Montana Open Next For GWC After Nationals

The Glasgow Wrestling Club Highlanders, about 60 kids strong, are picking up matches and pins wherever they can find them.

Team members hit the mats at the Montana Open in Billings this weekend after making some noise last week at the Rocky Mountain Nationals in Denver, the Wolf Point Invitational and the Malta Mixer.

Dylan Nieskens placed second at nationals in the 12U 146-pound bracket. He went 4-1 over the tournament's three days at National Western Complex.

“Dylan had a great tournament,” Highlander coach Jory Casterline told The Courier. “Even in the match he lost, he was in that until the end.”

Also placing in the main division were Grady Nielsen in third at 8U 97, Kohl Kittleson sixth at 10U HWT, Tel Aune sixth at 12U 146, Cooper Larson fourth at 12U 165, and Ty Kittleson sixth at 12U 165.

In the rookie division, Cooper Larson placed first at 10-12 HWT3, a performance that Casterline hopes leads to more success. Also placing in the rookie division were Connor Hudyma fifth at 7-9 78, Aiden Hoerster sixth at 10-12 73, Ty Kittleson second at 10-12 HWT3, Jonathan Cremer sixth at 13-15 115, Cooper Allen third at 13-15 137 and Darrin Wersal second at 13-15 170.

Twenty-nine Highlander made the half-day drive to Denver for Nationals, where the big Midwest wrestling states were represented in force. Glasgow's delegations was among the biggest from outside Colorado.

Most of the other GWC members went to Wolf Point on Saturday and nine won individual championships.

In Tot competition, Cody Kuka placed first, Ethan Engstrom first (with a quick pin award), Jack Morehouse second, Hank Hopstad third, Tyler King third (quick pin award),Tay Morehouse third, Aiden Aune fourth and Breckin Partridge fifth.

In Bantams, Cade Hudyma placed first, Michael King first, Ted See second, Roman Fast second, Khye Gamas second, Tavin Boland third, Burke Nowak third, Jordan Barnhart third, Klay Cornwell fourth and John Yeska seventh.

In Midgets, Ethyn Schindler placed first, Levi Overvold first, Mason Hunter first, Nate Hentges first (quick pin award), Carlos Gonzales second, Riley Overvold third, Emily See fifth, John Engstrom fifth and Isaac Blake sixth.

In Novices, Blake Overvold placed first, Jake Kuka fourth and Fynn Sukut sixth.

Also last week, a few Highlanders placed March 19 at the Malta Middle School Mixer. Blake Overvold took a first, Dalton Sand a second and Fynn Sukut a third.

Coach Casterline expects 40 to 50 Highlanders to be among 1,500 wrestlers in the Montana Open at MetraPark, the last big folkstyle event before freestyle begins.

“We as a club have a lot of kids wrestling,” Casterline said of the Scottie feeder program. “It's going crazy now. As far as participation numbers go, we're setting new clubs records. For us to have as many kids wrestling, it's phenomenal.”

He credits parents and grandparents for making it possible, registering the kids and taking them to matches near and far.