Sidney Eagles Soar Above The Competition

"Three-peat!" exclaimed Sidney wrestling coach Guy Melby during the team state wrestling after party at the Hampton Inn in Billings on Feb. 15. The Sidney High School wrestling team has once again taken the top Class A spot at the MHSA All-Class State Wrestling tournament in Billings for the third year in a row.

The 2019-2020 season has ended in historic fashion once again for the Eagles. The 15 of the 17 Eagle wrestlers in the tournament placed fourth or higher, a record for the Sidney squad. Going seven for seven in the consolation semi-finals, another record for the team. And finally, the overall team score of 340 points is a MHSA All-Class State Wrestling tournament record. Sidney more than doubled the second place team's points, which was Frenchtown with a score of 156.5. Miles City followed in third with a score of 145.5.

This year's Class A division at the MHSA All-Class State Wrestling tournament was led by Sidney throughout the weekend. At the end of the first day of the tournament Sidney held a commanding lead with 147.5 points. Miles City and Frenchtown were tied for second with 83.5 points each.

The second day of the tournament is where Sidney extended their lead & dominance over the competition. "We take pride in wrestling the second day better than the first," stated Melby. "Our team is built for two days of competition." This philosophy was on full display at this year's tournament as eight wrestlers moved on to the finals and every wrestler in the consolation semis won their matches with six pins and one decision. Every Sidney placer finished at or above their state ranking before the tournament.

Sidney ended the championship finals with seven state champions. Jordan Darby beat Cameron Pleninger, Havre, at 132# by a 7-4 decision. Aden Graves was a two time state champ beating Triston Davis, Corvallis, by fall in 1:38. Graves was also awarded the Jug Beck Quick Fall winner for the state tournament. At 182# Riley Waters won his second state title beating Cameron Younger, Laurel, by decision 12-7. Two time state champion Jett Jones pinned Tate Jones, Frenchtown, in 2:28 at 205#. Sidney heavyweight Brodey Skogen earned first place beating Tyler Harms, Miles City, by decision 4-0. Owen Lonski was state champ at 103# defeating Frenchtown's Landen Stewart by decision 5-4. Kaiden Cline picked up his second state title at 120# besting Eli Warner, Frenchtown by decision 8-2.

Under Coach Melby the Eagles have 11 state championships and 8 second place finishes. "This year was kind of a fairy tale deal. I'm happy for the kids, the coaching staff and the community," said Melby. The team has already begun preparing for next year's season with morning weight training. They will continue training in the off season with tournaments in Denver, Iowa and Virginia Beach.

(Click here for full photo album.)

MHSA State Championships Results For Sidney/Fairview

A – 103: Owen Lonski placed 1st

Champ. Round 1 - Owen Lonski (S/F) won by fall over Kiera Davis (C) Fall 1:23

Quarterfinal - Owen Lonski (S/F) won by fall over Brayden Linville (P/L/SGC) Fall 0:34

Semifinal - Owen Lonski (S/F) 49-5 won by major decision over Andrew Carmody (H/D) 15-7

1st Place Match - Owen Lonski (S/F) won by decision over Landen Stewart (F) 5-4

A – 103: Kaden Wise placed 4th

Champ. Round 1 - Kaden Wise (S/F) won by forfeit over Dale Blickhan (CF)

Quarterfinal - Kaden Wise (S/F) won by fall over Joey Bender (H/BE) 0:29

Semifinal - Landen Stewart (F) won by decision over Kaden Wise (S/F) 4-2

Cons. Semi - Kaden Wise (S/F) won by decision over Noah Michaelson (L) 9-4

3rd Place Match - Damen McCord (L) won by decision over Kaden Wise (S/F) 7-5

A – 113: Zander Dean placed 2nd

Champ. Round 1 - Zander Dean (S/F) won by fall over Irish Cenicola (P) 1:15

Quarterfinal - Zander Dean (S/F) won by decision over Ivan Lee (L) 1-0

Semifinal - Zander Dean (S/F) won by fall over Justin Windauer (CF) 5:25

1st Place Match - Walker Dyer (F) won by decision over Zander Dean (S/F) 5-4

A – 120: Kaiden Cline placed 1st

Champ. Round 1 - Kaiden Cline (S/F) won by fall over Carter Moran (W) 3:51

Quarterfinal - Kaiden Cline (S/F) won by major decision over Noah Huffaker (D/TB/S) 14-0

