As fans fill the Rimrock Auto Arena at Billings MetraPark this weekend, local wrestlers will be vying for the ultimate prize in MHSA sports — a state championship.

All of the blood, sweat, tears and pounds that have been shed this season lead up to this tournament, where a last second takedown or escape can mean the difference in everlasting glory or depressing defeat. Although it is an accomplishment in itself just to qualify for state, no wrestler plans on bowing out without placing his name in the record books.

For some, this isn’t the first time they’ll be stepping into the arena of 12 mats and thousands of screaming fans; but, for others, the bright lights of the biggest stage in MHSA wrestling can be be a little intimidating.

There will be upsets. There will be shattered dreams of wrestlers hoping for one last chance of stepping onto the podium. But as one wrestler falls, another steps into greatness, clutching the medal around his neck — the hard work, the pain and the blood, all undoubtedly worth it.

First-round matches begin at 10 a.m. today with the quarterfinals and first round of consolation matches scheduled for 2 p.m.

On Saturday, the semifinals and consolation quarterfinal matches start at 9 a.m. Wrestling will continue throughout the day with consolation finals scheduled for 1:45 p.m. before the Parade of Finalists and state championships at 4 p.m.

CLASS AA

The Glacier Wolfpack, with 16 wrestlers competing, will look to make some noise with three returning state placers and a host of wrestlers with state experience.

Junior Arik Lybeck (24-18) will look to continue his winning ways in the 145-pound bracket. Lybeck was the only Glacier wrestler to place first at the Western AA divisional tournament and has coach Ross Dankers excited for his chances this weekend.

“Arik has done a good job of getting out on bottom lately. He’s getting really good on takedown defense and is getting better each week,” Dankers said.

In the 170-pound bracket, senior Tanner Stupack (30-11), who leads the Wolfpack in wins, will look to avenge his third-place finish in the divisional tournament and improve upon last year’s sixth-place finish at state.

“I think he’s been wrestling well and I don’t think it’s a big hiccup for him,” Dankers said. “The seedings only matter so much. He’s going to come out wrestling really hard.”

Cody Decker (28-11) also placed sixth in 2013 and is coming off a tough second-pace finish at 126 at the divisional tournament. Decker lost 6-5 to Missoula Sentinel’s Dylan Duffalo on a locked-hands violation in double overtime. Decker defeated Duffalo earlier in the year and will look to make a run deep into the tournament.

Senior Zach Dennehy (29-11), the third Wolfpack wrestler to finish sixth in 2013, placed forth in the divisional tournament despite suffering a knee injury that he’ll overcome in hope of navigating through a tough heavyweight bracket.

The Wolfpack will have two freshmen wrestlers experiencing their first state trip to Billings — 98-pounder Justin Gibson (17-10) and 113-pounder Sam Barber (15-20).

“I’m excited for our two freshmen. They’re both coming on strong and closing the gaps on their opponents,” Dankers said. “You never know who is going to surprise you. I’m really excited for the team as a whole.”

In the wrestling room across town, the Flathead Braves do not have a returning place winner, but they do boast 19 competitors in this year’s tournament.

In the 98-pound weight class, Hunter Rush and Cody DeVall finished third and fourth, respectively, and will be on opposite sides of the bracket in Billings.

Sophomore Miles Terry (126) is also coming off a third-place finish at the divisional, pinning teammate Austin Gabbert. The two will have a similar route as Rush and DeVall.

Freshman Cameron Mantel (152) will look to end his rookie season for the Braves with a deep run in the tournament. He has been a consistent winner in his first varsity season for Flathead and finished third at the divisional, pinning Glacier’s Jacob Ferkin in the first period in the medal-round.

Senior heavyweight Axel Bladholm has state tournament experience. He didn’t place in 2013, but he does have high expectations this time around. Bladholm has been near the top of the state rankings throughout the season and is considered as Flathead’s favorite for a high place.

Class A

You can’t talk Flathead Valley Class A wrestling without mentioning Shonn Roberts. The undefeated Columbia Falls junior is contending for his third state title in as many years for the Mat Cats, but the junior isn’t letting any of the hype get in front of another state championship.

“He’s very humble about it,” Columbia Falls coach Jessie Schaeffer said.

“It’s very different when he’s on the mat, but when he is off of it it’s a great quality, he’s very humble.”

If Roberts wins the 126-pound title this weekend, he’ll be in line to perform one of the most difficult feats in high school athletics — four state championships.

“It gives validity to his work ethic and his desire and passion for the sport. He loves to work and he loves to compete. All the credit is to him.” Schaeffer said.

Columbia Falls has 11 state-ranked wrestler’s at state. A competitive weekend could see the Mat Cats bringing home a team state title to Columbia Falls, something Schaeffer is very aware of.

“We’ve been focusing on the team and bringing back a trophy this week,” Schaeffer said.

“We’ve been telling our kids ‘you have to create some upsets to be in the top six and standing on that podium.’”

The Mat Cats will be looking for one of those upsets early in the tournament. Manny Guzman (98), ranked sixth in the state, has a bye in the opening round. A win against top-ranked Sawyer Degan of Belgrade would put him in the semifinals.

Masson Fetters (113), Kaleb Gravelin (120), Roberts (126), Haze Bell (132), Bryan Shaffer (152), Cody Walters (160) and Spencer Ross (285) all won the Northwestern A divisional tournament in their respective weight classes and will look to ride the momentum into this weekends tournament.

The Polson Pirates are led by divisional champions Tele Seeman (182) and Mike Corrigan (195). Jaben Wenzel (120), Carlos Quinones (126) and Tel Motichka (170) carry second-place divisional finishes into the state tournament.

The Pirates, third at the divisonal, qualified 10 individuals.

Whitefish did not have a divisional champion, but James Buckley (113) and Judah Prestegaard’s (145) third-place finishes give the Bulldogs some life as they head to Billings.

Libby will be led by Zach Crace, a divisional champion at 138, and Garret Chapel, a divisional champion at 170, in Billings.

Skyler Higareda at 132 was a runner-up for the Loggers.

Also for Libby, freshmen Braydan Thom and Dylan Parrish finished third and fourth, respectively, at the divisional at 152.

Class B-C

The Eureka Lions have several threats to take home individual titles this weekend. Garret White (113) is the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class and is coming off a 9-6 decision over Superior’s Anthony Parkin in the divisional tournament. Parkin is the second-ranked wrestler in the 113-pound weight class and barring an upset, the two could see each other again in the finals.

Joining White at the top of the divisional podium was teammate Zach Durden (120). Although Durden is ranked just fourth in the state, he pinned his opponent in 32 seconds at the divisional and has high hopes for another podium finish this weekend.

This late in the season, if you get hot, you can turn some heads in the final event of the year. That’s exactly what Eureka 195-pounder Kaelan Yanak is doing. Unranked, Yanak took home the divisional title with a pin and will use that momentum to make a push for a medal.

The lone Bigfork Viking making the trek to Billings is 182-pounder Vinny Quirk. Quirk finished second at the divisional tournament and will hope to capitalize on his late season push.