Bigfork wrestling sending eight to state meet in Billings this weekend

Bigfork will be sending eight wrestlers to the state meet in Billings this weekend after the Vikings battled to take sixth at the Western A Divisional in Hamilton over the weekend.

Leading the way for the Vikes was Diego Rodriguez, who needed just a total of four minutes and 41 seconds to pin all four of his opponents to win the 103-pound division.

After dispatching Stevensville’s Brycin Bugli (0:25) and Ronan’s Justus Orman-Bergman (0:31), Rodriguez needed just 1:18 to take down Ronan’s Ian Dillard in the semifinal.

Rodriguez took 2:27 to take out Butte Central’s Marquis Abad in the championship and will now face Eli Lonski in the opening round of the state meet.

Jerin Coles won his first two matchups in the 145-pound weight class before dropping a 12-7 decision to Browning’s Tahj Wells in the semifinal.

Coles bounced back by pinning Stevensville’s Gunnar Larson in 1:47 in the consolation semis before earning a 20-5 decision over Ronan’s Fortino Silva to take third.

Lyrik Fainter opened by pinning Ronan’s Oliver Reynolds in 1:21 in the first round of the 113-pound division before being pinned in 3:53 by his brother, Traic Fainer, in the semifinal.

Lyrik pinned Corvallis wrestler Kahle Hill in 34 seconds and, but dropped a 9-3 decision to Libby/Troy’s Sami Jocks to finish fourth.

Felix Zambergs opened the meet with a loss to Hamilton’s Noah Guisinger, but bounced back to pin his next two opponents before settling for a fourth-place finish in the 205-pound division.

Also going to state for the Vikings will be Evan Tidwell (sixth 182), Ryder Zambergs (seventh 205) and Wyat Elwell (eighth 160).

Ava Larsen will be representing the Valkyries at state after she pinned Corvallis wrestler Deedra Wohlgemuth in 4:13 before falling to Polson’s Ciri Nice to take fourth in the 100-pound division.