Vikes grapplers earn 16th at state wrestling meet

Jerin Coles led the way for the Bigfork wrestling team over the weekend as the Vikings grappled their way to a 16th place finish at the State Wrestling Tournament in Billings.

Coles won four of his five matches at the meet, earning third place in the 145-pound division with a 7-4 decision over Sidney’s Reece Graves.

Coles won via tech fall Billings Central’s Trey Bazaldua in the opening round before earning a 9-3 decision over Lockwood’s Trace Steinmetz in the quarterfinal. Coles dropped a narrow 9-8 decision to Browning’s Tahj Wells in the semifinal but bounced back with an 11-3 major decision over Laurel’s Holden Hoiness in the consolation semifinal before defeating Graves.

Evan Tidwell was the only other Viking to place, taking sixth in the 182-pound weight class.

Tidwell won in sudden victory over Lockwood’s James Mills in the opening round and pinned Laurel’s Levi Love in 2:44 in the quarterfinal before being pinned in the semifinal.

Tidwell dropped his final two matches to settle for sixth.

Three other Vikings picked up wins in Billings, including Diego Rodriguez, who pinned his first opponent in 1:15 and later earned a 6-1 decision in the second round of consolation.

Lyrik Fainter earned a 10-1 major decision over Ronan’s Oliver Reynolds and Felix Zambergs pinned Adam Lolli of Columbia Falls in 59 seconds.

Ryder Zambergs, Wyatt Elwell and Ava Larson were also in action for Bigfork.