Eureka, Graves seek 2nd straight B/C state mat titles
Eureka entered this wrestling season as the defending state champion in Class B, and coaches from around the state wasted no time in affirming the Lions’ status as the No. 1 team in the state by placing them atop the season’s first mat poll.
For teams looking to dethrone Eureka, the challenge already seems tough enough. But if all goes according to plan for the Lions, it’s going to get even harder.
“The sky’s the limit for us, but honestly, right now we’re still pretty banged up still from the football season,” Eureka coach Dan Lemer said.
“We’re missing five guys yet. We’re pretty shorthanded.”
The defending champs will need a boost in production from returners and contributions from newcomers if they are to capture a second straight state championship.
Eureka graduated eight seniors, all of whom placed at state to lead the Lions to a 34-point advantage over second-place Colstrip.
But those eight departures won’t necessarily doom the Lions. Lemer has ample talent returning from the state title team.
Garrett Graves romped through last year’s schedule on his way to a 39-0 record and a state championship at 182, the class in which he’ll wrestle again this season.
Jonathan Schmidt returns after finishing second at 160.
Hank Dunn (126) and Nathan Schmidt (120) are back looking to improve on fourth-place, individual finishes at state.
Eureka will need major contributions from all of them and more if it hopes to stand atop the podium once again against much of the same competition it beat a year ago — Colstrip, Huntley Project and Glasgow, to name a few.
“They’re confident that they can wrestle with anybody and beat anybody,” Lemer said of his wrestlers.
“That’s the standard now at Eureka. We win state titles. Guys believe that. That’s our tradition, and we have to live up to that.”
Bigfork is seeking a bounce-back year after finishing 24th out of 28 teams in last year’s Class B state tournament.
The Vikings have yet to pick up a win on the young season, but they have not been without a few bright spots.
Among them are Eli Tidwell (132) and Wyatt Mischke, both of whom notched pins in duals against Whitefish and Browning.
Logan Kaminsky (205/285) has earned a pin and major decision victory.
Class B/C Coaches Wrestling Poll
Class B teams
1. Colstrip; 2. Eureka; 3. Glasgow; 4. Thompson Falls; 5. Florence; 6. Plains; 7. Mission; 8. Malta; 9. Huntley Project; 10. Whitehall
Class C teams
1. Circle; 2. Arlee; 3. Valier
Individuals
103
1. Clayton Donally, Huntley Project
2. Camron Reilly, Forsyth
3. Austin Swanson, Chinook
4. Dawson Powers, Whitehall
5. Jace Samsel, Arlee
6. Krayle Stormer, Circle
113
1. Tanner Cook, Shepherd
2. Tristen Kemp, Wolf Point
3. Roman Sparks, Thomopson Falls
4. Gunner Smith, Eureka
5. Matt Connelly, Valier
6. Walker Murphy, Mission
120
1. Kaleb Frank, Thompson Falls
2. Nathan Schmidt, Eureka
3. Colten Fast, Glasgow
4. Caleb Thompson, Anaconda
5. Cody St. Clair, Jefferson
6. Conrad Vanderwall, Hot Springs
126
1. Lincoln Stormer, Circle
2. Daniel Uli-Planes, Hot Springs
3. Baily Weible, Mission
4. Oden Hallock, Glasgow
5. Easton Held, Broadwater
6. Mike Wilkinson, Whitehall
132
1. Nathan Weber, Forsyth
2. Matt Reyling, Glasgow
3. Josh Vanderwall, Plains
4. Rylin Burns, Colstrip
5. Conner Johnson, Whitehall
6. Callan Mears, Malta
138
1. Jackson Currier, Colstrip
2. Trey Simanton, Malta
3. Hank Dunn, Eureka
4. Trey Taylor, Circle
5. Quinn Whitmus, Wolf Point
6. Pete Henderson, Choteau
145
1. Micheal Weber, Forsyth
2. Wyatt Brusven, Shelby
3. Kaden Moore, Malta
4. Conner Goddard, Columbus
5. Hunter Reum, Poplar
6. Ty Henry Steel, Broadwater
152
1. Ty Bradley, Colstrip
2. Cody Garrison, Thompson Falls
3. Kameron Rausher, Broadwater
4. Dylan Raihl, Columbus
5. Kyler Alm, Florence
6. Sam Schmidt, Huntley Project
160
1. Cody Blaede, Colstrip
2. Johathan Schmidt, Eureka
3. Matthew Middleton, Huntley Project
4. JR Seewald, Cut Bank
5. Sam Ostwald, Thompson Falls
6. Like Lile, Plains
170
1. Nakota Siegel, Colstrip
2. Jase Soreson, Thompson Falls
3. Gus Bosley, Mission
4. Dalton Herbst, Baker
5. Dax Miller, Florence
6. Brett Hale, Jefferson
182
1. Garrett Graves, Eureka
2. Spencer Jones, Florence
3. George Shick, Arlee
4. Dakota Irvine, Thompson Falls
5. Wyatt Selman, Huntley Project
6. Tyson Sutherland, Poplar
205
1. Blaine Buchanan, Huntley Project
2. Clancy Gout, Anaconda
3. Logan Kaminsky, Bigfork
4. James Slaughter, Choteau
5. Lucas Wohltmann, Mission
6. Nick Workman, Jefferson
285
1. Merlin Whitedirt, Colstrip
2. Dillon Hoerhauf, Whitehall
3. Sam Johnson, Eureka
4. Curtis Humphry, Harlem
5. Trey Pribbernor, Poplar
6. Seth Alacon, Thompson Falls