SIDNEY — A dominating win at the 60th Annual Cowboy Wrestling Invite has pushed the Sidney Eagles into the top spot in this week’s Class A coaches’ polls. The Eagles were ranked second last week.
The Eagles, led by eight-time state champion coach Guy Melby, piled on 206 points at the challenging tournament in Miles City over the weekend, winning by more than 60 points. Kade Graves was the lone champion for the Eagles at the tournament, winning the 120-pound bracket, but Sidney sent 11 athletes to the podium.
Graves is ranked second in this week’s polls, behind Frenchtown standout Jake Bibler. Christian Dean is the lone Eagle to earn the top ranking this week, sitting No. 1 at 126 pounds. Kaiden Cline (103 pounds) was tabbed second in his weight class, while Ryan Horner earned the same in the heavyweight poll. Jace Winter and Jett Jones were voted third at 138 and 160, respectively.
Havre High, which finished runner-up at the mighty Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic, kept Martin Wilkie (138) and Tyler Schaub (205) at the top of the Class A polls. Wilkie won the 138-pound title in Missoula, while Schaub finished runner-up to Washington wrestler Hunter Gregerson.
Eleven total Blue Ponies are ranked for coach Scott Filius, with Ryan Stewart and Quinn Reno No. 3 and No. 4 at 120 pounds.
Lewistown was led by top-ranked Alex Wickens (170), No. 1 Cooper Birdwell (113) and No. 3 Caleb Birdwell (132). Frenchtown, which was the No. 1 team in last week’s polls, fell to No. 5 this week, although 138-pound Riley Gurr was forced to forfeit at the Jug Beck due to flu symptoms. Gurr is ranked No. 2 behind Wilkie this week.
The complete coaches’ poll can be found below.
2017-2018 Class A Wrestling
Jan. 18 Coaches’ Poll
Team standings
Sidney
Havre
Lewistown
Polson
Frenchtown
Hardin
Glendive
Columbia Falls
Ronan
Libby
Individual rankings
103 pounds — Eli Warner (Frenchtown), Kaiden Cline (Sidney), Mick Chagnon (Havre), Trapper McAllister (Ronan), Roy Russel (Butte Central), Austin Flamand (Browning).
113 pounds — Cooper Birdwell (Lewistown), Cameron Pleninger (Havre), Buddy Doolin (Libby), Mateo Quinones (Polson), Walker Dyer (Frenchtown), R.J. Pierre (Polson).
120 pounds — Jake Bibler (Frenchtown), Kade Graves (Sidney), Ryan Stewart (Havre), Quinn Reno (Havre), Spencer Stagg (Ronan), Damian Leidholt (Miles City).
126 pounds — Christian Dean (Sidney), Michael Goldman (Hamilton), Marc Ramirez (Havre), Owen Brown (Ronan), Keegan Campbell (Laurel), Clay Fisher (Butte Central).
132 pounds — John Mears (Belgrade), Bridger Wenzel (Polson), Caleb Birdwell (Lewistown), Lane Paulson (Havre), Tristan Davis (Corvallis), Ethan Boyce (Billings Central).
138 pounds — Martin Wilkie (Havre), Riley Gurr (Frenchtown), Jace Winter (Sidney), Ayden Role (Columbia Falls), Bridger Williams (Hamilton).
145 pounds — Cameron Brown (Polson), Ben Stortz (Glendive), Connar Harris (Havre), Jace Johnson (Sidney), Duane Otto (Lewistown), Blake King (Frenchtown).
152 pounds — Parker Adler (Polson), Bryce Roan (Hardin), Cooper Hoffman (Dillon), Mason Fend (Laurel), Brandon Held (Glendive), Riley Waters (Sidney).
160 pounds — Brent Tezak (Dillon), Tyler Capp (Glendive), Jett Jones (Sidney), Mason Dionne (Havre), Avery Gurney (Sidney), Tim Carvey (Libby).
170 pounds — Alex Wickens (Lewistown), Ben Windauer (Columbia Falls), Hunter Fritsch (Polson), Trevor Dean (Sidney), Brenden Roan (Hardin), Cameron Younger (Laurel).
182 pounds — Justin Zier (Hardin), Nelson Crisafulli (Glendive), Wyatt Blythe (Lewistown), Shane Gibson (Livingston), Colton McFee (Columbia Falls), Noah Humphrey (Polson).
205 pounds — Tyler Schaub (Havre), Will Caprata (Hardin), Sawyor Thogersen (Sidney), Jacob Freeman (Columbia Falls), Brady Boyce (Lewistown), Kyle Anderson (Hamilton).
285 pounds — Keegan Mires (Glendive), Ryan Horner (Sidney), Jesse Mecham (Frenchtown), Austin Ratliff (Havre), Cyrus Sweedman (Libby), Taylor Giadave (Columbia Falls).
