Scotties Achieve Alchemy - Turn Silver Into Gold

You would have been forgiven if you had worried about the Scotties' chances at the State Tournament in Billings on Feb. 14 and 15. A tough season with a number of challenges, illnesses, injuries, a second-place finish to Huntley Project at Divisionals and a series of peaks and valleys at State had set the tone at the close of business Friday at Metra Park. That tone was short-lived however, and on Saturday morning the Scotties rallied to go undefeated in their first seven matches of the second day of the State tournament.

That momentum, according to the team's state finalists and head coach Jory Casterline, made the Scotties' day unstoppable. Even when they went 0 for 3 in the following consolation semis, they could not be quenched and those same wrestlers-coming off their losses-kept the dream alive and battled for fifth place. All three would claim the come back and give the Scotties enough points to clench the team championship trophy before any single finalist had taken to the mats.

Casterline said the three wins spoke to the competitors' credit-Jake Kuka, Kaden Zimmerman and Kyler Hallock-who did not give up after failing to make the consolation finals. "It would have been easy to just lose another and be done [with the tournament]," said the Scottie coach. "Instead they won all three and extended our lead, and actually clenched it for us before the finals."

According to juniors and finalists Colton Fast, Dylan Nieskens, Cooper Larson and Mayson Phipps, that relieved pressure really set the tone for the finals, and they would each battle for their own personal gold unencumbered by the need to score team points in the race for that trophy.

"There was no pressure for scoring extra points," explained Casterline. "We didn't need to force anything and we never talked about bonus points the entire time."

According to champion Colton Fast, not talking about bonus points during the finals is a rare occurrence and, he would know, as this is his second state championship and his most recent in a long line of first-place finishes. "It made it easier to wrestle a lot more loose," said Fast, discussing the lack of pressure on the finalists. The remaining finalists all agreed with that assessment.

With that "loose" feeling and the added confidence of knowing your team would win, the finalists did not disappoint. Fast, as he is accustomed to doing, set an early lead in the match and held on until the end, finishing by a 7-0 decision over Lincoln County's Kyle Durden in the 132-pound weight class. Fast has been a regular on the podium. His freshman year he claimed third and came out his sophomore year to win his first state championship. Now, as a junior, he has repeated that performance for a second gold medal.

"I don't like to think," explained Fast discussing his stoic demeanor on the mat. "I like to feel loose and let myself go." He added that he has a unique style of wrestling that often puts him in dangerous situations, but he often pulls through them to win. Fast went 42 wins against six losses during the 2020 season. He will look to repeat his gold medal performance again his senior year but will not make any changes to his strategy. "I'm going to do the same preparations and wrestle the same things," said Fast, when asked how he will make another championship possible.

Joining Fast in repeat performances at state, is Dylan Nieskens. Of all the Scotties on the wrestling team, no one has more state finals rounds under his belt than Nieskens. His freshman year he competed for first at state but fell to second. He returned to the finals round his sophomore year and took home the gold before echoing that performance again in 2020.

Nieskens faced a more dynamic round in the finals then Fast. Facing off against Florence-Carlton's Kyler Alm, Nieskens had a hard time getting the much more stout Alm on the mat. It seemed that every time Nieskens would attempt to pull Alm to the mat, the Florence wrestler would break for the perimeter and the two would be forced to reset at center mat. The back and forth allowed Alm to score an escape in the first period and leave Nieskens scoreless.

Eventually, the Scottie veteran worked down his opponent and, in the third, regained the lead to finish by 3-1 decision in the 182-pound weight class. Asked how it felt to wrestle an opponent that kept moving away, Nieskens replied, "It was frustrating. I just had to keep believing that I was going to take him down and keep working it." Nieskens accomplished a 40-7 record during the 2020 season.

Joining the Scottie Wrestling Elite for the first time in the state finals, was Cooper Larson. Unlike Fast, Nieskens and Phipps, Larson came out in 2020 with a new take on wrestling. After making it to state his freshman year, Larson failed to win a single match and ended up finishing the tournament 0 for 2. His repeat visit to the state tournament his sophomore year was not much better and he lost out in 2019, 1-2.

In 2020, however, Larson was a completely different wrestler and came out early to rise to the top of the state rankings. When asked what he had done differently to prepare for the year, Larson responded, "I don't know, honestly, what changed this year. I guess I just decided not to lose. It was a mental thing."

Casterline chimed in to confirm that assessment, saying, "It was obvious the first day of practice. In his effort, in his attitude and it was definitely a mental thing."

That mental toughness and resiliency paid off for Larson in the semi-finals round against Valier's Brett Monroe. After a back and forth in points, Larson entered the final period behind in points. With less than 30 seconds to go, he was trailing by one and needed a take down to win. Keeping calm he began focusing on that one problem and, seizing on his opportunity, claimed those points with only seconds to go in the match, going on to win by a 8-7 decision. The last minute come back would send him into the semi-finals and onto the state championship.

Just do not ask him how he pulled it off: "I don't know," he replied, "I just got pissed off almost, and needed that one take down."

