Roberts takes 98 pound state A title

Shonn Roberts made Columbia Falls athletic history when he came home a champion from the state Class A wrestling tournament in Billings last week.

On Feb. 11, the Columbia Falls freshman downed Grayson Brenna of Havre 4-0 to take the 98-pound crown. With the exception of speech and debate, it was the first individual state title for a freshman athlete in Columbia Falls history.

The win over Brenna was particularly sweet, as Brenna had beaten Roberts as an eighth-grader for a state Amateur Athletic Union title last year, coach Jessie Schaeffer said.

"The pressure was on, and he really stepped it up," Schaeffer said.

"It was pretty cool," Roberts said. "It was the first time I've beaten him ... I just wrestled my match and that's why I won."

Roberts pinned Trey Smollack of Anaconda in the first round and Quinn Cassells of Dillon in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he edged Ethan Graves of Sidney, 6-4.

Schaeffer was happy with the way the entire team performed. The MatCats had some fine performances.

Josh Folsom took third at 171 pounds, beating Grant Pattison of Havre 8-4.

"Josh's only loss was to a wrestler in overtime," Schaeffer noted. "He came back and wrestled well."

Marcus Ross took fifth at 189 pounds, pinning Colton Welhaven, of Billings Central.

"Marcus wrestled above and beyond his capability," Schaeffer said.

Kohl Thompson took fifth at 145, winning a 3-0 decision over Jake Lenegar of Dillon. Jacob Babcock was sixth at 215 pounds, losing to Tyler Adams of Havre, 5-4. As a team, the Cats took ninth.

"They had nothing to hold back," Schaeffer said.

While the team will lose nine seniors, the future looks bright, with Ross and his brother Spencer returning, and Roberts, Josiah Osborne, Chase Ramberg and several other solid wrestlers also expected back.

Schaeffer said his wrestlers were already asking if they could get back in the gym and practice for next season.

Roberts will get some more wrestling in. He's planning on wrestling in the tournament of champions event in Great Falls this Saturday.