Cut Bank boys finish fifth at state

The Cut Bank wrestling team sent five athletes to the semifinals and three to championship matches at the class B/C state meet last weekend at Billings.

The Cut Bank boys finished fifth in the team standings.

Alex Wahl (138 pounds), Kanon Branch (145) and Ethan Sullivan (285) each won their first three matches to advance to the championships, where the Wolves were swept but collected a trio of second-place finishes.

All three contests were rematches from the Western divisional meet the prior week. Levi Wagner of Three Forks defeated Wahl in the divisional final and at Billings to claim the state title. Likewise, Three Forks’ Dylan Kamps defeated Cut Bank’s Branch in the divisional and state finals. Sullivan’s loss came to Superior’s Chandon Vulles, who also defeated Sullivan in the semifinals at divisionals.

“We knew that we had our work cut out for us (in the finals),” head coach Cody Fetters said. “We were the underdogs in each match, and unfortunately we came up short in all three. I’m not dissatisfied with how we wrestled those matches. We showed up, gave everything we had and came up short. All of the wrestlers that wrestled this weekend have something to be proud of.”

Also reaching the podium for Cut Bank were Richard Schmidt, fourth at 103 pounds, and Bradin Murphy, fifth at 120 pounds.

“Richard Schmidt’s quarterfinal match was awesome,” Coach Fetters said. “He dominated the match and

got us rolling. Everyone else fed off of that. Putting five in the semifinals was awesome. It was a fun afternoon. … Richard and Bradin had the eventual state champions in their semifinal matches,” Coach Fetters said. “Both wrestled extremely well and left everything out on the mat. In the consolation semifinals, Richard won by decision and Bradin lost on a last-second reversal and near fall.”

Huntley Project claimed the boys team title, while Three Forks finished second.

A trio of Cut Bank girls — Ava Shook, Harley Fetters and Hayley Fetters — combined to go 5-6 at the tournament and finished 41st with 18 team points.

“The girls all wrestled their hearts out,” Coach Fetters said. “Harley (152) and Ava (107), freshman and beginner wrestlers to boot, both won matches and that is awesome. It gives them more experience for next year. Haylee’s (235) bracket was crazy. They have all beaten each other, and unfortunately Haylee got caught in the blood round and was one match from placing. I’m proud of these girls.”

MHSA State Championships

Feb. 10-11, MetraPark, Billings

Class B/C team scores

1, Huntley Project, 201; 2, Three Forks, 154.5; 3, Lincoln County, 122; 4, Jefferson, 101; 5, Cut Bank, 95; 6, Whitehall, 90; 7, Superior, 73; 8, Anaconda, 72; 9, Conrad, 63; 10, Colstrip, 62; 11, Glasgow, 61; 12, Thompson Falls/Noxon, 57; 13, Malta / Whitewater, 52; 14, Fort Benton, 44; 15, Chinook, 43; 34, Shelby, 4.

Girls team scores

1, Billings Senior, 202; 2, Butte, 156; 3, Flathead, 127; 4, Ronan, 119; 5, Glacier (Kalispell), 114; 6, Billings Skyview, 100; 7, Custer Co. (Miles City), 98; 8, Billings West, 80; 9, Baker, 67; 10, Havre, 62; 11, Simms, 56; 12, Lockwood, 46.5; 13, Belgrade, 45; 13, Corvallis, 45; 15, Helena Capital, 43; 16, Bozeman, 38; 16, Browning, 38; 41, Cut Bank, 18; 44, Valier, 16; 52, Shelby, 7.

Cut Bank boys

103 pounds: Richard Schmidt (37-10) placed 4th and scored 13 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Richard Schmidt (Cut Bank) 37-10 won by decision over Makiya Plummer (Glasgow) 14-11 (Dec 6-2); Quarterfinal - Richard Schmidt (Cut Bank) 37-10 won by decision over Trey Starcher (Forsyth) 37-19 (Dec 6-2); Semifinal - Baylor Burton (Huntley Project) 51-7 won by fall over Richard Schmidt (Cut Bank) 37-10 (Fall 1:45); Cons. Semi - Richard Schmidt (Cut Bank) 37-10 won by major decision over Cody Kuka (Glasgow) 19-12 (MD 10-0); 3rd Place Match - Brummie Boggus (Three Forks) 33-9 won by major decision over Richard Schmidt (Cut Bank) 37-10 (MD 10-2).

113: Bridger Molenda (19-16) scored 4 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Bridger Molenda (Cut Bank) 19-16 won by fall over Kade Smith (Shepherd) 34-10 (Fall 3:42); Quarterfinal - Brayden Linville (Three Forks) 32-7 won by fall over Bridger Molenda (Cut Bank) 19-16 (Fall 5:00); Cons. Round 2 - Evan Vonolnhausen (Huntley Project) 22-19 won by decision over Bridger Molenda (Cut Bank) 19-16 (Dec 9-4).

