 decision over Dawson County’s Tristan Swanson and another 10-3 decision in the semifinals over Sydney’s Brody Keysor. He fell to Lockwood’s Brody Ketterling in the championship bout by a 7-2 decision.

At 145 pounds, Koda King finished fourth, taking the long road to the podium. King pinned Laurel’s Nathaniel Hill in the first round before falling by decision in the second round. King then got a 14-3 major decision over Billings Central’s Cody Hofer and a pin over Miles City’s Morgan Buckingham. In the consolation semifinals, King pinned Columbia Falls Billy Gustafson in 2:44 before losing in the third-place match to Hardin’s Sean Heling.

Ronan’s Landon Bishop was fourth at 160 pounds. He made it to the state semifinals after notching a technical fall over Miles City’s Ryan Paxson and an 11-7 decision over Laurel’s Owen Younger in the quarterfinals. After losing in the semifinals by just four points, he bounced back with a 15-7 major decision in the consolation semifinals over Laurel’s Beau Mares. In the third-place match, he lost a decision to Dawson County’s Espyn Hostetler by just one point.

Polson’s Daniel Peterson picked up two decision wins in the 152-pound bracket but did not place.

Canyon Sargent places fourth for Mission Charlo

Mission-Charlo’s Canyon Sargent placed fourth at 170 pounds in the Class B/C bracket, winning four matches during the busy weekend in Billings. Sargent won his first-round matchup against Poplar’s Craig Berg via pin. After falling in the quarterfinals, he picked up pins over Bigfork’s Evan Tidwell and Columbus’ Chancy Segeberg.

He advanced to the third-place match, win an 8-2 decision over Glasgow’s Mason Donaldson. He would fall via decision in the third-place match.