AAU wrestling wraps up successful season

A group of local volunteers started up an AAU wrestling program in Ekalaka last fall. Thirty-five kids, ranging from preschool to high school, started wrestling practices at the end of November. The team practiced a few nights per week at St. Joan of Arc Parish Hall in Ekalaka and also traveled to Baker for practices. The local wrestling program was under the guide-full wing of the AAU program in Baker.

Only a few of the participants had wrestling experience prior to the start of the season, but according to one of the volunteer coaches Kelly Spring, the year was a great success. Several of the kids improved a great deal over the course of the season and many placed at multiple matches. Ekalaka eighth grader Waylon Wilson, new to the sport, even made the podium at Lewistown on March 2nd at middle school state wrestling with a 5th place finish.

The many coaches and volunteers who helped bring AAU wrestling to Ekalaka hope to grow the program in the future and make it even more successful than it was in its inaugural season. Baker/Ekalaka AAU wrestling results for January and February are shown below.

January 2024 Placing Results

Small Town Smack Down

Terry MT

January 6, 2024

Tot Boys: Cohen Wells - 1st, Rilyn Nelson – 2nd, Titus Graham – 3rd

Tot Girls: Kamlyn Kono – 1st, Mai Hammel – 2nd, Loraina Kratzer – 2nd, Gianna Varner – 3rd, Briar Straub – 3rd, Zekya Graham – 4th, Grace Mitchell – 5th

Bantam Boys: Sebastian Havens – 1st, Rory Dahl – 1st, Lex Varner – 2nd, Ryder Christenson – 2nd, Woodrow Strub – 3rd, Hiro Hammel – 3rd, Brooks Losing – 4th, Chantz Huft – 4th, Henry Bertsch – 4th, Treyson Kono – 4th, Dallas Spencer – 5th, Kaisen Conroy – 5th, Jennings Walker – 6th

Bantam Girls: Ava Brown – 1st, Madison Johnson – 4th, Kjayjer Hoversland – 4th

Midget Boys: Keaton DuCharme – 1st, Brantley Kono – 1st, Liam Dahl – 1st, Gradin Varner – 2nd, Kess Hoversland – 2nd, Clancy Higgins – 2nd, Miles Brown – 3rd, Grant Bertsch – 4th, Cuyler Huft – 4th, Westin Nelson – 4th, Cooper Enos – 5th, Abel Mitchell – 6th

Midget Girls: Violet Strub – 3rd

Novice Boys: Aiden Dahl – 1st, Landry Shepherd – 1st, Masa Hammel – 4th, Judd Walker – 4th, Leo Enos – 6th, Mason Brown – 6th

Novice Girls: Sarah Johnson – 1st

Schoolboys: Gavin Reynolds – 2nd

Schoolgirls: Vera Strub – 1st, Oakley Spring – 3rd, Kira Kratzer – 5th

Cadet Boys: Weston Strub – 1st, Waylon Wilson – 3rd

Miles City Invitational

Miles City MT

January 14, 2024

Tot Boys: Cullen Nevers – 3rd, Titus Graham – 3rd, Bridger Hastig – 4th

Tot Girls: Gianna Varner – 1st, Loriana Kratzer – 1st, Mai Hammel – 2nd, Grace Mitchell – 3rd, Kollie Klauzer – 3rd, Zekya Graham – 3rd,

Bantam Boys: Daxon Van Zee – 1st, Hiro Hammel – 1st, Lex Varner – 1st, Rory Dahl – 1st, Jameson Boggs – 2nd, Kaisen Conroy – 2nd, Henry Bertsch – 3rd, Jennings Walker – 3rd,

Midget Boys: Gradin Varner – 1st, Grant Bertsch – 1st, Keaton DuCharme – 1st, Liam Dahl – 1st, Abel Mitchell – 2nd, Dylan Eisele – 2nd, Clancy Higgins – 4th

Midget Girls: Capri Boggs – 3rd, Eirynn Cunningham – 3rd

Novice Boys: Aiden Dahl – 1st, Landry Shepherd – 1st, Judd Walker – 2nd, Mas Hammel – 2nd, Jenry Walker – 3rd

