I’d like to start this column out by telling you a secret. 

Up until this season, I had absolutely no idea how to write about wrestling, nor did I know how it all worked. I still get confused about scoring. I’m glad I got that off my chest.

I’ve learned a ton this year watching Lake County teams. I’d like to congratulate all the wrestlers who will be moving on to the state tournament this weekend. Good luck guys!

With my limited knowledge of wrestling, there are a few things I have noticed. During high school, one of my best friend’s dad was super into wrestling. Colin Lybeck was the third Montana athlete to ever win four consecutive state championships. He won in the 98, 126, 132 and 138 weight classes. I should mention that before him, a Ronan athlete by the name of Jim Darlington was the second, and the fourth to do it was Tim Mayer out of Arlee. Today there are 25 athletes who are part of the prestigious four-time state championship group.

Anyways, I have noticed that wrestling really seems to be a family sport. Colin’s son wrestled in high school, and went on to coach at the high school level. Colin’s daughter, my friend, really seems to enjoy watching, and every year, even though they don’t know any kids wrestling, their family heads down to Billings to watch the state tournament.

One of my favorite memories in high school was during a pep assembly where the players and their parents played each other in a basketball game during homecoming week. Well, Colin obviously wasn’t a basketball player, so a few minutes into the game, he tore off his basketball clothes to reveal his wrestling singlet, then proceeded to take on one of the high school wrestlers right there on the basketball court. I’m not saying it was pretty, but it was hilarious.

Since I’m not from this area, I don’t know all the family ties with wrestling here. However, as I was wandering outside a Ronan basketball game recently, I was admiring the large amount of Ronan wrestling state championship trophies. It’s fun to look at the names and recognize the same last name from a kid who is currently wrestling.

You don’t have to look any further than the Polson coaching staff to realize how deep the wrestling genes go in this area. There are more Owen guys around than I can keep track of.

The state tournament is something I’ve never seen, but I’ve heard that it is quite the event. You’ve got Class AA, A, B, and C teams together in one huge building, plus a huge amount of crazy wrestling fans. I think it would be fun to go just to people watch.

I may not understand wrestling as well as other sports, but I can understand the excitement of making it to the state tournament after all the hard work. I think there is pretty decent chance that Lake County wrestlers will come home from Billings with a few team trophies and hopefully a few more individual state champions.