Glasgow Bedevils Huntley Project for No. 14

The Glasgow Scottie Wrestlers claimed their 14th State Championship Title in Shelby on March 5 and 6. The Class B/C State Wrestling Tournament followed a different format this year due to COVID-19 and, as a result, the Class B/C portion was moved from the Metra in Billings and held in Shelby, Mont. The tournament was also split into sessions on March 5 with the morning running through the lighter weight divisions and the afternoon-into evening-session running through the heavier weight divisions. It made for an interesting ride for the Scotties.

Had it been a horse race you could say the Scotties came back from behind to win their 14th Montana state wrestling title, but it was not a horserace, and an early lead by Huntley Project after the first round of lightweight divisions was of no concern to Scottie head coach Jory Casterline. In fact, he told the Courier he expected Huntley to take that early lead since the rounds would be split by weight and, since most of Glasgow's top wrestlers are in the top end of the weights, it could be expected that Glasgow would fall behind at first.

That's not to say that the Red Devils had no momentum going into the evening, but it didn't take long for the Scotties to take the wind out of Huntley's sails when the number eight seed in the 170 lbs weight class, Austin Hughes, stepped up at the last possible minute to defeat Huntley Project's Hunter Dare in a surprise upset that would earn the Scotties some unexpected points and knock out a potential score-earner for the Project.

Hughes had fallen to a 12-point deficit against Dare in the third round, but Hughes wasn't giving up that easily. With zero points scored and less than a minute left on the clock, Hughes dropped a knee and rolled Dare from his back, turned him and gained enough ground to lay his opponent flat on his back for the pin. The Scotties-fans and all-were elated, and the momentum shifted squarely to the Scotties for the rest of the tourney.

"That really was the turning point of the whole tournament," Casterline said. "The air went out of Huntley."

Hughes set the Scotties rolling into Saturday morning where the Scotties went 7-1 in the semifinals and consolation semis to end up sending five to compete in the finals and two to compete for third/fourth. The only loss that morning was an injury default after Damien Nesbitt injured himself against Coy Cohenour of Three Forks/Ennis in the semis.

In his fifth-place matchup in the 145 lbs class, Devon Nesbitt, would fall by Major Decision against Mathew Larson of Cut Bank. Damien Nesbitt would lose by injury default and both of the twins would claim sixth place in their respective weight classes. In the third-place matchup for the 182 lbs, Cooper Larson would fall to Cameron Brusven of Shelby and claim fourth place.

Despite the two losses and the default, the Scotties held a double-digit lead over the second-ranked Huntley Project going into the finals. Both teams sent five wrestlers to the finals and two of which would be Scotties Vs. Huntley. Even with a lead of 18 going into the finals, the Scotties would need another win to clinch it and earn their repeat title in 2021.

Finals started with the 103-pounders and moved up, making 113-pinder, Jake Kuka, the first up for the Scotties. Adding to the pressure, Kuka was also facing off against Gavin Nedens of Huntley Project-an opponent Kuka took into overtime at the divisional tourney just one week earlier but ultimately lost to. The results would repeat at State but not after after Kuka went all three rounds and held Nedens to only a four-point lead and preventing a major decision. Kuka finished the year with a 24-8 record.

The Scotties would gain the upper hand again though, once two-time-defending-state-champ Colten Fast, stepped into the ring to take on Cole Becker of Circle. Fast shut Becker down, winning by a 12-2 major decision that would clinch the Scotties state championship and earn Fast-a Senior-the honor of holding three state championships.

"I'm glad I got to end my career on a good note by winning my third title," Fast told the Courier. "It was an awesome feeling that I will never forget." Fast was proud of his teammates and said the tourney could not have gone better for the Scotties. "Everyone did a great job of competing, and I'm proud of everyone for working hard throughout the year."

Fast won't be wrestling in college, but he will be studying Civil Engineering at Montana State University in Bozeman.

With the tourney in the bag, Kyler Hallock (170 lbs) faced off against Austin Vaneck of Cut Bank but would lose by fall in the second round earning the Scottie Junior a silver medal at his first finals showing at state. Hallock finished his season with a record of 29-10.

Left for the Scotties were state finals veterans and seniors, Dylan Nieskens and Mayson Phipps. Wreslting at 205, Nieskens, had wrestled in the state finals all four years of his high school career having claimed silver his Freshman year and gold every year since. This year was no different and in a very quick first round, he pinned Cade Buchanan of Huntley Project and ended the year with a 42-1 record.

"It felt relieving to get it done fast," Nieskens said. "I think we performed really well and everyone did what they needed to do."

That left just Mayson Phipps in the heavyweights left to wrestle. In 2020, Phipps punched a ticket to the finals only to fall in at second. This year he was facing a known entity in the form of Caden Crowell of Cascade. Phipps came out swinging to take Crowell off his feet and shock his opponent and after a takedown that landed out of bounds, Phipps regained the edge quickly to put his opponent flat on his back and win the weight class. He finished the year with a 36-2 record.

