Eastern AA Seeding Wrestling Tourney
Saturday at Bozeman High
5:25 p.m. update –
Butte High has qualified three wrestlers for the final round. Jarret Rowling (135), Tommy Challeen (145) and Bryce Challeen (152) will wrestle for the top seed out of the Eastern AA at next weekend’s State meet in Billings.
During simultaneous semifinal matches, Rowling defeated Billings Skyview’s Brenton Buerkele 11-9 in overtime, while fellow Bulldog 135-pounder Levi Renz fell 6-1 in overtime to defending state 125-pound titlist Justin Waterson.
More results to follow…
3:45 p.m. update –
Butte High wrestlers win 11 of 17 second-round consolation matches to ensure a trip to State for 15 Bulldogs. Levi Renz, Jarret Rowling, Tommy Challeen and Bryce Armstrong set to wrestle in semifinals.
All rounds have been run back-to-back. More results to follow.
12:45 p.m. update –
First round –
Butte High got off to a rough first-round start, losing seven of its first eight matches, but the Bulldogs rallied to claim seven wins along with four byes to send 11 wrestlers to the quarterfinal round. All 22 Butte High wrestlers still have a chance to advance by placing in the top eight Saturday,
105 – Dillon Hoppe, Billings West, p. Tyler Ossello 1:39. 112 – Trayson Marker, Billings West, p. Kaydon Queer 1:02. 112 – Kyle Taylor, Bozeman, p. Bridger Mooney 1;16. 119 – Jake Burkhalter, Skyview, d. Ax Henningsen 7-5. 125 – Joey Blunt, Butte, p. Marcus Norftill, West, 1:47. 125 – Nate Richardson, West, d. Taran Bennett, 6-2. 130 – Nate LaFromboise, Skyview, p. Willy Shea :46. 140 – Tyller Cortez, Senior, md. Guy St. John 12-2. 145 – Andre Vialpando, Butte, d. Ben Askelson, Senior 6-4. 152 – Andrew Anderson, Butte, p. Sultan Al-Aissa, Senior :26. 160 – Wyatt Merkel, Butte, p. Ryan Ilbsen, Great Falls 5:51. 160 – Josh Cohen, West, md. Cian Randall 13-2. 171 – Lee Cannon, Butte, d. Jordan Jacobson, West 5-3. 171 – Nick Challeen, Butte, p. Miguel Marquez, Senior 5:41. 215 – Kody Jeffers, Senior, p. Johnny Walker 1:52. 285 – Bobby Foster, Skyview, p. Billy Robinson 1:47. 285 – Kael Giebink, Senior, p. Cameron Huston 2:44.
Notes: Coach Humphrey smiled as he borrowed the trainer’s tape scissors and passed them along to assistant coach Nick Haynes; Bryce Armstrong’s hair was ruled too long, and the coach put his untested barber skills to work.
9 a.m. update –
The Bulldogs came away with a relatively good draw, led by Jarret Rowling and Levi Renz, the No. 1 and 2 seeded wrestlers at 135 pounds. Butte High also got top seeds for Bryce Armstrong at 152 pounds as well as Tommy Challeen at 145 pounds.
Butte High head coach Jim Bob Humphrey said he was pleased with the results of Friday night’s seeding confab among the head coaches. Humphrey explained that Rowling – Butte’s JV 135 wrestler – got the nod over Renz – the varsity Bulldog at that weight – because of winning percentages against Class AA wrestlers. Rowling recently dropped to 135 pounds.
Butte High 98-pounder Blake Bowen didn’t make the trip, as he didn’t make weight.
The first round of wrestling is slated to begin at 11 a.m. at Bozeman High School.
First-round matchups:
105 – Tyler Ossello, Butte, vs. Dillon Hoppe, Billings West
112 – Kaydon Queer, Butte, vs. Trayson Marker, West; Bridger Mooney, Butte, vs. Kyle Taylor, Bozeman
119 – Ax Henningsen, Butte, vs. Jake Burkhalter, Skyview
125 – Joey Blunt, Butte, vs. Marcus Norftill, West; Taran Bennett, Butte, vs. Nate Richardson, West
130 – Willy Shea, Butte, vs. Johnny LaFountain, Skyview
135 – Jarret Rowling, Butte, bye; Levi Renz, Butte, bye
140 – Guy St. John, Butte, vs. Tyller Cortez, Senior; Kaleb Ferriter, Butte, vs. Andrew Johnson, Senior
145 – Tommy Challeen, Butte, bye; Andre Vialpando, Butte, vs. Ben Askelson, Senior
152 – Bryce Armstrong, Butte, bye; Andrew Anderson, Butte, vs. Slutan Al-Aissa, Senior
160 – Wyatt Merkel, Butte, vs. Ryan Ilbsen, Great Falls; Cian Randall, Butte, vs. Josh Cohen, West
171 – Lee Cannon, Butte, vs. Jordan Jacobson, West; Nick Challeen, Butte, vs. Miguel Marquez, Senior
215 – Johnny Walker, Butte, vs. Kody Jeffers, Senior
285 – Billy Robinson, Butte, vs. Bobby Foster, Skyview; Cameron Huston, Butte, vs. Kael Giebink, Senior
