MMS Wrestling in Miles City

The Malta Middle School wrestlers traveled to Miles City on Saturday, November 4, for the Bronco Invitational. Malta's 5th through 8th graders competed in the tournament and most were put in brackets of five people. Some were put in groups of three or four, but regardless of the number, they wrestled everyone in their bracket. There was also an attempt to group them according to their experience.

There are 27 wrestlers out for Junior High Wrestling with 25 boys and two girls. The wrestling managers are Sabra Sims, Courtney Merriman and Taya Wilke. Due mostly to sickness, only 16 wrestlers competed in Miles City. Teams competing at the tournament were Baker, Circle, Glasgow, Glendive, Laurel, Malta, Miles City, Poplar, Sidney and Wolf Point. Malta's win/loss record for the tournament was 33-28.

Kaiden Tharp, Cord Newman and Blake Tharp went 0-4 in their respective weight classes and took 5th place in their bracket. Corby Mears took 4th place in his bracket with a record of 1-3. Head Coach Steve French said, "Mears did not get pinned and was competitive in each match."

Earning 2nd place in the tournament were Trevor Knowles, Zander Fuller, Beau Nelson and Beau Merriman. Knowles was 2-1 in the tournament, winning and losing by pin. "Trevor displayed great pressure on top," French stated. Fuller went 1-1 for the day and also won and lost by pin. B. Nelson had a 3-1 winning record and looked impressive for a 5th grader. B. Merriman lost his first match by pin, a match he was winning. He rattled off three pins in a row after the loss.

Malta had four champions in the Bronco Invitational, Kallie LaBrie, Lane Spencer, Beckett Squires and Braun Sims. French noted, "Kallie had four pins and dominated her weight class with constant pressure on her opponents." Spencer also dominated his weight class with three pins and an 8-0 decision. Squires had two wins by pin and two wins by decision. The coaches pointed out that Squires has improved his pressure and position in the top, bottom and neutral positions. Sims was 3-1 for the weekend but won the weight class because the opponent that beat him lost to another wrestler that Sims had pinned earlier. He had three wins by pin and one loss by decision. Sims is this week's Wrestler of the Week because of his improvement in his focus and confidence. Sims also had this week's Most Exciting Match due to his effort in his loss. "Braun was making mistakes but kept at it until the final bell. He corrected his mistakes in his next two matches," French said.

We appreciate Westside Self-Service for donating personal pizza coupons to the winner of the Wrestler of the Week and the Quick Pin winner.