Phipps told the Courier, "It was amazing to win state, both as a team and for myself." He said he was shocked to pin in the first round and had anticipated the match lasting all three rounds. He said he felt good going into the finals and confident he would win. Phipps won't be wrestling at the next level either, instead he'll be attending Montana Tech to study metal fabricating and to play football for the Ore Diggers.

The Scotties brought 14 athletes to State. Not everyone scored points, but Casterline said that each member of the team helped earn that state title.

"You know some of these guys they kind of hang their head like, 'I didn't help the team," said Casterline. "Yeah, you did man. You were in practice all season. Nobody can do this by themselves." He said that through practicing, sparring with their teammates and supporting the team, each athlete contributed regardless of score.

With four state champion seniors heading out the door, Casterline says he is confident the program will continue to thrive pointing to returning finalists, Kuka and Hallock, but also to other placers and potential placers such as the Nesbitt brothers and Mason Donaldson among others.

"We're not going to have the horsepower we have this year with guys just pinning their way through the tournament," Casterline said. "But we've got a good nucleus coming back."

RESULTS:

103 - Damon Adkins's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Traic Fainter (Bigfork) 25-7 won by major decision over Damon Adkins (Glasgow) 27-11 (MD 16-7)

Cons. Round 1 - Kody Dillard (St. Ignatius/Charlo) 7-24 won by fall over Damon Adkins (Glasgow) 27-11 (Fall 4:26)

113 - Jake Kuka's place is 2nd and has scored 24.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 24-8 won by fall over Max Giles (Fairfield/Augusta) 19-12 (Fall 3:33)

Quarterfinal - Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 24-8 won by fall over Christian Miller (Anaconda) 12-12 (Fall 3:44)

Semifinal - Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 24-8 won by fall over Nate Blodnick (Anaconda) 18-4 (Fall 5:31)

1st Place Match - Gavin Nedens (Huntley Project (Worden)) 34-5 won by decision over Jake Kuka (Glasgow) 24-8 (Dec 4-0)

126 - Dawson Boland's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Miguel Ramos (Fairfield/Augusta) 21-4 won by fall over Dawson Boland (Glasgow) 14-29 (Fall 1:06)

Cons. Round 1 - Dayne Sullivan (Simms) 22-15 won by fall over Dawson Boland (Glasgow) 14-29 (Fall 2:36)

132 - Alex Ost's place is unknown and has scored 3.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - David Schultze (Plains/Hot Springs) 8-5 won by fall over Alex Ost (Glasgow) 12-33 (Fall 1:18)

Cons. Round 1 - Alex Ost (Glasgow) 12-33 won by injury default over Evan Sereday (White Sulphur Springs) 11-13 (Inj. 0:43)

Cons. Round 2 - Bryson Bartelson (Circle) 24-9 won by fall over Alex Ost (Glasgow) 12-33 (Fall 2:30)

138 - Mason Donaldson's place is unknown and has scored 4.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Mason Donaldson (Glasgow) 26-17 won by fall over Adyn Meinzen (Florence-Carlton) 15-9 (Fall 1:19)

Quarterfinal - Camron Reilly (Forsyth) 22-1 won by major decision over Mason Donaldson (Glasgow) 26-17 (MD 14-5)

Cons. Round 2 - John Armstrong (Jefferson (Boulder)) 27-9 won by decision over Mason Donaldson (Glasgow) 26-17 (Dec 3-1)

145 - Devon Nesbitt's place is 6th and has scored 11.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Devon Nesbitt (Glasgow) 24-18 won by decision over Jace Oxarart (Jefferson (Boulder)) 24-10 (Dec 8-4)

Quarterfinal - Eli Ratliff (Thompson Falls / Noxon) 37-3 won by decision over Devon Nesbitt (Glasgow) 24-18 (Dec 6-0)

Cons. Round 2 - Devon Nesbitt (Glasgow) 24-18 won by fall over Brady Barnhill (Conrad) 15-10 (Fall 3:28)

Cons. Round 3 - Devon Nesbitt (Glasgow) 24-18 won by fall over Colt Crawford (Arlee) 22-7 (Fall 3:47)

Cons. Semi - Brady Ellison (Columbus/Absarokee/Park City) 28-7 won by decision over Devon Nesbitt (Glasgow) 24-18 (Dec 6-0)

5th Place Match - Mathew Larson (Cut Bank) 25-7 won by major decision over Devon Nesbitt (Glasgow) 24-18 (MD 14-3)

152 - Colten Fast's place is 1st and has scored 28.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Colten Fast (Glasgow) 38-2 won by fall over Vaughn Pendlay (Bigfork) 20-15 (Fall 1:14)

Quarterfinal - Colten Fast (Glasgow) 38-2 won by fall over Canyon Sargent (St. Ignatius/Charlo) 28-14 (Fall 1:38)