Novice Girls: Teighan Barnett – 1st, Holly Walker – 4th

Schoolboys: Isaiah Burns – 2nd, Corrik Laughery – 4th, Jaxen Walker – 4th

Schoolgirls: Allie Shepherd – 1st

Cadet Boys: Waylon Wilson – 1st

Wild West Championship

Casper WY

January 20, 2024

Bantam Boys: Rory Dahl – 6th

Midget Boys: Keaton DuCharme – 3rd, Grant Bertsch – 5th, Liam Dahl – 5th

Novice Boys: Landry Shepherd – 1st

Novice Girls: Sarah Johnson – 2nd

Schoolgirls: Allie Shepherd – 2nd

Cadet Boys: Waylon Wilson – 4th

Phil Schmidt Memorial

Huntley / Worden MT

January 27, 2024

Tot Boys: Cohen Wells – 1st

Tot Girls: Loriana Kratzer – 1st, Rogue Spring – 2nd, Kollie Klauzer – 3rd

Bantam Boys: Henry Bertsch – 2nd, Woodrow Strub – 2nd, Daxon Van Zee – 3rd, Rory Dahl – 3rd, Bane Jardee – 4th

Bantam Girls: Madison Johnson – 3rd

Midget Boys: Keaton DuCharme – 1st, Grant Bertsch – 2nd, Ryder Johnson – 2nd, Cooper Enos – 3rd, Liam Dahl – 3rd, Calgary Spring – 6th

Midget Girls: Violet Strub – 1st

Novice Boys: Aiden Dahl – 3rd, Treylan Harbaugh – 3rd

Novice Girls: sarah Johnson – 2nd

Schoolboys: Jaxen Walker – 4th

Schoolgirls: Allie Shepherd – 2nd, Vera Strub – 2nd, Kira Kratzer – 3rd, Oakley Spring – 4th

Cadet Boys: Waylon Wilson – 1st, Weston Strub – 1st

Larry Wilson Memorial

Shepherd MT

January 28, 2024

Tot Boys: Cohen Wells – 3rd, Waylon Teter – 3rd

Tot Girls: Mai Hammel – 2nd, Lorina Kratzer – 3rd

Bantam Boys: Henry Bertsch – 1st, Woodrow Strub – 1st, Bane Jardee – 3rd, Hiro Hammel – 3rd, Rory Dahl – 3rd

Midget Boys: Keaton DuCharme – 1st, Liam Dahl – 2nd, Ryder Johnson – 2nd, Cooper Enos – 3rd, Grant Bertsch – 3rd

Midget Girls: Violet Strub – 4th

Novice Boys: Treylan Harbaugh – 2nd, Aiden Dahl – 3rd, Masa Hammel – 5th, Leo Enos – 6th

Novice Girls: Sarah Johnson – 2nd

Schoolboys: Jaxen Walker – 4th

Schoolgirls: Allie Shepherd – 3rd, Vera Strub – 3rd, Kira Kratzer – 4th, Oakley Spring – 4th

Cadet Boys: Waylon Wilson – 1st, Weston Strub – 2nd

February 2024 Placing Results

MonDak Open

Williston, ND

February 3, 2024

Landry Shepherd – 1st

Waylon Wilson – 2nd, Kira Kratzer – 2nd

Daisey Kratzer – 3rd

Jennings Walker – 4th

Egged Invitational

Hardin, MT

February 4, 2024

Tot Boys: Waylon Teter – 1st, Cullen Nevers – 2nd, Titus Graham – 2nd

Tot Girls: Mai Hammel – 2nd, Grace Mitchell – 4th, Zeyka Graham – 5th

Bantam Boys: Lex Varner – 1st, Henry Bertsch – 1st, Rory Dahl – 1st, Bane Jardee – 2nd, Hiro Hammel – 3rd

Bantam Girls: Ava Brown – 3rd, Madison Johnson – 5th

Midget Boys: Gradin Varner – 1st, Keaton DuCharme – 1st, Grant Bertsch – 1st, Abel Mitchell – 1st, Liam Dahl – 1st, Miles Brown – 3rd, Ryder Johnson – 4th

Novice Boys: Aiden Dahl – 1st, Masa Hammel – 2nd, Mason Bown – 2nd, Bentley Jardee – 4th

Novice Girls: Sarah Johnson – 1st

Hardin County Tournament

Buffalo, SD

February 11, 2024

Tot Girls: Loraina Kratzer – 2nd

Bantam Boys: Dallas Spencer – 1st, Bane Jardee – 1st, Woodrow Strub – 2nd,

Midget Boys: Cooper Enos – 1st, Clancy Higgins – 1st, Clayton North – 2nd, Calgary Spring – 3rd

