Wrestling was alive all across Lake County, with Ronan being the most successful school of the bunch. 

With many invites and even one of the largest wrestling events in the state, a lot of wrestlers had the chance to bring their team glory. Here is what each school accomplished this week:

Hometown team fares well in Polson Mixer 

Polson hosted multiple schools, including Browning, Whitefish and Columbia Falls, for the Polson Mixer. For the Pirates, it was successful as it went on to get team wins over both Columbia Falls and Browning.

The team had mixed results when they took a trip to Missoula for both the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic and the Hellgate Invitational. 

In a tournament filled with Class AA schools, it was hard to compete for the best. The Polson boys were not able to get any wrestlers to day two of the classic. They finished 24th in the team points.

The girls fared better in the Hellgate Invitational, where Kellyn Nelson won the 140-pound weight class. Her teammates Kaiah Dumont and Venessa Wheeler finished second and third, respectively, in their weight classes as well. The Lady Pirates tied for 11th in the invitational.

Ronan posts wins in Polson and Missoula

Ronan also had a good start to its wrestling weekend, beginning at the Polson Mixer with team wins over Whitefish and Browning helping kickstart the trip down to Missoula as well.

The Ronan boys were the most successful Lake County school at the Rocky Mountain Classic. They were the only team to send a wrestler to day two. Brander McCollum lost out in the winner’s bracket before facing Butte’s Darryn Rossiter for a shot at the third-place match.

McCollum could not beat out Rossiter, securing a bloody nose during the tournament. Despite that, he was the most successful Lake County wrestler with an impressive eighth-place finish in the 126-pound weight class.

The Ronan girls were the most successful team over the weekend, winning the Hellgate Invitational with multiple wrestlers placing.

There was one individual champion in River Cote, who won the 105-pound weight class. Leona Dodson Howe and Marie Cheff both finished second in their weight classes. Ronan also had three fourth-place finishers in Finlay Taylor, Judasha Ellsworth and Sierra McGreevey.

Arlee competes in Choteau

Arlee sent a few wrestlers out this week to the Choteau Classic. A combined 56 teams across girls’ and boys' teams competed for glory, with two Arlee wrestlers coming up just short.

Of the four that appeared, Anola Naugle and Ella Knoll were the most successful. 

First, Ella Knoll took fifth place in the 145-pound weight class. Knoll started in consolation, where she beat out Anaconda’s Ali Mari. After winning against Manhattan’s Briar Charlton, she lost out against Shelby’s Kadence Montgomery.

However, she would place top five with a win against Fort Benton’s Riley Molinario.

Naugle came up just short with a second-place finish. Her first match was a close win against Harlem’s Emma Klingaman. A much quicker win came against Big Sandy’s Leah LePinnet in the semifinals to take on LePinnet’s teammate, Harley LaBuda.

LaBuda had the edge early with a takedown and an escape. Despite a takedown from Naugle, LaBuda held off any major point swings and took the 130 weight class win.

Mission/Charlo faces Bigfork, Williston

The Mission/Charlo wrestling team started its week with a home dual against Bigfork and Williston, N.D. 

Williston was the most successful in terms of team success. They nearly won every single match, sweeping seven weight classes at the mixer. The three Mission/Charlo winners were Joseph Cronk, Dakota Zeiler and Donovan Daniels.

Mission/Charlo also sent wrestlers to the Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula. No wrestlers made it to day two and the team finished in 28th place.

The girls finished 17th in the Hellgate Invitational with Meadow Reagan and Olivia Carnell finishing in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

    Ronan wrestler Brander McCollum ducks under Butte wrestler Darryn Rossiter to get out of a hold in a match on Jan. 17 at the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula. (Max Dupras/Leader)
  

    Ronan wrestler Brander McCollum attempts to get out of a hold from Butte wrestler Darryn Rossiter in a match on Jan. 17 at the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula. (Max Dupras/Leader)
  

    Mission/Charlo wrestler Marcus Fyant fights against a pin from Williston Coyote Jackson Didier at the Mission Duals tournament on Wednesday, Jan. 16. (Emily Messer/Leader)
  

    Mission/Charlo’s Donovan Daniels gets pinned by Williston Coyote Paxton Ross as the Williston coaches and teammates cheer in the background. (Emily Messer/Leader)
  

    Mission/Charlo wrestlers Sami Jo Dumont and Eva Carnell battle on the mat during the Mission Duals tournament at St. Ignatius School on Wednesday, Jan. 16. (Reese Swensen Photo)