Neiss wins second title

BILLINGS — Cameron Neiss ended his high-school wrestling career with a win.

Or more appropriately, a pin.

In the gold medal match of the 130-pound weight class, Neiss had to wait until the last second to record the fall of Sidney’s Lane Houchen.

“I thought the kid was pinned a little earlier, actually,” head coach Dustyn Azure said. “[Neiss] went out and dominated. His goal was to dominate and pin. He did that.”

Pins were the norm, not the exception for Neiss at the tournament and during the season.

He recorded pins in each of his four matches at state and collected the divisional tournament Jug Beck quick pin award. He didn’t win the state tournament Jug Beck award, but it stayed in the Ronan wrestling family when it went to Toby Cheff.

The only surprise involving Neiss last weekend was his bright orange hair.

“It surprised me when he stepped on the bus,” Azure said. “I didn’t know about it.”

During the season, Neiss went undefeated and Azure said Neiss’ hard work and dedication are the two reasons he did so well and pinned so often.

“Pins were the driving force,” Azure said. “He wasn’t going to be satisfied with a one-point win.”

Toby Cheff

The third time was a charm for junior Toby Cheff. After placing third at state for the past two years, the 189-pounder was able to stand on top of the podium.

He pinned Belgrades’s Austin Rehyer in the third period after pinning Frenchtown’s Russel Dorsman in the semifinals.

Cheff had two pins on Friday, both under a minute, to make the second day of competition.

He received the Jug Beck Quick Pin award, beating out divisional tournament winner and teammate Neiss.

“Toby was upset that he didn’t do it [in divisionals],” Azure said.

Micky Cheff

Senior Micky Cheff lost a heartbreaking match in the 152-pound championship match-up.

“He wrestled well,” Azure said. “He showed up, ready to go, for every match.”

Entering the state meet as the third-ranked wrestler, Mickey took out No. 2 Dylan Kramer, of Laurel, to make the championship round where he faced the No. 1 ranked grappler, Kent Pattison, of Havre.

The 152-pound weight class was the toughest at state with three-returning state champions.

Azure said even after his loss, Cheff showed his leadership when he made sure Toby and Neiss were ready for their championship bouts.

“He is a good team leader,” Azure said.

Cole McArthur

Cole McArthur entered the tournament third in the 160-pound weight class and left the same way.

The No. 3 ranked wrestler at 160 lost to the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the semifinals, Lewiston’s Connor Malone, in an 8-1 decision.

In the third-place match, McArthur beat Whitefish’s Tanner Benedict 5-0. The two had met in the championship match at divisionals, where McArthur won 5-1.

“I was proud of him,” Azure said. “He had a good year.”

McArthur knew how to beat Benedict, keeping pressure on him and creating angles.

“It’s tough to lose and come back and get third when your focus all year is on a state title,” Azure said.

As a team, the Chiefs finished seventh with 114.8 points, 8.9 points behind Glendive.

“We came a long way from the beginning of the season,” Azure said.