Highlanders Grind at Montana Open

The Glasgow Wrestling Club brought their season to a close with their performance at the Montana Open in Billings March 25 and 26.

With just under 2,000 wrestlers representing seven different states in the region, the Highlanders were able to face off against some great competition and brought home hardware from the weekend.

Notably, three Highlander champions were crowned at the event with Saunten Gamas, Jaxson Kemp and Jaydeen Hanshew grabbing gold in their weight classes.

Also participating for GWC were: Anders Aune, Ryker Pederson, Asher Wersal, Tyrus Hartwell, Tate Loftsgaard, Aiden Aune, Michael Hendry, Jack Morehouse, Tay Morehouse, Michael Meredith, DC Flaten, Weston Kirkland, Ira Moore, Ethan Engstrom, Jorden Barnhardt, Ben Anderson, Damian Nesbitt, Colten Fast, Kyler Hallock and Kaden Zimmerman.

The team placed 10th overall out of 146 teams, which is the highest finish at the Montana Open in the club's history. In addition, the club placed 12 wrestlers over the weekend, which is the second-most placers they've had at the event.

Team Scores (Top 20)

Upper Valley Aces, 94; Sidney, 82; Team Real Life, 82; Havre, 81; North Montana, 81; Team Champs, 73; Bulldog, 70; Butte, 68; Poplar, 67; Glasgow Wrestling Club, 66; Billings, 61; Moses Lake, 61; Big Game WC, 56; Project Wrestling, 56; Triple Threat, 56; Kalispell, 55; Montana Disciples, 54; Natrona Colts, 54; Darkhorse, 53; Browning, 51.

Individual Results

6U 40 - *Anders Aune: Champ. Rd 1 - G. Burr (Powell) won by decision over Aune (11-9); Cons. Rd 1 - C. Johnston (Butte) won by fall over Aune (0:18). *Ryker Pedersen: Champ. Rd 1 - R. Sayler (Therm.) won by fall over Pedersen (0:31); Cons. Rd 1 - Pedersen won by fall over L. Swecker (Laurel) (1:52); Cons. Rd 2 – K. Johnson (Project) won by fall over Pedersen (0:40).

6U 46 - *Saunten Gamas, 1st, 10 pts: Champ. Rd 1 - Gamas won by fall over K. Thiel (NE MT) (0:09); Champ. Rd 2 – Gamas won by fall over L. Hayden (Legends) (0:29); Champ. Rd 3 - Gamas won by tech fall over A.VanHorn (C. Kids) (15-0); Quarter - Gamas won by major decision over A. Hill (Laurel) (9-0); Semi - Gamas won by fall over H. Pierce (Ggw) (0:21); 1st Place Match - Gamas won by fall over P. Van Pelt (Team Champs) (2:23). *Hunter Pierce, 6th, 1 pt: Champ. Rd 1 - Pierce received a bye; Champ. Rd 2 -Pierce won by fall over M. Kindt (Helena) (0:12); Champ. Rd 3 - Pierce won by medical forfeit over K. Button (Dillon) (MFF); Quarter - Pierce won by fall over T. Richardson (Belgrade) 1:26); Semi - S. Gamas (Ggw) won by fall over Pierce (0:21); Cons. Semi - J. Willoughby (Colstrip) won by decision over Pierce (10-3); 5th Place Match - M. Edstrom (U.Valley) won by tech fall over Pierce (15-0).*Asher Wersal: Champ. Rd 1 - Wersal won by fall over D. Demarrias (Poplar) (1:42); Champ. Rd 2 - Wersal won by fall over K. Watt (NMWC) (1:32); Champ. Rd 3 - J. Willoughby (Colstrip) won by fall over Wersal (2:30); Cons. Rd 4 - Wersal won by fall over M. Mahlum (Heisey) (1:26); Cons. Rd 5 - B. Gage (CJI) won by major decision over Wersal (9-1).

