Lady Cats 2nd at Cut Bank Invitation, 'Beeters Continue to Perform Well
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Lady Cat sophomore Izzy Baker went 2-1 at the Cut Bank Invitational to finish second int the 114 pound bracket.
The Chinook Sugarbeeters and Harlem Wildcat and Lady Cat wrestling teams were in Chester this past Thursday for a mixer and Cut Bank on Friday and Saturday for the Cut Bank Invitational. The Lady Cats collected three second place finishers while placing six out of seven wrestlers on the podium to finish 2nd in the team race. The Sugarbeeters placed two in the boys tournament with senior Tyler Schoen collecting another championship. The Wildcats had one wrestler make the podium. The 'Beeter girls entered three in the tournament with all three earning podium finishes.
Chinook senior Tyler Schoen remained undefeated, going 4-0 at the Cut Bank Invitational collecting yet another 182 pound crown. Schoen won three of his four matches by pin including his championship win over Brady Armstrong from Jefferson High in 3:38. Schoen defeated Havre's Kyle VanCampen in the semifinal round with a 3-1 decision.
Chinooks Lane Snider garnered a fifth place finish at 145 pounds going 5-2. Sophomore Grace Buck finished third in the girls bracket going 4-1 at 107 pounds. Freshman Emma Klingaman was fifth at 126 pounds and freshman Bailey Skoyen was sixth at 120 pounds.
The Lady Cats got three runner up finishes in Cut Bank. Junior Kaitlyn Johnson went 3-1 at 126, Amelia Blackcrow was 4-1 at 152 and Izzy Baker was 2-1 at 114. The Lady Cats got a fourth place finish from Svea Hogan (145) and a fifth place finish from Mylah Rider (145) as well as a fourth place finish from Ihte' Stiffarm (152). Senior Leon Champagne garnered a sixth place finish in the boys bracket at 152.
Chinook Head Coach, Ben Stroh was very pleased with how his team started the new year, "We were very pleased with the improvements we saw from the team over break. The hard work they put in is beginning to show." Stroh and the coaching staff have been preaching team all season long and as a unit he is excited with what he saw on the mat, "My favorite improvement was as a team, we came out wrestling hard with attitude. Everybody we wrestled knew that they were in for a match once our guys got a hold of them.
Schoen has continued to impress the staff but Stroh noted that this weekend he won more than just a title, "Tyler also got the outstanding wrestler in Cut Bank, which was well deserved. 182 lbs was in my opinion the toughest bracket there. Plus, he got a pin in the finals."
Harlem Head Coach, Jonny Baker has been having the time of his life coaching the Lady Cat and Wildcat wrestling teams and when he speaks you can feel the passion come through, "Boys team continues to hone their skills, going up against some seasoned opponents. Junior Leon Champagne went 5-3, had to go the hard way, but the mat time and experience he got wrestling back to stay in with the hard hitters was worth every minute." Baker added, "Pleased with the progression. Coming back from a long break is always a challenge finding that routine, but this weekend got their bearings right."
Harlem Lady Cats finished 2nd in the girls team race leading all Class C teams in the process. The Lady Cats entered seven wrestlers in the field and sixth of them found the podium.
Baker grins ear to ear when talking about the Lady Cats, "The girls returned from the break and sickness and injury. The Lady Cats showed up with a purpose. All seven brought the hustle at Chester on Thursday and that just got them fired up for the weekend. They have come together not just as individuals, but also as a team. Bringing home more hardware with that second place trophy just keeps pushing that need for their own trophy case!"
Baker highlighted his teams second place finishers, "Amilia BlackCrow, Izzy Baker, and Kaitlyn Johnson all continue to lead their team whenever they're together. Definitely seeing a hunger in all the girl's performances. Placing 6 out of 7, but all 7 contributed to that 2nd place finish. Pleased with both teams, they represent their community very well."
The Wildcats will head to Choteau this weekend for the Bulldog Invitational. The Lady Cats will be in Billings for an all girls tournament at Billings West. The Sugarbeeters will be at the Miles City Invitational.
