Down But Not Out

It was not the outcome the team wanted, but its not over either. That was the sentiment put off by Scottie head wrestling coach Jory Casterline after his team finished in the runner-up slot at the Eastern B/C Divisional Wrestling Tournament in Huntley Project on Feb. 8. Regardless of expectations, the Scotties still pulled off a second-place finish and punched 10 tickets to State-which included two freshmen but not a top-ranked senior. They fell in the point count behind Huntley Project by a mere 24.5 points. Compare that to the 60-point lead the Scotties had over number-three Colstrip and the close math becomes a little clearer.

"We wrestled as well as we could have," said Casterline. "We had a few errors and let downs but some other guys stepped up and that's what teams do." He added that the success of wrestlers who were the number four seeds going into the tournament pulled off second and third-place finishes contributing to the team's success in Huntley.

Leading the way for the Scotties were Scottie dominators Colton Fast (132 lbs), Dylan Nieskens (182 lbs) and Cooper Larson (205 lbs), all three won every single bout by pin and earned the max number of points for the team.

Discussing the three champs, the head coach said he was very happy with the wrestlers who "pinned their way" through the tournament. "You know Fast won with a quick pin and just made quick work of the guys in the finals," said the coach, adding, "He's the favorite there [at State]." Fast earned his first State championship at the 2019 State wrestling tournament and is expected to repeat that performance.

Casterline also commented that Nieskens and Larson had dominant performances at the Divisional meet and they are looking to continue those performances going into the State tournament. Nieskens earned a State title as a sophomore in 2019 and is also expected to repeat that performance in Billings this weekend.

Speaking specifically about Larson's breakout year, Casterline said, "It's just a different mentality this year. He's just a man on a mission." Larson made his way to State in 2019 but did not place in the meet after winning the opening round, but fell in the next two bouts.

Sophomores Jake Kuka (103 lbs) and Kyler Hallock (160 lbs) claimed second-place finishes alongside junior Kaden Zimmerman (152 lbs). Casterline talked fondly of the two sophomores and their performances as well, pointing out that Kuka avenged an early season loss against Shepherd's Leeann Hoch to make it into the final round. Kuka and Hallock both punched tickets to State last year but did not place at the tournament, while Zimmerman earned a bronze medal by placing third in the 138 lbs weight class.

Rounding out those contenders heading to State are freshmen Jack Cornwell (126 lbs) and Mason Donaldson (132 lbs) along with juniors Ty Kittelson (170 lbs) and Mayson Phipps (285 lbs), who all claimed bronze medals at the Divisional tournament.

"The two freshmen wrestled great," exclaimed Casterline, before adding, "those were the pleasant surprises. They did a good job."

The not-so-pleasant surprises were the back-to-back upsets of senior John Cremer who entered the tournament in the number-one seed but lost in the third round to Huntley Project's Garrett Sholley and then again in the consolation semi-finals to Colstrip's Zach Cox. The pair of losses placed Cremer in the number-five spot and just out of qualifying for State. The losses also had the unfortunate side-effect of ending the senior's high-school-wrestling career. In 2019, Cremer placed fourth at State in the 138 lbs weight class after losing to fellow Scottie Kaden Zimmerman.

Discussing Kittleson's performance, the coach, with a bit of regret but a positive reflection on his performance, said, "Kittleson had a good semi-final round, he wrestled tough and had a good tournament. I would have liked to see him reach the finals but we fell short there." In the heavy-weight bracket, Casterline commented that the team just gives too much respect to the top-ranked wrestler, Journey Grimsrud of Huntley Project, and he said that Phipps would have to get through that mindset and go through Grimsrud if he wanted to win State this year.

While the Scotties will send 10 wrestlers to State, Huntley Project will send just one more grappler at 11 total, setting the teams up for a potentially close battle for the top spots at State; something, Casterline thinks, is still firmly in the realm of possibilities, but he caveated that the brackets show the Scotties have some tough challenges ahead of them going forward.

"We have to perform well," said Casterline. "We need to beat some people we haven't beat this year and have no bad matches. We have to be perfect."