Semifinal - Colten Fast (Glasgow) 38-2 won by major decision over Jonny Chamberlin (Florence-Carlton) 19-7 (MD 10-2)

1st Place Match - Colten Fast (Glasgow) 38-2 won by major decision over Cole Becker (Circle) 23-7 (MD 12-2)

160 - Damien Nesbitt's place is 6th and has scored 11.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Damien Nesbitt (Glasgow) 33-12 won by fall over Eli Schreher (Cascade) 20-12 (Fall 1:02)

Quarterfinal - Damien Nesbitt (Glasgow) 33-12 won by fall over Miles Hoerauf (Whitehall) 30-4 (Fall 4:42)

Semifinal - Coy Cohenour (Three Forks/Ennis) 20-0 won by injury default over Damien Nesbitt (Glasgow) 33-12 (Inj. 2:00)

Cons. Semi - Max Hannum (Thompson Falls / Noxon) 32-9 won by injury default over Damien Nesbitt (Glasgow) 33-12 (Inj. 0:00)

5th Place Match - Miguel Perez (Fairfield/Augusta) 29-9 won by injury default over Damien Nesbitt (Glasgow) 33-12 (Inj. 0:00)

170 - Kyler Hallock's place is 2nd and has scored 22.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 29-10 won by fall over Josh Baldwin (Thompson Falls / Noxon) 17-10 (Fall 2:45)

Quarterfinal - Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 29-10 won by fall over Dakota Holbrook (Powder River Co. (Broadus)) 17-10 (Fall 1:02)

Semifinal - Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 29-10 won by decision over Cylar Taylor (White Sulphur Springs) 13-5 (Dec 6-0)

1st Place Match - Austin Vanek (Cut Bank) 28-1 won by fall over Kyler Hallock (Glasgow) 29-10 (Fall 3:57)

170 - Austin Hughes's place is unknown and has scored 3.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Austin Vanek (Cut Bank) 28-1 won by fall over Austin Hughes (Glasgow) 14-10 (Fall 0:49)

Cons. Round 1 - Austin Hughes (Glasgow) 14-10 won by fall over Hunter Dare (Huntley Project (Worden)) 14-10 (Fall 4:55)

Cons. Round 2 - Dakota Holbrook (Powder River Co. (Broadus)) 17-10 won by fall over Austin Hughes (Glasgow) 14-10 (Fall 1:51)

182 - Cooper Larson's place is 4th and has scored 16.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 27-9 won by forfeit over Dallas Blair (Florence-Carlton) 11-16 (For.)

Quarterfinal - Cameron Brusven (Shelby) 30-5 won by decision over Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 27-9 (Dec 3-1)

Cons. Round 2 - Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 27-9 won by decision over Braeden Jones (Jefferson (Boulder)) 24-10 (Dec 7-2)

Cons. Round 3 - Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 27-9 won by fall over Hayden Axtman (Fort Benton/Big Sandy) 20-14 (Fall 2:18)

Cons. Semi - Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 27-9 won by decision over Dane Chojnacky (Thompson Falls / Noxon) 34-4 (Dec 3-1)

3rd Place Match - Cameron Brusven (Shelby) 30-5 won by fall over Cooper Larson (Glasgow) 27-9 (Fall 3:51)

205 - Dylan Nieskens's place is 1st and has scored 29.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Nieskens (Glasgow) 42-1 won by fall over Bryce Lohman (Conrad) 16-12 (Fall 1:13)

Quarterfinal - Dylan Nieskens (Glasgow) 42-1 won by fall over Jamus DuBois (Whitehall) 31-7 (Fall 0:34)

Semifinal - Dylan Nieskens (Glasgow) 42-1 won by major decision over Carter Morgan (Choteau) 33-10 (MD 9-0)

1st Place Match - Dylan Nieskens (Glasgow) 42-1 won by fall over Cade Buchanan (Huntley Project (Worden)) 18-6 (Fall 1:22)

285 - Kohl Kittleson's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Leo Scafani (Whitehall) 28-9 won in tie breaker - 1 over Kohl Kittleson (Glasgow) 17-8 (TB-1 5-1)

Cons. Round 1 - Mckay Young (Florence-Carlton) 13-8 won by fall over Kohl Kittleson (Glasgow) 17-8 (Fall 2:05)

285 - Mayson Phipps's place is 1st and has scored 30.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 36-2 won by forfeit over Tucker Smith (Powell Co. (Deer Lodge)) 7-7 (For.)

Quarterfinal - Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 36-2 won by fall over Jaden Keeling (Malta/Whitewater) 21-15 (Fall 1:52)

Semifinal - Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 36-2 won by fall over Wyatt Dunbar (Chinook) 20-8 (Fall 3:09)

1st Place Match - Mayson Phipps (Glasgow) 36-2 won by fall over Caden Crowell (Cascade) 34-2 (Fall 1:46)