Ronan 4th in girls race despite Cote upset
JON ALLEN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 1 month AGO
SPORTS REPORTER Jon Allen is a sports reporter for the Daily Inter Lake. He covers youth and high school athletics across the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana. Allen reports on major games, athletes and teams throughout the region’s prep sports landscape. In addition to game coverage, he contributes features and analysis across print and digital platforms. Jon can be seen on our Big Sky Now podcast, weighing in on the college landscape. His work highlights the athletes and communities that define Northwest Montana sports. IMPACT: Jon’s work tells the stories of local athletes and the communities that support them. | February 14, 2025 11:00 PM
BILLINGS — Undefeated no more.
Chinook’s Grace Buck needed overtime to do it, but she knocked off Ronan’s previously 21-0 River Cote in an 11-8 decision to advance to Saturday’s 105-pound final at the State All-Class Wrestling Tournament.
Fellow Maiden’s unbeaten Terza Two Teeth locked up her spot in the finals with a second period pin of Miles City’s Grayson DeJong at 235.
“The girls have wrestled very well and faced a lot of adversity,” Maidens coach Cameron Neiss said. “Given everything, maybe you missed a match, maybe coming off a sickness, I feel that overall they wrestled very well.”
Ronan sits fourth overall in the girls team standings and second of Class A schools with 98.5 points. Billings Senior leads overall at 191, Miles City is second (first in Class A) with 141 and Flathead in third with 115.5.
On the boys side, Columbia Falls seniors Rowdy Crump and Dylan Delorme converted their divisional championships into a spot in the finals round.
Delorme sealed his spot at 157 pounds with a 15-1 major decision of Sidney’s Brody Keysor, while Crump picked up a late pin on Lockwood’s James Mills.
The MatCats currently sit in seventh place in the Class A race at 76 points, Laurel leads the way with 174.5. Sidney follows at 152.5 and Hardin sits third with 126.5. Ronan is sixth at 87.
The Chiefs placed a pair in the finals with Koda King (165) pinning Frenchtown’s Branch Martin in the second period and Ridge Cote (132) edging Glendive’s Elijah Nose in a 4-2 decision.
Browning also saw two wrestlers punch their ticket to the championship round with Tahj Wells nabbing a 2-1 decision over Three Forks’ Mathias Hogue. Pita Fish secured a quick pin over Laurel’s Emerson Nose in just 23 seconds at 126.
In the B/C race, Eureka sits fourth with 77.5 points. Huntley Project leads at 191.5 with Glasgow in second at 128.5 and Conrad in third with 91.5.
Three Lions worked their way into the semifinals, with two clinching spots in the championship round.
“We battled tough, but took some tough defeats we weren't anticipating,” Lions coach Dan Lemer said. “But the team fought hard and we have some in position for Saturday.”
Timothy Schmidt secured his spot with a 15-0 technical fall over Anaconda’s Roddy Wyant, he will face Conrad’s Blaine VanDyke for the title.
Wes Banks earned his way in the 285 finals taking a major decision over Baker’s Logan Scherman 10-0. Joining Banks is Wolf Point’s Michael Bell.
Hunter Grieve came up short in his semifinal against Forsyth’s Ryan Wiggins, but will have a shot to wrestle back for a third-place finish at 118.
The final day begins at 9 a.m. with consolation round matches, the finals are expected to begin around 4 p.m.
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