Led by junior Matthew Thurston, who grappled his way to an impressive third place medal at 126 pounds, registering three pin wins and a technical fall along the way, the Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen enjoyed a very competitive time as a team in the State B-C meet in Billings last week.

In addition to Thurston, seniors Brock Ryan (157) and Beau Crabb (150), BillyRay Holotta (144) and Cody West (157), and girls Kiara Brown (125) and Ireland Corbin (125) also all earned their spots at the State B-C, although West was unable to compete in Billings after twisting a knee in practice last week.

Coach Jesse Jermyn is upbeat about what his team gave him in Billings, and what they may have yet to give him in the coming seasons.

“We’re excited, we had a good tournament as a team, everyone wrestled well, we are happy where we ended up,” he said. "We will have a good core of kids coming back, hope to get a bunch of current eighth graders into the mix next year and hope to compete for some divisional metal next year.”

After winning second at 126 the week before in the Western B-C, Thurston appeared more intent on finishing first in Billings. Seeded third, Thurston won by tech fall 20-2 in the first round and pinned his quarterfinal opponent in only 1:42 to land in the championship semifinals.

Losing there by 12-6 decision to eventual champion R. Wiggins of Forsyth, Matthew came back strong after that, pinning H. Grieve of Eureka in 1:51 in the conso semis and C. Bradley of Colstrip in the conso finals to earn his third place medal.

Thurston showed marked improvement all season, nowhere more than in Billings. “Matthew had a great tournament, has made huge improvements this season,” Jermyn said. "We look forward to seeing what he can do next year.”

Ryan and Crabb earned some more of their coach’s respect in Billings. “Those two were leaders for us, warriors who didn’t back down to anyone,” Jermyn said. "Both were only a match away from the medal round.”

Jermyn said Ryan twisted a knee pretty badly early on in the three-day tourney but that his Horsemen senior soldiered on with the injury. “He didn’t let that stop him, he and Beau both left it all out there on the mat last week,” he said. “And then Brock ends up literally, one point away from placing, it was a great effort.”

Jermyn said Corbin and Brown were thrown into a daunting all-class field of wrestlers for the girls State tourney, featuring competitors from all Montana classifications – AA. A and B-C.

“It was a different level of competition for the girls, it is kind of hard going up against those really big programs,” he said. “Ireland and Kiara both did a phenomenal job for us,” he added saying that Corbin had an almost-sure win slip away in one match that appeared to be going her way.

Jermyn’s final thoughts on the State B-C meet reveal a shared desire to return and do even better next time. “This all-class meet is different than all the others we wrestle in and is good for the kids to see that level of competition,” he said. “We look forward to seeing it again next year.”

    PLAINS SENIOR Beau Crabb wrestles for the Savage Horsemen in the State B-C tournament in Billings last week. (Kami Milender photo)