The final round was a much easier, albeit still grueling, win for Larson. Taking on Shepherd's Gage Schmitt, Larson came out early and racked up points before Schmitt put on two in a take down. Then he spent the remainder of the match trying to keep control and, as the seconds ticked away, he did just that, coming out on top to win the state championship in a 5-2 decision. At the end of the tournament, Larson had scored the most team points for the Scotties with 28 and finished the season with a 38-9 record.

Mayson Phipps was the only Scottie finalist to take silver, but, if he were embarrassed by that fact, he did not seem to show it. Phipps is no stranger to placing at state but until this season he had never entered the finals. His sophomore year he earned third losing in the semi-finals to Trey Yates of Colstrip-the same wrestler Phipps would hold on to (literally) in the 2020 season to clench his shot at a state finals match.

Yates, a senior, has been a sort of pariah for Phipps this year. According to the Scottie coaches, the two met three times in 2020. The first time, Yates won, the second time Phipps won and the third time Yates reclaimed the top spot-each round was decided by a single point. That pattern did not change in the semi-final round at State and, when Phipps took the lead with a single-point escape in the second period, he was looking to end the match as soon as possible, so much so, that he would hold on with a death grip to Yates' leg at the end of the third period and log the "W," moving on to the finals.

When asked how he managed to wrangle Yates-a taller and larger opponent-with nothing more than his fingertips, Phipps responded, "I just didn't want to wrestle him anymore. I just wanted it to be done." Done it was. Phipps advanced to the finals but fell to senior powerhouse Journey Grimsrud, of Huntley Project, in the first period. Nonetheless the junior earned 22 team points towards the Scotties' victory and has one more year to come back and claim a gold medal-this time, without Grimsrud or Yates to stand in his way.

Asked how he feels about his chances for a state gold medal next year, he responded, "I'm feeling really good." He went on to say that he was planning on wrestling more in the off season, hitting up some camps and lifting more to get in better shape.

For all intents and purposes, the four finalists make up the team's leadership. As juniors, the only team member to head to state ahead of them in school was Kaden Zimmerman. So when asked how they keep the team together and moving forward in these tournaments, Nieskens replied, "Just treat it like any other tournament and go in there with confidence."

Fast then chimed in to discuss mentoring the younger team members through hard times saying that he reminds them not to worry about losses, that every match counts and every point-even those in the consolation rounds-matters. "You just have to tell them not to worry about it, to keep moving forward from one match to the next," said Fast."

Asked if they are anticipating a repeat next year, with nine of their ten state attendees returning and the answer in the room was definitely. Nieskens explained that the team would be hitting the off-season with added weight lifting, tournaments and training. He then added that the key is to, "Always know what your goal is." For this crew of juniors the goal is another state title.

The Scotties' latest wrestling trophy breaks a 10-year drought for the program and a seven-year drought for the school in any sport. The last state campion wrestling trophy to hang on the walls of Glasgow High was in 2010 under the leadership of Brady Flaten and Byron Hallock. Casterline took over as head coach six years ago, making this his first team state championship.

The Scotties are now the second most winning team in Montana history behind Butte High with 17 team state championships in wrestling. Prior to 2020, Glasgow had shared the number two spot with Missoula Sentinel and Havre High at 12. Glasgow is the most decorated Class B school by far with Conrad following with eight team championships. According to Glasgow Athletic Director Brenner Flaten, the team has claimed 32 state place trophies in the 63 years since the program was implemented in 1958. In other words, they have earned trophies more years than not and they show no signs of stopping now.

Results:

B/C - 103 - Jake Kuka's place is 5th and has scored 15.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 24-21 won by fall over Kody Dillard (St. Ignatius/Charlo) 1-26 (Fall 0:13)

Quarterfinal - Trevor O Hara (Fort Benton/Big Sandy) 32-16 won by fall over Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 24-21 (Fall 5:18)

Cons. Round 2 - Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 24-21 won by decision over Bradin Murphy (Cut Bank) 16-16 (Dec 6-0)

Cons. Round 3 - Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 24-21 won by fall over Leeann Hoch (Shepherd) 21-23 (Fall 2:55)

Cons. Semi - Leo Anderson (Jefferson (Boulder)) 42-7 won by major decision over Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 24-21 (MD 9-0)

5th Place Match - Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 24-21 won by fall over Trevor O Hara (Fort Benton/Big Sandy) 32-16 (Fall 1:45)

B/C - 126 - Jack Cornwell's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Walker Murphy (St. Ignatius/Charlo) 31-22 won by decision over Jack Cornwell (Glasgow) 28-23 (Dec 7-4)

Cons. Round 1 - Caleb Simpson (Cut Bank) 32-18 won by major decision over Jack Cornwell (Glasgow) 28-23 (MD 9-0)

B/C - 132 - Mason Donaldson's place is unknown and has scored 1.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Brady Ellison (Columbus/Absarokee/Park City) 31-10 won by fall over Mason Donaldson (Glasgow) 31-22 (Fall 2:53)

Cons. Round 1 - Mason Donaldson (Glasgow) 31-22 won by decision over Jace Samsel (Arlee) 22-18 (Dec 8-1)

