BILLINGS — After coming so close in 2025, Julia Kay made sure to seal the deal again in 2026.

Kay pinned Whitefish’s Taylor Dorvall in the second round to win the 130-pound title at the All-Class State Wrestling Tournament Saturday at First Interstate Arena. 

The win gave Kay her third state title win and first here in Montana, she earned a pair of championships in Utah. 

“It’s honestly surreal,” Kay said of winning another state title. “I was a little fast too early, and I feel like I was too pumped. Then I just tried to compose myself and work from there. She (Taylor Dorvall) was really strong on the bottom, I had to be really careful and stay in position.” 

The only thing that kept Kay from being a four-time champion is her body; an injury default put her out of the championship match a year ago against Helena Capital’s Taylor Lay. 

Lay earned her third state title Saturday also, in a 9-8 decision over Flathead’s Bella Downing at 120. 

The pair have become familiar foes over the years with Downing winning a title in 2024 over Lay at the state championships. The two also met a week ago at the Western AA divisional with Downing winning 4-3. 

The pair of seniors helped the Bravettes to a second-place finish in the AA team race and fourth place overall with 102 points. Billings Senior claimed the AA title with 232 points, Miles City was second overall with 148.5 followed by Laurel at 108. 

“I am incredibly happy with our girls as a whole, I think we could have put some more points on the board,” Bravettes coach Amber Downing said. “The idea that we weren’t ranked in the top 10 by some of the assumptions prior to the state tournament really stung, so coming in second was nice. We are still here. We are still strong. We’re Flathead, don’t ever underestimate us.” 

Kiera Lackey also placed for the Bravettes with a sixth place at 135. 

Glacier had a pair of girls on the podium with Katelyn Sphuler taking third at 100 and Kylie Shine in third at 130. The Wolfpack were 19th with 54.5 points. 

In Class A boys action, Columbia Falls Blaise Cronk finished out a memorable weekend with his first state title at 165. 

He fought off Billings Central’s Trystan Knight in the final round to take a 4-2 decision. 

“It has been a dream and goal for some time,” Cronk said of winning his first title. “It’s one I have been chasing since I was really little and it’s awesome for it to finally all come together. I have a lot of friends and coaches to thank for it. A lot of hard work that they helped me put in.” 

Then he doubled-down with a proposal on the mat to his girlfriend, Marissa Schaeffer. She said yes. 

“We have so many memories here just all the way from my sophomore year and how special this place is to us,” Cronk said. 

Cronk’s performance helped the MatCats to an 11th place finish in the team standings with 68 points. Sidney finished with 235 to win the Class A title just ahead of Hardin at 232. Laurel finished third with 196. 

In Class B/C, Eureka’s Timothy Schmidt came up just short of his third title in four years. 

The Lions senior fell 14-11 to Huntley Project’s Ethan Reynolds. 

Huntley Project dominated the B/C competition with six champions and 289.5 points. Glasgow took second a 173.5 and Malta was third with 113.