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Ronan boys, girls make strong showing in Missoula

by Brandon Hansen / For The Leader
| January 18, 2024 12:00 AM

Ronan continues to punch above its weight in the wrestling world. At the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Tournament in Missoula on Friday, Jan. 12, and Saturday, Jan. 13, the Chiefs placed second while wrestling against a mix of big Idaho schools, 4A Washington schools, and 2A Montana schools.

“We always talk about finishing strong, and those placing matches are a great example of finishing a tournament strong,” Ronan Wrestling Coach Dylan Kramer said. “So to have four boys champs and two girls champs it was a great way for those kids to lead by example. I think our wrestlers have been buying into the idea of getting better every day, whether it's wrestling practice, a tournament, morning practice lift and run, or in the classroom, they are working to get better every day.”

Four different Ronan wrestlers placed first in their brackets, not shying away from the competition.

“With the weather this weekend, not all the teams were able to attend, which was disappointing, but we tell our kids all the time that we can only control what we can control and who shows up at a tournament or on the wrestling mat isn't in our control,” Kramer said.

“So for our kids to go and compete at a high level was awesome,” he added. “I don't want to single out one or two specific kids because our team, our program, has been working so hard to get better, but you have to give credit to the kids who won the tournament this weekend.”

Ridge Cote won the 120-pound bracket for the Chiefs, recording three straight pins in less than a minute before posting a 9-0 decision over Mead’s Billy Weisgerber in the championship match.

“Ridge Cote looked great in all his matches and showed off his work in the practice room by using the new moves he's been developing,” Kramer said.

August Courville also won a championship for Ronan, placing first in the 126-pound bracket. He notched two decisions and a pin on his way to the top of the podium, defeating University’s Calister Crosby in the championship match.

“August Courville is turning a page in wrestling style and career and wrestling very confidently,” Kramer said.

Ronan’s Landon Bishop, ranked No. 1 in the state for his weight, placed first at 170 pounds, scoring a 12-1 major decision over Mead’s Ethan Harvey in the championship bout. Bishop also had a pin and a technical fall.

The athlete “has been working on not being satisfied with just winning but being focused on not having any weaknesses,” Kramer said.

Tristan Fisher was tops at 182 pounds, notching a decision, pinning one, collecting a major decision, and then winning the championship match against Columbia Falls’ Rowdy Crump 7-2.

At 113 pounds, Luc Cheff notched two decisions and a pin to place third place for Ronan.

Cole Dalke was also third at 205 pounds, with three pins and a technical fall.

Teammate WilJames Courville was fourth at 145 pounds, pinning three and snagging a major decision.

Justus Orman-Bergman picked up one pin and placed six at 103 pounds for Ronan. Jairyn Krause placed seventh at 138 pounds, notching two decisions for his medal. Nate Young was eighth at 180 pounds, notching one pin. Jackson Davis was also eighth at 285 pounds, pinning one.

“I think our seniors deserve a shout-out,” Kramer said. “They have done an excellent job of leading the team by example, holding their teammates accountable, and honestly just being fun to be around. I can't say enough about what a great group of kids they are and how much we're going to miss them next year.”

Ronan Girls place third at Hellgate

Ronan was third at the Hellgate Girls Wrestling Tournament Jan. 12-13. The Maidens had two first-place finishes and several other placers in the tournament.

River Cote was first at 100 pounds for Ronan. She scored two pins for the top title, including a 45-second pin over Sandpoint’s Mackenzee Donefeld in the championship match.

According to Coach Kramer, Cote “is wrestling as good/dominant as anyone on our team, which is impressive for a freshman.”

Heavyweight Tirza TwoTeeth won her bracket for Ronan, notching two pins, including one over Havre’s Aliyah Stiffarm in the first-place bout. Teammate Judasha Ellsworth finished sixth in the same bracket.

“Tirza TwoTeeth continues to be locked in and working to develop all aspects of her wrestling,” Kramer said.

At 126 pounds, Katie Dolence placed second for the Maidens. She won by fall two times to advance through the bracket. Teammate Brynn Courville was also second, scoring a technical fall in the semifinals over Frenchtown’s Sage Machado 19-2.

Also placing second was Ronan’s Leona Dodson Howe at 152 pounds, notching one pin.

Ronan’s Aaliyah Stewart was sixth at 126 pounds, pinning one.