Cons. Round 2 - Adyn Meinzen (Florence-Carlton) 29-17 won by decision over Mason Donaldson (Glasgow) 31-22 (Dec 9-8)

B/C - 132 - Colten Fast's place is 1st and has scored 26.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Colten Fast (Glasgow) 42-6 won by decision over Riley Richtmyer (Broadwater (Townsend)) 39-11 (Dec 6-2)

Quarterfinal - Colten Fast (Glasgow) 42-6 won by fall over Elijah Ratliff (Thompson Falls) 33-14 (Fall 3:04)

Semifinal - Colten Fast (Glasgow) 42-6 won by fall over Mike Wilkinson (Whitehall) 34-8 (Fall 4:39)

1st Place Match - Colten Fast (Glasgow) 42-6 won by decision over Kyle Durden (Lincoln County (Eureka)) 35-4 (Dec 7-0)

B/C - 152 - Kaden Zimmerman's place is 5th and has scored 16.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Kaden Zimmerman (Glasgow) 39-14 won by fall over Colby Coleman (Columbus/Absarokee/Park City) 24-21 (Fall 0:39)

Quarterfinal - Hank Dunn (Lincoln County (Eureka)) 36-1 won by decision over Kaden Zimmerman (Glasgow) 39-14 (Dec 7-2)

Cons. Round 2 - Kaden Zimmerman (Glasgow) 39-14 won by fall over Tyler Schoen (Chinook) 27-15 (Fall 1:39)

Cons. Round 3 - Kaden Zimmerman (Glasgow) 39-14 won by fall over Logan Boadle (Poplar) 26-24 (Fall 4:19)

Cons. Semi - Darwin Adams (St. Ignatius/Charlo) 45-8 won by fall over Kaden Zimmerman (Glasgow) 39-14 (Fall 2:23)

5th Place Match - Kaden Zimmerman (Glasgow) 39-14 won by major decision over Andrew Anderson (Cut Bank) 25-12 (MD 10-2)

B/C - 160 - Kyler Hallock's place is 5th and has scored 16.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 17-8 won by fall over Garrit Weeda (Manhattan) 22-10 (Fall 2:27)

Quarterfinal - Avery Meinzen (Florence-Carlton) 13-4 won by decision over Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 17-8 (Dec 15-10)

Cons. Round 2 - Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 17-8 won by fall over Colter Ball (Fort Benton/Big Sandy) 18-8 (Fall 3:21)

Cons. Round 3 - Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 17-8 won by major decision over Ty Henry Steele (Broadwater (Townsend)) 42-11 (MD 15-2)

Cons. Semi - Austin Vanek (Cut Bank) 37-7 won by fall over Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 17-8 (Fall 1:14)

5th Place Match - Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 17-8 won by forfeit over Avery Meinzen (Florence-Carlton) 13-4 (For.)

B/C - 170 - Ty Kittleson's place is unknown and has scored 4.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Ty Kittleson (Glasgow) 25-15 won by fall over JT Hauer (Chinook) 33-16 (Fall 5:38)

Quarterfinal - Isaiah Allik (St. Ignatius/Charlo) 42-0 won by injury default over Ty Kittleson (Glasgow) 25-15 (Inj. 2:08)

Cons. Round 2 - Cylar Taylor (White Sulphur Springs) 35-16 won by injury default over Ty Kittleson (Glasgow) 25-15 (Inj. 0:00)

B/C - 182 - Dylan Nieskens's place is 1st and has scored 26.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Nieskens (Glasgow) 40-7 won by fall over Bryce Lohman (Conrad) 12-18 (Fall 1:56)

Quarterfinal - Dylan Nieskens (Glasgow) 40-7 won by fall over Troy Matt (St. Ignatius/Charlo) 25-9 (Fall 0:51)

Semifinal - Dylan Nieskens (Glasgow) 40-7 won by decision over Trey Green (Superior/Alberton) 33-6 (Dec 6-2)

1st Place Match - Dylan Nieskens (Glasgow) 40-7 won by decision over Kyler Alm (Florence-Carlton) 21-3 (Dec 3-1)

B/C - 205 - Cooper Larson's place is 1st and has scored 28.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 38-9 won by fall over Mikkel Rider (Harlem) 13-23 (Fall 0:50)

Quarterfinal - Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 38-9 won by fall over Matt Riehl (Jefferson (Boulder)) 35-14 (Fall 3:44)

Semifinal - Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 38-9 won by fall over BRETT MONROE (Valier) 29-15 (Fall 5:40)

1st Place Match - Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 38-9 won by decision over Gage Schmitt (Shepherd) 29-10 (Dec 5-2)

B/C - 285 - Mayson Phipps's place is 2nd and has scored 22.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 42-14 won by fall over Wyatt Dunbar (Chinook) 28-17 (Fall 3:30)

Quarterfinal - Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 42-14 won by fall over Jacob Lapinski (Superior/Alberton) 40-7 (Fall 2:29)

Semifinal - Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 42-14 won by decision over Trey Yates (Colstrip) 45-7 (Dec 1-0)

1st Place Match - Journey Grimsrud (Huntley Project (Worden)) 45-3 won by fall over Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 42-14 (Fall 2:42)