BILLINGS -- First Interstate Arena at MetraPark is going to miss out on hosting the all-class state wrestling tournaments in February, but it's not going to miss the entire wrestling season.
Billings Public Schools director of athletics Mark Wahl announced Monday that high school wrestling is set to return to Metra on Friday. Billings Skyview and Billings West will host Bozeman High and Bozeman Gallatin for duals at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Skyview-Bozeman and West-Gallatin matches are scheduled for 4 p.m., and the teams will swap opponents for the 6:30 p.m. matches -- Skyview will face Gallatin and West will wrestle Bozeman.
Bozeman placed fourth at last year's state tournament and returns state champion Avery Allen, while West was sixth and Skyview ninth. Jesse Aarness and Hunter Ketchem are returning state champions for West and Skyview, respectively. Gallatin is in its first year competing in varsity sports.
According to Wahl's announcement, there will be four mats set up with two varsity mats located toward the center of the arena and JV mats spaced toward the far ends of the arena.
Two spectators per participant will be allowed at the event.
Billings Senior will be on the road taking on Great Falls High and Great Falls CMR the same day. The Bison and Rustlers are scheduled to make a trip to Billings on Feb. 16, when they will wrestle Skyview and West at Metra.
