Windauer takes state championship

Junior Justin Windauer took the 138-pound state A wrestling championship in Billings Saturday.

Windauer won an 8-4 decision over Curry Brown of Miles City to take the title. It was the first time this season that Windauer faced Brown.

Windauer, who was 45-4 for the year, took care of business at the tournament, with pins over Caden Ferdinand of Lewistown, Cody Hofer of Billings Central and Sean Mehling of Hardin.

Mehling gave Windauer all he could handle in the semis.

“He was beating me going into the the third,” Windauer explained.

But Windauer first scored enough points to tie the match, and then pinned Mehling for the win.

Against Brown, Windauer said he felt good.

“I felt good on my feet,” he said. “ I kept the pressure on the whole time.”

He said after he won the title it was a bit surreal.

“It’s not a normal feeling,” he said. “It’s different. It feels really cool.”

Windauer said he’ll take a bit of a break from training and will help coach the junior high team. Then he’ll get back on the mat this spring and summer wrestling with the Ruis Wrestling Academy and traveling to different meets across the country.

He hopes to wrestle in college and will start putting together a recruitment showreel soon.

He thanked his family and coaches for his success.

His grandfather, Bob Windauer, photographed him at every meet this year and also gave him advice now and then.

“He’s pretty cool,” Windauer said.

As a team the MatCats took eighth.

Blake Hoerner took sixth, with a loss to Ben Carlson of Sidney in the consolation round.

Brandon Role took sixth with a loss to Tristan Fisher in the consolation round.

Chris Rathjen took fifth for the MatCats, dropping Kaden Wise of Sidney by fall in the consolation bracket.

Sidney won the tournament and Frenchtown, the favorite going into it, took fourth.