Boys, girls have divisional wrestling champs in Browning

The Columbia Falls boys wrestling team had a strong showing at the Western A Divisional at Browning over the weekend, with several wrestlers earning podium finishes and contributing valuable points to the team’s fourth-place finish.

Leading the way for Columbia Falls were Dylan Delorme (157 pounds) and Rowdy Crump (190), who both captured first-place finishes. Delorme dominated his bracket, winning all his matches by fall, including a championship victory over Tucker Crowe of Beaverhead County in just 49 seconds. His aggressive wrestling style and ability to finish matches quickly made him one of the most exciting competitors of the tournament. Crump also displayed his dominance, securing a title with a first-period pin over Brody Hardy of Frenchtown. 

Octavious Christianson (126), Blaise Cronk (165), and Winslow Peters (175) each reached the finals, finishing as runners-up. Christianson advanced through his bracket with three consecutive pins before falling in the championship to Pita Fish of Browning. Cronk followed a similar path, pinning all his opponents until the finals, where he fell by major decision to Koda King of Ronan. Peters also impressed with a semifinal decision victory before being pinned in the championship match by Hank Hagenbarth of Beaverhead County. 

Bradley Beck (132) put together a strong tournament, finishing in fourth place. After a pair of victories by fall, he lost in the semifinals but rebounded with another pin before falling in the third-place match. Beck’s ability to bounce back after a tough loss showcased his determination and competitive spirit. Angel Lorenzana Enriquez (118) placed sixth, scoring 13 points for Columbia Falls. He advanced through the consolation bracket with multiple wins by fall before dropping his final two matches. 

Tucker Williams (103) and Fisher Whitaker (138) both earned eighth-place finishes. Williams notched a win by fall in the consolation rounds before finishing in eighth, while Whitaker also battled through the bracket with a pin before settling for eighth. Their performances reflected the depth of the Columbia Falls team, as even those who finished lower on the podium managed to contribute valuable points.

In the upper weights, Adam Lolli (215) placed sixth, earning 5.5 points for the team. Lolli secured a win by technical fall in the consolation rounds before falling in his final two matches. Rebel Crump (150) and Tucker Gonzales (175) each placed seventh. Crump ended his tournament with a quick pin over Cyrus Baker of Stevensville, while Gonzales won his final match by injury default. These wrestlers provided depth to the Wildcats’ lineup, ensuring a strong team performance throughout the competition.

With two divisional champions and several wrestlers securing top-six finishes, Columbia Falls will now shift its focus to the state tournament, where they will look to build on this momentum and compete for top finishes on Montana’s biggest stage in Billings this weekend.

The Columbia Falls girls wrestling team had a strong showing at the MHSA Girls A Western Divisional tournament in Browning over the weekend, with several wrestlers securing podium finishes and earning valuable team points.

Leading the charge for the Wildkats was Samantha Larsen, who dominated her way to the 145-pound championship. After receiving a bye in the opening round, Larsen pinned Aspen Iman of Corvallis in 1:31 to advance to the semifinals. She continued her dominance with another pinfall victory over Beaverhead County’s Bailey Blake  in 2:34 before securing the championship with a third-period pin against Polson’s Venessa Wheeler. Her stellar performance earned her 28 team points, the most of any Columbia Falls competitor.

Anjenoux LaChance also put together an impressive tournament run, securing second place in the 135-pound division. LaChance pinned Ronan’s Zeanna Webster in just 29 seconds in her quarterfinal match and followed it up with a 4-2 decision victory over Frenchtown’s Sage Machado in the semifinals. In the championship match, LaChance put up a strong fight but was ultimately pinned by Corvallis’ Jocelyn Covington late in the match. 

At 110 pounds, Jaelynn Nace finished third. Nace started with a 1:17 pin over Browning’s Nerreyah Snow in the quarterfinals but fell in the semifinals by major decision (10-2) to Ronan’s Marie Cheff. She rebounded with a lightning-fast 26-second pin over teammate Lillie Matson in the consolation semifinals before clinching third place with a 2:29 pin against Polson’s Graci Hammer.

Kaycee Orvis battled her way to a fourth-place finish in the 115-pound bracket. She secured a 4:14 pin over Bigfork’s Cassy Schlicht in the consolation rounds and later won a 9-3 decision against Browning’s Nancy Harwood to reach the third-place match, where she ultimately fell by technical fall (22-6) to Beaverhead County’s Tymber Barnes.

At 130 pounds, Kate Lewellen took fifth place. Lewellen had a bye in the opening round before suffering a setback in the quarterfinals. She rebounded with a 6-2 decision win over Ronan’s Amani Antoine, followed by a technical fall victory (16-1) over Browning’s Shylee Kittson. After falling in the consolation semifinals, Lewellen finished strong with a 3:28 pin over Browning’s Margret Weatherwax in the fifth-place match.

At 110 pounds, Lillie Matson took fifth place. After falling in the quarterfinals, Matson received a bye and later lost to teammate Jaelynn Nace. She rebounded in the fifth-place match with a hard-fought 7-3 decision over Browning’s Nerreyah Snow.

Delilah Hanson finished seventh at 120 pounds. After dropping her first two matches, Hanson ended her tournament on a high note, securing a 2:15 pin over Ronan’s Jenadei Ellsworth in the seventh-place match.

At 100 pounds, Vanessa Nace also took seventh place, notching a quick 1:59 pin over Browning’s Caylee Grant.