The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

The Chinook Sugarbeeter boys and girls wrestling teams are back in the wrestling room working hard in preparation for the 2022-23 season. Head Coach, Ben Stroh returns for his second season at the helm and is again assisted by Kenny Pruttis and long-time mentor Robin Stroh.

This year's team is very young with just two seniors on the roster. Back this year is senior Tyler Schoen, the Class B/C 170 pound State Champion a season ago. Schoen is focused on repeating as a State Champion while also adding some other lofty goals to his to do list. Senior Lane Snider has been working hard to get a chance to compete for a podium spot at the State B/C, and along with Schoen will be counted on by the coaching staff to help lead a very young team.

Two sophomores are included on this year's roster, they are Gauge Chapman at 132 pounds and Oliver Standiford at 152 pounds. Standiford is new to the team after playing basketball his freshman year.

The 'Beeters have a large freshman class that will certainly be the foundation of the team down the road. Freshman on this year roster include Kegan Green at 103 pounds, Zeke Sanders and Fletcher Anderson at 126 pounds, Griffen Crowley at 132 pounds, Owen Davies at 145, Ayden Alisch at 152 pounds and Wyatt Olmstead at 160 ponds.

The girl's roster is led by sophomore Grace Buck at 103 pounds. Buck performed very well on the mat a season ago and will look to build on that experience. Freshman Bailey Billmayer and Emma Klingaman will wrestle at 126 pounds in their first year on the mat.

Stroh is pleased with his team's effort thus far and addresses the team's roster, "We have three girls out and 11 boys, so 14 total. we are looking at the possibility of bringing some eighth graders up, but we are still taking a good hard look at that. Seeing who may be ready, who's not or if they are better off just wrestling a junior high schedule. They can't do both. It may or may not happen, it will be what's best for the kids."

Schoen obviously wants to repeat as state champion but has another lofty goal this season. "I want to try and do better at the CMR Classic, that's always a fun tournament to win at. I want to wrestle 182 at the CMR and see if I can do better this year," said Schoen.

"Tyler did good last year at the CMR," said Stroh. "Obviously there is a few things that we can improve on, but you want to get that title. That's a big win if you get that CMR Tournament.

Stroh wants to see Snider accomplish his goals as well in his senior season, "Lane is back, we expect to see bigger things out of him. We hope to get him back on the podium again this year. He should be weighing in about the same as last year."

"We're a young team, a really young team. It's good to see all of the freshman come in, but we got a lot of work to do," said Stroh. "It will be fun as the season rolls on. I'll be working with Tyler and between Kenny and I, we'll keep him busy. We'll be teaching him and some of the older kid's things we can't teach the others. That's why they give us three coaches so we can split it up. Couple of us can be wrestling with the older kids and the others can go over and coach the others along."

Stroh added that Tyler's success is good for the team, "He is showing them what it takes to be where they want to be. Honestly you can be as good of a wrestler as you want but having that to show these young guys, even for one more year is going to make a world of difference for them. They will wrestle with him to learn that. We've had the conversation already that we need leaders, help them kids out but we also need Tyler to focus on the work he needs to get done."

As far as what to expect, "This is a great group of kids, they work hard and I'm really impressed with what I've seen already," concluded Stroh.

The 'Beeters are clearly a young team but have solid leadership at the top in Schoen and Snider to go along with a Coaching staff that is certain to get the most out of them. The 'Beeters will take to the mat for the first time this weekend at the Havre Invitational. Coach Stroh doesn't expect to have his entire team wrestling this weekend due to limited practices but plans on the team being at full strength moving forward.

Chinook will be in Glasgow December 9-10 for the Scottie Invitational. They will close out 2022 on Thursday, December 15 at the Fort Benton Mixer. Friday and Saturday, December 16-17 the 'Beeters will be in Great Falls at the prestigious Holiday Classic. The Classic will take place at the CMR Fieldhouse. Wrestlers that fail to qualify for Saturday matches at the classic will compete in the Bison JV Tournament at Great Falls High School.

Senior Tyler Schoen, right looks to capture the 182 pound title after winning the 170 division a season ago.

Chinook will work hard through the Holiday break on technique and lessons learned from the first few meets of the year and return to the mat in 2023 on January 5 at the Chester/Joplin-Inverness Mixer. The Cut Bank Invitational takes place January 6-7. The team will travel east to take part in the Miles City Invitational January 13-14.

The 'Beeters will close out the regular season with their home Mixer on Friday, January 20 when they will also honor their seniors. The team will then head to Harlem on January 21, Big Sandy January 26 and close out the regular season at the Malta Invitational January 27-28.

The Eastern B/C Divisional will take place on February 3-4 in Columbus while the B/C State Wrestling Tournament will be held in Billings February 9-10 at the Rimrock Auto Arena at Metra Park.