Semifinal - Kaiden Cline (S/F) won by tech fall over Kason Olson (L) 1.5 5:57 (16-0)

1st Place Match - Kaiden Cline (S/F) won by decision over Eli Warner (F) 8-2

A – 126: Kolby Hutzenbiler place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 - Kolby Hutzenbiler (S/F) won by fall over Gunner Wright (D/TB/S) 2:38

Quarterfinal - Currey Brown (MC) won by decision over Kolby Hutzenbiler (S/F) 4-0

Cons. Round 2 - Kolby Hutzenbiler (S/F) won by fall over Jake Murnion (MC) 0:52

Cons. Round 3 - Sean Mehling (H) won by fall over Kolby Hutzenbiler (S/F) 2:55

A – 132: Jordan Darby placed 1st

Champ. Round 1 - Jordan Darby (S/F) won by fall over Ty Allen (CF) 3:45

Quarterfinal - Jordan Darby (S/F) won by tech fall over Dillion Ray (L) 1.5 5:24 (15-0))

Semifinal - Jordan Darby (S/F) won by decision over Danyk Jacobsen (P/L/SGC) 4-0

1st Place Match - Jordan Darby (S/F) won by decision over Cameron Pleninger (H/BE) 7-4

A – 132: Everett Jensen placed 4th

Champ. Round 1 - Everett Jensen (S/F) won by fall over Jason Davis (C) 0:58

Quarterfinal - Everett Jensen (S/F) won by decision over Zane Schroeder (F) 7-2

Semifinal - Cameron Pleninger (H/BE) won by fall over Everett Jensen (S/F) 5:13

Cons. Semi - Everett Jensen (S/F) won by fall over Jason Davis (C) 0:48

3rd Place Match - Danyk Jacobsen (P/L/SGC) won by decision over Everett Jensen (S/F) 5-2

A – 138: Kolton Reid placed 3rd

Champ. Round 1 - Kolton Reid (S/F) won by tech fall over Tyren Stidham (P) 1.5 4:21 (18-2)

Quarterfinal - Keagan Campbell (L) won by decision over Kolton Reid (S/F) 9-3

Cons. Round 2 - Kolton Reid (S/F) won by fall over Cole Anson (H/D) 2:00

Cons. Round 3 - Kolton Reid (S/F) won by fall over Colton Picco (L) 2:48

Cons. Semi - Kolton Reid (S/F) won by fall over Espyn Hostetler (DC) 4:23

3rd Place Match - Kolton Reid (S/F) ] won by decision over Zander Burnison (S/F) 7-3

A – 138: Zander Burnison placed 4th

Champ. Round 1 - Zander Burnison (S/F) won by fall over Jeff Madman (B) 0:45

Quarterfinal - Zander Burnison (S/F) won by tech fall over Colton Picco (L) 1.5 5:41 (17-2)

Semifinal - Keagan Campbell (L) won by decision over Zander Burnison (S/F) 4-3

Cons. Semi - Zander Burnison (S/F) 38-18 won in sudden victory - 1 over Cade Gubler (P/L/SGC) 1 5-3

3rd Place Match - Kolton Reid (S/F) won by decision over Zander Burnison (S/F) 7-3