120: Bradin Murphy (24-8) placed 5th and scored 13 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Bradin Murphy (Cut Bank) 24-8 won by fall over Tash Murray (Florence-Carlton) 11-11 (Fall 3:24); Quarterfinal - Bradin Murphy (Cut Bank) 24-8 won by fall over Ted See (Glasgow) 27-23 (Fall 3:15)

Semifinal - Gavin Nedens (Huntley Project) 42-11 won by decision over Bradin Murphy (Cut Bank) 24-8 (Dec 5-1); Cons. Semi - Dylan Mikesell (Jefferson) 46-7 won by fall over Bradin Murphy (Cut Bank) 24-8 (Fall 4:56)

5th Place Match - Bradin Murphy (Cut Bank) 24-8 won by decision over Micah Acker (Superior) 25-12 (Dec 7-0).

138: Alex Wahl (40-7) placed 2nd and scored 21 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Alex Wahl (Cut Bank) 40-7 won by fall over Coleman Thornton (Jefferson) 4-4 (Fall 1:59); Quarterfinal - Alex Wahl (Cut Bank) 40-7 won by major decision over Seth Wilson (Florence-Carlton) 32-19 (MD 12-4); Semifinal - Alex Wahl (Cut Bank) 40-7 won by decision over Khye Gamas (Glasgow) 47-11 (Dec 4-3); 1st Place Match - Levi Wagner (Three Forks) 38-5 won by fall over Alex Wahl (Cut Bank) 40-7 (Fall 4:43).

145: Kanon Branch (41-7) placed 2nd and scored 20 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Kanon Branch (Cut Bank) 41-7 won by fall over Lucas Kovalsky (Superior) 19-8 (Fall 3:26); Quarterfinal - Kanon Branch (Cut Bank) 41-7 won by decision over William Kirkland (Glasgow) 37-20 (Dec 4-2); Semifinal - Kanon Branch (Cut Bank) 41-7 won by decision over Tyler Niles (Shepherd) 48-6 (Dec 6-3); 1st Place Match - Dylan Kamps (Three Forks) 34-5 won by major decision over Kanon Branch (Cut Bank) 41-7 (MD 15-4).

205: Jacob Hjartarson (28-19)

Champ. Round 1 - Spencer Gibbs (Malta / Whitewater) 52-4 won by fall over Jacob Hjartarson (Cut Bank) 28-19 (Fall 1:14); Cons. Round 1 - Christoper Brawley (Baker) 22-19 won by fall over Jacob Hjartarson (Cut Bank) 28-19 (Fall 2:42).

285: Ethan Sullivan (37-11) placed 2nd and scored 24 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Ethan Sullivan (Cut Bank) 37-11 won by fall over Gabe Vasquez (Forsyth) 13-17 (Fall 3:29); Quarterfinal - Ethan Sullivan (Cut Bank) 37-11 won by fall over Gunnar Oblander (Huntley Project) 22-13 (Fall 2:40); Semifinal - Ethan Sullivan (Cut Bank) 37-11 won by fall over Aidan Miller (Anaconda) 37-10 (Fall 1:39); 1st Place Match - Chandon Vulles (Superior) 33-4 won by fall over Ethan Sullivan (Cut Bank) 37-11 (Fall 1:35).

Cut Bank girls

107 pounds: Ava Shook (1-2) scored 4 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Ava Shook (Cut Bank) 1-2 won by fall over Rachael Rogers (Anaconda) 0-2 (Fall 3:47); Champ. Round 2 - Kaylee LaPier (Butte) 3-2 won by fall over Ava Shook (Cut Bank) 1-2 (Fall 5:02); Cons. Round 2 - Andrea Kennedy (Great Falls CMR) 1-2 won by fall over Ava Shook (Cut Bank) 1-2 (Fall 2:22).

152: Harley Fetters (2-2) scored 7 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Harley Fetters (Cut Bank) 2-2 won by fall over Olivia Kobold (Billings Senior) 0-2 (Fall 2:51); Champ. Round 2 - Madisyn Frazier (Glacier) 2-2 won by fall over Harley Fetters (Cut Bank) 2-2 (Fall 1:07); Cons. Round 2 - Harley Fetters (Cut Bank) 2-2 won by medical forfeit over Addison Orsua (Great Falls CMR) 0-2 (M. For.); Cons. Round 3 - Bridget Smith (Flathead) 2-2 won by fall over Harley Fetters (Cut Bank) 2-2 (Fall 1:29).

235: Haylee Fetters (2-2) scored 7 team points.

Champ. Round 2 - Boston Howell (Flathead Girls) 2-2 won by fall over Haylee Fetters (Cut Bank Girls) 2-2 (Fall 1:17); Cons. Round 3 - Haylee Fetters (Cut Bank Girls) 2-2 won by fall over Autumn Ownby (Sidney / Fairview Girls) 1-2 (Fall 1:59); Cons. Round 4 - Haylee Fetters (Cut Bank Girls) 2-2 won by fall over Maisie Barrus (Custer/Hysham Girls) 1-2 (Fall 1:35); Cons. Round 5 - Makenna Bazo (Butte Girls) 4-2 won by fall over Haylee Fetters (Cut Bank Girls) 2-2 (Fall 1:37).