6U 49 - *Tyrus Hartwell: Champ. Rd 1 - Hartwell won by tech fall over B. Bell (NE MT) (16-1); Champ. Rd 2 - Hartwell won by decision over M. Ruckman (Lewistown) (9-2); Champ. Rd 3 - B. Fuzesy (Havre) won by fall over Hartwell (0:23); Cons. Rd 4 - Hartwell won by tech fall over D. Milroy (Circle) (16-1); Cons. Rd 5 - W. Manning (Project) won by decision over Hartwell (5-2).*Tate Loftsgaard: Champ. Round 1 - Loftsgaard won by major decision over C. Sager (Glendive) (14-6); Champ. Rd 2 – E. Wahl (C. Bank) won by fall over Loftsgaard (0:17); Cons. Rd 2 - B. Bell (NE MT) won by decision over Loftsgaard (11-8).

6U 76max - Jaxson Kemp, 1st, 10 pts: Rd 1 - Kemp won by fall over L. Drga (M. City) (1:23); Rd 2 - Kemp won by fall over H. Bigby (Chinook) (0:15); Rd 3 - Kemp won by fall over B. Vrooman (W. Point) (0:31).

8U 46 - Aiden Aune: Champ. Rd 1 - A. Shifflett (Nebraska) won by fall over Aune (1:23); Cons. Rd 1 - Aune won by fall over R. Stevens (Heisey) (0:59); Cons. Rd 2 - Aune won by fall over R. Crump (Kalispell) (0:24); Cons. Rd 3 - K. Livergood (Heisey) won in sudden victory - 1 over Aune (6-4).

8U 54 - *Michael Hendry: Champ. Rd 1 - Hendry won by fall over T. Morrison (NMWC) (0:29); Champ. Rd 2 - J. Nygard (Belgrade) won by decision over Hendry (7-4); Cons. Rd 2 - A. Denson (Shepherd) won by fall over Hendry (0:45). *Jack Morehouse: Champ. Rd 1 - Morehouse won by decision over T. Shooter (Browning) (9-4); Champ. Rd 2 - Morehouse won by decision over C. Branden (Havre) (6-2); Champ. Rd 3 - J. Dinardi (Billings) won by decision over Morehouse (5-4); Cons. Rd 4 - S. Ziegler (C. Kids) won by decision over Morehouse (4-1). *Tay Morehouse: Champ. Rd 1 - S. Ziegler (C. Kids) won by major decision over Morehouse (13-0); Cons. Rd 1 – Morehouse received a bye; Cons. Rd 2 - Morehouse won by fall over C. Lochrie (Lil Copperheads) (0:41); Cons. Rd 3 - Morehouse won by fall over C. Peltomaa (Butte) (0:23); Cons. Rd 4 - Morehouse won by fall over W. Block (Blue Hawk) (1:40); Cons. Rd 5 - L. Rager (Sheridan) won by tech fall over Morehouse (16-0).

8U 58 - Michael Merideth: Champ. Rd 1 - Merideth won by decision over J. Cook (Belgrade) (8-6); Champ. Rd 2 – G. LeFurgey (F. Benton) won by fall over Merideth (0:49); Cons. Rd 2 - Merideth won by fall over C. Ralph (Butte) (0:15); Cons. Rd 3 - G. South (Whitehall) won by decision over Merideth (14-11).

8U 62 - *D.C. Flaten: Champ. Round 1 - Flaten received a bye; Champ. Rd 2 - K. Burke (Browning) won by fall over Flaten (0:52); Cons. Rd 2 - L. Spencer (Malta) won by fall over Flaten (0:16). *Weston Kirkland: Champ. Rd 1 - J. Clark (Shelby) won by major decision over Kirkland (9-0); Cons. Rd 1 - Kirkland received a bye; Cons. Rd 2 - J. Gebhardt (Choteau) won by fall over Kirkland (1:22).

8U 66 - Ira Moore: Champ. Rd 1 - Moore won by decision over L. Odegard (Rustler) (5-2); Champ. Rd 2 - Z. Richards (C. Kids) won by major decision over Moore (12-4); Cons. Rd 2 - Moore won by decision over K. Morrison (NMWC) (8-1); Cons. Rd 3 - Moore won by decision over B. Bleau (Bozeman) (3-2); Cons. Rd 4 - B. Dooley (Belgrade) won by decision over Moore (2-0).