A – 145: Aden Graves placed 1st

Champ. Round 1 - Aden Graves (S/F) won by fall over Trey Torpen (CF) 0:49

Quarterfinal - Aden Graves (S/F) won by fall over Kale VanCampen (H/BE) 3:11

Semifinal - Aden Graves (S/F) won by fall over Keagan Thompson (L) 3:51

1st Place Match - Aden Graves (S/F) won by fall over Triston Davis (C) 1:38

A – 152: Kade Graves placed 3rd

Champ. Round 1 - Kade Graves (S/F) won by fall over Caleb Pierre (P) 2:37

Quarterfinal - Adin Gibson (P/L/SGC) won by fall over Kade Graves (S/F) 3:15

Cons. Round 2 - Kade Graves (S/F) won by fall over Tommy Reske (DC) 0:40

Cons. Round 3 - Kade Graves (S/F) won by fall over Dalton Tvedt (MC) 0:40

Cons. Semi - Kade Graves (S/F) won by major decision over Lucas Thacker (CF) 9-0

3rd Place Match - Kade Graves (S/F) won by decision over Adin Gibson (P/L/SGC) 4-3

A – 160: Dylan Lutz placed 3rd

Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Lutz (S/F) won by decision over Daniel Collins Bishop (R) 5-4

Quarterfinal - Dylan Lutz (S/F) won by decision over Tucker Masters (L/T) 9-3

Semifinal - Bridger Williams (H/D) won by decision over Dylan Lutz (S/F) 3-2

Cons. Semi - Dylan Lutz (S/F) won by major decision over Daniel Collins Bishop (R) 12-0

3rd Place Match - Dylan Lutz (S/F) won by decision over Duane Otto II (L) 3-2

A – 170: Easton Hopes placed 4th

Champ. Round 1 - Easton Hopes (S/F) won by fall over Cody Fisher (H/D) 1:55

Quarterfinal - Conner Schwend (H) won by fall over Easton Hopes (S/F) 0:45

Cons. Round 2 - Easton Hopes (S/F) won by decision over Garrett Croft (P) 10-3

Cons. Round 3 - Easton Hopes (S/F) won by decision over Nate Mcavoy (MC) 9-4

Cons. Semi - Easton Hopes (S/F)) 23-8 won by major decision over Josh Bertram (CF) 10-0

3rd Place Match - Conner Schwend (H) won by fall over Easton Hopes (S/F) 1:36

A – 182: Riley Waters placed 1st

Champ. Round 1 - Riley Waters (S/F) won by fall over Tommy Cambell (B) 0:26

Quarterfinal - Riley Waters (S/F) won by fall over Jaiden Gibson (MC) 0:15

Semifinal - Riley Waters (S/F) won by major decision over Canyon Shope (F) 17-3

1st Place Match - Riley Waters (S/F) won by decision over Cameron Younger (L) 12-7

A – 205: Jett jones placed 1st

Champ. Round 1 - Jett jones (S/F) won by fall over Tyler Smith (L/T) 0:18

Quarterfinal - Jett jones (S/F) won by fall over Dante Pallone (H) 0:31

Semifinal - Jett jones (S/F) won by fall over Jayden Salios (B) 3:30

1st Place Match - Jett jones (S/F) 46-0 won by fall over Tate Jones (F) 2:28

A – 285: Brodey Skogen placed 1st

Champ. Round 1 - Brodey Skogen (S/F) won by fall over Anthony Weary (D/TB/S) 0:45

Quarterfinal - Brodey Skogen (S/F) won by fall over Alexander Mathewson (P) 0:50

Semifinal - Brodey Skogen (S/F) won by decision over Dylan Morris (L) 3-2

1st Place Match - Brodey Skogen (S/F) 47-6 won by decision over Tyler Harms (MC) 4-0

A – 285: Trey Schepens place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 - Alexander Mathewson (P) won by decision over Trey Schepens (S/F) 9-4

Cons. Round 1 - Anthony Weary (D/TB/S) won by decision over Trey Schepens (S/F) 7-2

Team Results

1. Sidney/Fairview: 340.0

2. Frenchtown: 156.5

3. Custer Co. (Miles City): 145.5

4. Havre/Box Elder: 142.5

5. Laurel: 141.0

6. Fergus (Lewistown): 134.5

7. Dawson County: 73.5

8. Columbia Falls: 72.0

9. Park (Livingston)/Sweet Grass County: 69.0

10. Corvallis: 63.0

11. Hamilton/Darby: 53.5

12. Hardin: 50.0

12. Libby/Troy: 50.0