Asked how he thinks that will happen, Casterline responded cooly, "Our guys are battle-tested. This is our goal and just because we lost Divisionals doesn't mean we can't win State."

Team Results:

1 Huntley Project (Worden)  207.5

2 Glasgow  183.0

3 Colstrip  123.0

4 Circle  109.5

5 Shepherd  74.0

6 Poplar  68.0

7 Baker  45.0

8 Forsyth  37.0

9 Red Lodge  31.0

10 Wolf Point  20.0

11 Frazer  0.0

11 Lame Deer  0.0

11 Powder River Co. (Broadus)  0.0

Individual Results:

103 - Jake Kuka's place is 2nd and has scored 16.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 20-19 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal - Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 20-19 won by fall over Leeann Hoch (Shepherd) 19-21 (Fall 3:09)

1st Place Match - Gavin Nedens (Huntley Project (Worden)) 39-8 won by decision over Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 20-19 (Dec 7-1)

126 - Jack Cornwell's place is 3rd and has scored 18.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Jack Cornwell (Glasgow) 28-21 won by fall over Zaden Heck (Colstrip) 23-31 (Fall 3:41)

Quarterfinal - Jack Cornwell (Glasgow) 28-21 won by fall over Carmine Terraciano (Red Lodge) 5-13 (Fall 0:20)

Semifinal - Camron Reilly (Forsyth) 27-5 won by fall over Jack Cornwell (Glasgow) 28-21 (Fall 3:40)

Cons. Semi - Jack Cornwell (Glasgow) 28-21 won by fall over Zaden Heck (Colstrip) 23-31 (Fall 4:58)

3rd Place Match - Jack Cornwell (Glasgow) 28-21 won by decision over Garrett Buckalew (Colstrip) 23-22 (Dec 6-3)

132 - Mason Donaldson's place is 3rd and has scored 11.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Mitchell Youngman (Poplar) 20-12 won by fall over Mason Donaldson (Glasgow) 30-20 (Fall 3:14)

Cons. Round 1 - Mason Donaldson (Glasgow) 30-20 won by fall over Brent Beaudoin (Red Lodge) 0-11 (Fall 0:31)

Cons. Semi - Mason Donaldson (Glasgow) 30-20 won by decision over Lakota Schindler (Colstrip) 16-18 (Dec 7-4)

3rd Place Match - Mason Donaldson (Glasgow) 30-20 won by major decision over Mitchell Youngman (Poplar) 20-12 (MD 15-5)

132 - Colten Fast's place is 1st and has scored 24.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Colten Fast (Glasgow) 38-6 won by fall over Brent Beaudoin (Red Lodge) 0-11 (Fall 0:23)

Semifinal - Colten Fast (Glasgow) 38-6 won by fall over Mitchell Youngman (Poplar) 20-12 (Fall 0:51)

1st Place Match - Colten Fast (Glasgow) 38-6 won by fall over Devon Nesbitt (Baker) 28-20 (Fall 0:30)

138 - John Cremer's place is 5th and has scored 5.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - John Cremer (Glasgow) 13-6 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - John Cremer (Glasgow) 13-6 won by major decision over Corbin Irish (Powder River Co. (Broadus)) 6-30 (MD 14-3)

Semifinal - Garrett Sholley (Huntley Project (Worden)) 20-15 won by decision over John Cremer (Glasgow) 13-6 (Dec 4-2)

Cons. Semi - Zach Cox (Colstrip) 30-24 won by fall over John Cremer (Glasgow) 13-6 (Fall 2:29)

5th Place Match - John Cremer (Glasgow) 13-6 won by decision over Blake Zimmerman (Huntley Project (Worden)) 24-22 (Dec 4-1)

145 - Morgan Fast's place is 6th and has scored 3.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Cole Becker (Circle) 35-9 won by fall over Morgan Fast (Glasgow) 8-17 (Fall 3:37)

Cons. Round 1 - Morgan Fast (Glasgow) 8-17 won by medical forfeit over Calahan Barker (Red Lodge) 9-10 (M. For.)

