Roberts falls just short in fourth title bid

Shonn Roberts fell just short of his bid to bring home four state Class A titles in wrestling. The 138-pound senior lost to Jarret Degan of Belgrade in the championship round Feb. 14 by fall with about 30 seconds left in the match at the MetraPark Arena in Billings.

Roberts gave up a takedown in the first period and an escape in the second to fall behind 3-0. He made a shot in the third to go for a pin and the win, but Degan was able to counter, get a takedown and then the pin for the win. Degan is a national champion and the match was a faceoff of two of Montana’s elite wrestlers.

Even with the loss, Roberts still has the best postseason record in Columbia Falls High School history and will go down as one of the school’s all-time great wrestlers. He’s already signed with the University of Great Falls to wrestle for that program in college.

“He’s beaten so many quality kids throughout his career,” coach Jessie Schaeffer said. “I look forward to keeping track of him through college.”

As a team, the MatCats equaled last season’s effort at state, taking third. Haze Bell (126) and Kaleb Gravelin (132) also made it to the title rounds. Bell lost to Gresh Jones of Sidney by fall at the 54-second mark. Gravelin lost to Grayson Brenna of Havre by major decision, 11-3.

“All of our placers wrestled really well,” Schaeffer said.

The MatCats had a pair of third-place finishes. Senior Colton Gove (145) beat Jon Blanchard of Frenchtown 8-3, and senior Spencer Ross (285) pinned Christian Gomez of Sidney. Storm Kemppainen (160) took sixth.

Havre won the event, and Sidney took second.

Schaeffer is looking forward to the years ahead.

“We have a great crew coming back,” he said. “We’ll start rebuilding another team.”

He said there are about 20 seventh and eighth graders waiting in the wings.

This year more than 50 kids came out for the program.