BILLINGS — The Pirates sailed their way into the Class-A State Tournament and plundered a bit of treasure with several placers including junior Brock Picard who made away with the gold for his second year in a row.

Picard’s championship paved the way for an eighth place team finish and sophomore Ty Fouty, junior Trae Fouty, senior Keio Salmonson and junior Kaden Thomas all finished in the top six among the best opponents at their weights.

Picard didn’t even have to wait until the final to face last year’s runner up, Havre wrestler Phillip Sutherland.

This time they met in the semis and it came down to endurance.   

“I knew it was going to be a dogfight and I knew it was going to be tough,” Picard said.

Picard was behind by two points going into the second period, but tied it up by the third with a takedown. In the third period, it was a patented high crotch takedown by Picard that took Sutherland to the ground. Picard spiraled Sutherland to his back and ground down every last bit of the Havre wrestler’s strength until nothing remained.

He got the pin with under 30 seconds remaining, 5:33 deep into one of the best fought matches of his life.

Picard still had one more match to go against Libby wrestler Seth Wright.

Polson head coach Bob Owen said Wright brought plenty of his own magic to the final.

“That kid is really talented and he didn’t back down a bit,” Owen said.

But Picard plain wore Wright out.

Again down going into the final period, Picard needed to make his move.

And again he got a takedown to win, this time with a 7-5 decision. That win meant Picard was a champion.

Having already achieved more than most could dream of, Picard isn’t planning on stopping there.

“Getting two down is a pretty big accomplishment, but I’m going to settle for two, I’m going to settle for three,” Picard said.

Owen said Picard’s the wrestler for the job.

“He’s on a mission – he wants to be a three-time state champion,” Owen said. “If somebody’s going to beat him, they’re going to have to work for it because he’s definitely our hardest worker.”

Picard will also get a chance to participate at the inaugural Tournament of Champions next week in Great Falls. He will face the best at his weight for each division. He beat the AA champion, Maxx Galland, in the Rocky Mountain Classic this year and lost narrowly to the B-C champion, Aaron Hartstock, at the Bozeman invitational.

After losing to Miles City wrestler Shane Cooley at 140 pounds, Ty wrestled his way back to take fourth, which was above his rank at the start of the tournament, Owen said.

“Ty had a pretty good tournament – he did,” Owen said. “I just think he needs another year of wrestling and he will be contender for a title next year. He’s going to be one of the better kids at his weight.”

Polson heavyweight Thomas rallied back after a loss in the quarterfinals with a win over northwest rival Columbia Falls wrestler Kodie Kenfield, who had beat him in the divisonal tournament the week before.

Thomas pinned Kenfield in the consolation semis to get into the third/fourth place match. In his final, he led until he was pinned by Corvallis wrestler Jeff Markette.

“He was wrestling a real good match up to that point,” Owen said, who added Kaden had a great tournament to finish where he did.

Polson’s only senior Salmonson finished the year off right with a solid final against Browning wrestler Jess DeRoche. The 9-3 decision put a fifth place medal in Salmonson’s hands at last.  

“He probably wrestled the best he has this year and got to finish his career with a win,” Owen said.

Last on Polson’s list of placers was Trae.

In his fifth/sixth place final, Trae took a little revenge over Whitefish wrestler Tanner Benedict, who had beat him in a matchup during the divisonal semifinals.

“He wrestled fantastic for how much competition he was able to wrestle,” Owen said.

Trae was injured for most of December and January and he was no slouch the rest of the tournament either, Owen said.

“His losses in the tournament were real close,”  Owen said. “He was very competitive and he’s another one whose going to be a real contender at his weight next year.”

The Pirates are a young team, and a glimpse of the tournament will give his other wrestlers an idea of what it will take to become placers, Owen said.

“A lot of those young guys got a look at it, so they know now what to expect and what they’re going to have to do to be competitive at that tournament,” he said.