Cons. Semi - Clayton Donally (Huntley Project (Worden)) 16-3 won by major decision over Morgan Fast (Glasgow) 8-17 (MD 10-0)

5th Place Match - Alex Nelson (Huntley Project (Worden)) 23-6 won by fall over Morgan Fast (Glasgow) 8-17 (Fall 2:15)

152 - Ethan Nickels' place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Davis Kreuzer (Red Lodge) 11-12 won by fall over Ethan Nickels (Glasgow) 11-27 (Fall 1:03)

Cons. Round 1 - Ethan Nickels (Glasgow) 11-27 received a bye () (Bye)

Cons. Round 2 - Luke Donally (Huntley Project (Worden)) 32-13 won by fall over Ethan Nickels (Glasgow) 11-27 (Fall 2:28)

152 - Kaden Zimmerman's place is 2nd and has scored 22.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Kaden Zimmerman (Glasgow) 35-12 won by fall over Ian Willoughby (Colstrip) 7-25 (Fall 1:02)

Quarterfinal - Kaden Zimmerman (Glasgow) 35-12 won by fall over Alex Stene (Shepherd) 6-28 (Fall 0:35)

Semifinal - Kaden Zimmerman (Glasgow) 35-12 won by fall over Logan Boadle (Poplar) 24-22 (Fall 3:46)

1st Place Match - Wylee Lindeen (Huntley Project (Worden)) 39-8 won by decision over Kaden Zimmerman (Glasgow) 35-12 (Dec 8-4)

160 - Kyler Hallock's place is 2nd and has scored 14.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 13-6 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal - Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 13-6 won by decision over Paden Vanattan (Forsyth) 25-19 (Dec 2-1)

1st Place Match - Rylin Burns (Colstrip) 42-6 won by major decision over Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 13-6 (MD 18-5)

170 - Austin Hughes' place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - William Loveridge (Huntley Project (Worden)) 36-14 won by fall over Austin Hughes (Glasgow) 9-19 (Fall 1:29)

Cons. Round 1 - Treyton Koch (Red Lodge) 11-17 won by fall over Austin Hughes (Glasgow) 9-19 (Fall 1:52)

170 - Ty Kittleson's place is 3rd and has scored 13.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Ty Kittleson (Glasgow) 24-13 won by fall over Treyton Koch (Red Lodge) 11-17 (Fall 1:20)

Semifinal - William Loveridge (Huntley Project (Worden)) 36-14 won by major decision over Ty Kittleson (Glasgow) 24-13 (MD 10-0)

Cons. Semi - Ty Kittleson (Glasgow) 24-13 won by fall over Dakota Halbrook (Powder River Co. (Broadus)) 13-13 (Fall 2:17)

3rd Place Match - Ty Kittleson (Glasgow) 24-13 won by fall over William Turcotte (Poplar) 22-18 (Fall 2:47)

182 - Dylan Nieskens' place is 1st and has scored 24.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Dylan Nieskens (Glasgow) 36-7 won by fall over Ethan Reichenberg (Baker) 19-22 (Fall 1:35)

Semifinal - Dylan Nieskens (Glasgow) 36-7 won by fall over Mason Garfield (Wolf Point) 10-10 (Fall 0:46)

1st Place Match - Dylan Nieskens (Glasgow) 36-7 won by fall over Stran Selman (Huntley Project (Worden)) 39-9 (Fall 0:49)

205 - Cooper Larson's place is 1st and has scored 24.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 34-9 won by fall over Josiah Middlerider (Powder River Co. (Broadus)) 4-19 (Fall 0:57)

Semifinal - Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 34-9 won by fall over Malcolm Mann (Red Lodge) 4-10 (Fall 1:52)

1st Place Match - Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 34-9 won by fall over Gage Schmitt (Shepherd) 26-9 (Fall 5:11)

285 - Mayson Phipps' place is 3rd and has scored 9.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 39-13 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal - Journey Grimsrud (Huntley Project (Worden)) 41-3 won by fall over Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 39-13 (Fall 4:23)

Cons. Semi - Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 39-13 won by fall over Cooper Anderson (Forsyth) 4-13 (Fall 0:18)

3rd Place Match - Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 39-13 won by fall over O`Connell Qualley (Baker) 23-23 (Fall 1:27)