8U 70 - Tayven Bietz, 3rd, 5 pts: Champ. Rd 1 - Bietz won by fall over K. Cordingley (U. Valley) (1:36); Champ. Rd 2 - Bietz won by fall over E. Ketterling (Darkhorse) (0:26); Quarter - Bietz won by fall over Brayden Zikmund (Bozeman) (2:41); Semi - Bietz won by fall over D. Webb (Sheridan) (1:49); 1st Place Match - R. Hanson (Billings) won by major decision over Bietz (11-1); 2nd Place Match - R. Sisel (C. Kids) won by major decision over Bietz (11-0).

8U 74 - Hank Hopstad, 5th, 2 pts: Champ. Rd 1 - Hopstad won by tech fall over T. Curley (M. City) (18-3); Quarter - A.Shandorf (Havre) won by decision over Hopstad (6-5); Cons. Rd 2 - Hopstad won by fall over C. Juneau (Browning) (0:31); Cons. Rd 3 - Hopstad won by decision over C. Boren (Therm.) (3-2); Cons. Semi - R. Murray (Project) won by fall over Hopstad (0:51); 5th Place Match - Hopstad won by fall over C. Olmstead (Stars N Stripes) (0:49).

8U 87 - Ethan Engstrom: Champ. Round 1 - Engstrom won by fall over A. Adame (Darkhorse) (0:50); Champ. Rd 2 - Engstrom won by decision over Z. Wyant (BS Academy) (4-2); Quarter - T. Smart (Billings) won by decision over Engstrom (5-3); Cons. Rd 4 - Engstrom won by tech fall over S. Shirley (MT Disciples) (15-0); Cons. Rd 5 - G. Allen (Rustler) won by fall over Ethan Engstrom (0:40).

8U 97 - Leo Erickson, 4th, 3 pts: Quarterfinal - Erickson won by fall over K. Martell (Poplar) (0:10); Semi - K.Borger (NMWC) won by fall over Erickson (0:47); Cons. Semi - Erickson won by fall over R. Stout (Bruin) (1:20); 3rd Place Match - N. Bingham (Bozeman) won by fall over Erickson (1:18).

10U 73 - Khye Gamas, 3rd, 5 points: Champ. Rd 1 - Gamas received a bye; Champ. Rd 2 - Gamas won by decision over E. Hill (Laurel) (9-3); Champ. Rd 3 - Gamas won by major decision over K. Noble (NMWC) (10-2); Quarter - Gamas won by decision over W. Horner (Natrona) (4-0); Semi - B. Boggus (Big Game) won by decision over Gamas (4-2); Cons. Semi - Gamas won by major decision over S. Schindler (Hardin) (9-0); 3rd Place Match - Gamas won by fall over K. Dixon (NMWC) (2:41); 2nd Place Match - B. Boggus (Big Game) won by rule over Gamas (RULE).

10U 85 - William Kirkland, 2nd, 7 pts: Champ. Rd 1 - W. Fitch (Stillwater) won by decision over Kirkland (10-4); Cons. Rd 1 - Kirkland received a bye; Cons. Rd 2 - Kirkland won by fall over J. Monroe (Browning) (1:43); Cons. Rd 3 - Kirkland won by fall over B. Ketterling (Billings) (0:52); Cons. Rd 4 - Kirkland won by decision over T. Wieczorek (Bozeman) (7-1); Cons. Rd 5 - Kirkland won by major decision over D. Grant (MT Disciples) (12-1; ); Cons. Semi - Kirkland won by decision over H. Hagenbarth (Dillon) (9-4); 3rd Place Match – Kirkland won by decision over K. Wergin (Glendive) (6-0); 2nd Place Match - Kirkland won by decision over C. Lovett (Ennis) (6-2).

10U 113 – Jorden Barnhart: Champ. Rd 1 – J. Williams (Sheridan) won by fall over Barnhart (0:52); Cons. Rd 1 - C. Sell (E. Helena) won by fall over Barnhart (2:00).

