PHILIPSBURG - Ronan wrestlers are hitting their stride at just

the right time. Last weekend, the Chiefs won their first divisional

title since 2009, scoring 147.5 points and will send eight

wrestlers to the state tournament in Billings.

PHILIPSBURG - Ronan wrestlers are hitting their stride at just the right time. Last weekend, the Chiefs won their first divisional title since 2009, scoring 147.5 points and will send eight wrestlers to the state tournament in Billings.

"We definitely were happy with the way we performed last weekend," Ronan head coach Dustyn Azure said. "But we're not satisfied. We want to go to state and bring home a trophy."

Ronan had one divisional champion, Colby Roberts, who took home the 189-pound title with a pin over Mission Valley rival Clayton Trimble from Arlee at the 3:38 mark of the championship match.

"He went out and got the pins to get us bonus points," Azure said.

Two other wrestlers, 125-pound Brandon Dumont and 152-pound Shelby Grant, reached the championship match in their weight divisions.

"We had a great first round," Azure said of the tournament. "That got us started with pins and technical falls. That's the thing we've been stressing with the wrestlers to score bonus points."

Placing third for Chiefs was Trae Garcia at 98 pounds, Chase Rhine at 112 pounds, Dustin Goldsby at 152 pounds and Quentin Denton at 160 pounds. Connor Benn took fourth at 130 pounds. The top four in each weight class advance to the state tournament.

In the third-place matches, Garcia picked up an 11-2 major decision over Superior's Kenneth Stockard, while Rhine defeated Thompson Falls' Wade Gascon by a 15-13 decision.

Goldsby pinned Eureka's Curtis McDuffie at the 2:54 mark and Denton picked up a pin over Mission Valley rival Leif Rova from Arlee 2:32 into their match.

"The whole team was involved," Azure said. "All the wrestlers were involved and getting wins."

Ronan's last divisional tournament was in Class A, when they edged Polson for the NWA crown in 2009. Last year they had two Class A state champions in Toby Cheff and Cole McArthur, so the Chiefs' pedigree is definitely there.

"Right now we're done with our conditioning work," Azure said. "We're just getting ourselves mentally prepared and becoming confident. It's just fine-tuning this week. We have a young team they are all starting to believe in themselves."