10U 113 – Jaydeen Hanshew, 1st, 10 pts: Champ. Rd 1 – Hanshew won by fall over J. Mills (Stars N Stripes) (0:24); Quarter - Hanshew won by fall over T. Terry (Havre) (0:23); Semi - Hanshew won by fall over K. LaBrie (Malta) (1:15); 1st Place Match - Hanshew won by fall over A. Turnquist-Kokkeler (Belgrade) (0:46).

12U 146 – Grady Nielsen, 6th, 1 pt: Champ. Rd 1 – Nielsen received a bye; Quarter – Nielsen won by fall over D. Sunchild (Havre) (2:06); Semi - L. Catlin (Touch Of Gold) won by fall over Nielsen (0:37); Cons. Semi - J. Justesen (C. Bank) won by major decision over Nielsen (11-0); 5th Place Match - E. Sweet (Butte) won by decision over Nielsen (8-4).

12U 165 - Kohl Kittleson, 2nd, 7 pts: Champ. Rd 1 - Kittleson won by fall over C. Brawley (Baker) (0:40); Quarter - Kittleson won by fall over M. Lee (Darkhorse) (2:23); Semi - Kittleson won by medical forfeit over M. May (Lovell) (MFF); 1st Place Match - G. Beaudrie (Cody) won by fall over Kittleson (0:52); 2nd Place Match - Kittleson won by fall over B. Whiteman (Browning) (2:35).

15U 102 - *Ben Anderson: Champ. Rd 1 - K. Gransbery (Butte) won by fall over Anderson (Fall 2:26); Cons. Rd 1 - Anderson won by medical forfeit over J. Frederick (Poplar) (MFF); Cons. Rd 2 - Anderson won by decision over D. Berreth (Chinook) (8-1); Cons. Rd 3 - J. Colesworthy (Conrad) won by fall over Anderson (Fall 1:21).*Devon Nesbitt, 2nd, 7 pts: Champ. Rd 1 - Nesbitt won by decision over W. Queer (Butte) (6-0); Champ. Rd 2 - Nesbitt won by decision over I. Willoughby (Colstrip) (6-0); Quarter - Nesbitt won by fall over R. Osborne (Sheridan) (2:27); Semi - Nesbitt won by decision over B. Ellison (Stillwater) (9-4); 1st Place Match - K. Sorenson (Bonneville) won by fall over Nesbitt (1:12); 2nd Place Match - Nesbitt won by rule over B. Ellison (Stillwater) (RULE).

15U 109 - Damien Nesbitt: Champ. Rd 1 - E. Warner (BS Academy) won by decision over Nesbitt 4-1); Cons. Rd 1 - Nesbitt won by fall over C. Moran (C. Bank) (0:42); Cons. Rd 2 - Nesbitt won by decision over C. Turner (Big Cat) (5-0); Cons. Rd 3 - Nesbitt won by fall over I. Acosta (Lewiston) (2:18); Cons. Rd 4 – Nesbitt won by decision over D. Eixenberger (S. Valley) (3-1); Cons. Rd 5 - D. Schulze (S. R. Valley) won by decision over Nesbitt (6-0).

15U 130 - Colten Fast: Champ. Rd 1 - Fast won by decision over M. Maddox (Powell) (7-2); Champ. Rd 2 - A. Graves (Sidney) won by fall over Fast (3:54); Cons. Rd 2 – J. Hall (S.Valley) won by decision over Fast (2-0).

15U 144 - Kyler Hallock: Champ. Round 1 - Hallock won by fall over H. Rowan (Belgrade) (0:47); Champ. Rd 2 - Hallock won by fall over A. Liva (Butte) (1:10); Quarter- T. Campbell (Browning) won by fall over Hallock (1:07); Cons. Rd 4 - Hallock won by fall over R. Skiff (Malta) (2:38); Cons. Rd 5 - D. Adams (Mission/Charlo) won by decision over Hallock (5-0).

18U 145 – Kaden Zimmerman: Champ. Round 1 – Zimmerman won by fall over J. Connors (Big Cat) (2:46); Quarter - B. Wenzel (Polson) won by fall over Zimmerman (3:09); Cons. Rd 2 - H. Villa (Crosscut) won in sudden victory - 1 over Zimmerman (3-1).