Midget Girls: Violet Strub – 1st

Novice Boys: Bentley Jardee – 1st, Leo Enos – 2nd, Masa Hammel – 4th

Novice Girls: Oakley Spring – 1st, Daisey Kratzer – 2nd, Kira Kratzer – 2nd

Schoolboys: Gavin Reynolds – 3rd

Schoolgirls: Vera Strub – 2nd

Crazy Train Classic

Laurel, MT

February 17, 2024

Tot Boys: Waylon Teter – 4th, Rilyn Nelson – 5th

Tot Girls: Gianna Varner – 2nd, Zeyka Graham – 2nd

Bantam Boys: Rory Dahl – 1st, Lex Varner – 3rd, Henry Bertsch – 4th

Bantam Girls: Ava Brown – 4th

Midget Boys: Abel Mitchell – 1st, Liam Dahl – 1st, Dylan Eisele – 2nd, Miles Brown – 2nd, Keaton DuCharme – 3rd, Westin Nelson – 3rd, Grant Bertsch – 5th, Gradin Varner – 6th

Novice Boys: Mason Brown – 2nd, Aiden Dahl – 3rd

Havoc in the Heights

Billings, MT

February 18, 2024

Bantam Boys: Rory Dahl – 1st, Henry Bertsch – 3rd

Midget Boys: Grant Bertsch – 1st, Liam Dahl – 1st, Cooper Enos – 5th

Novice Boys: Aiden Dahl – 1st, Liam Dahl – 2nd

Baker Invitational

Baker, MT

February 24, 2024

Tot Boys: Rhett Borchgrevink – 1st, Cohen Wells – 2nd, Waylon Teter – 3rd, Rilyn Nelson – 4th, Bridger Hastig – 4th, Cullen Nevers – 4th, Calvin Renner – 4th

Tot Girls: Loraina Kratzer – 1st, Kamlyn Kono – 1st, Gianna Varner – 2nd, Mai Hammel – 2nd, Zeyka Graham – 2nd, Kollie Klauzer – 3rd, Briar Straub – 3rd, Emberly Claeys – 4th, Grace Mitchell – 4th, Rogue Spring – 5th

Bantam Boys: Bane Jardee – 1st, Rory Dahl – 1st, Rafe Bettenhausen – 1st, Henry Bertsch – 2nd, Ryder Christenson – 2nd, Lex Varner – 4th, Hiro Hammel – 4th, Jameson Boggs – 4th

Bantam Girls: Ava Brown – 3rd, Kjayjer Hoversland – 3rd, Madison Johnson – 4th, Brynn Haan – 4th

Midget Boys: Keaton DuCharme – 1st, Liam Dahl – 1st, Gradin Varner – 2nd, Brantley Kono – 3rd, Cuyler Huft – 3rd, Miles Brown – 3rd, Grant Bertsch – 4th, Westin Nelson – 4th

Midget Girls: Daisey Kratzer – 1st, Sarah Johnson – 1st, Capri Boggs – 2nd, Aubree Losing – 3rd, Violet Strub – 3rd, Harper Renner – 3rd, Cora Wright – 3rd, Eirynn Cunningham – 5th

Novice Boys: Treylan Harbaugh – 1st, Mason Brown – 1st, Aiden Dahl – 2nd, Jenry Walker – 3rd, Bentley Jardee – 4th, Judd Walker – 4th

Schoolboys: Isaiah Burns – 2nd, Jaxen Walker – 2nd

Schoolgirls: Vera Strub – 1st, Teighan Barnett – 2nd, Oakley Spring – 2nd, Shelby Barnett – 2nd, Kira Kratzer – 5th

Cadet Boys: Weston Strub – 1st, Waylon Wilson – 2nd

Cadet Girls: Kylie Schwartz – 1st

Colstrip Invitational

Colstrip, MT

February 24, 2024

Tot Boys: Cohen Wells – 1st, Titus Graham – 2nd

Tot Girls: Zeyka Graham – 1st

Midget Boys: Dylan Eisele – 2nd

Lewistown Middle School State

Lewistown, MT

March 2, 2024

Novice Girls: Teighan Barnett – 6th

Schoolgirls: Macy Tate – 1st

Cadet Boys: Waylon Wilson – 5th

Cadet Girls: Emmalyn Miller – 3rd, Kylie Schwartz – 3rd, Shelby Barnett – 5th

Broadus Invitational

Broadus, MT

March 2, 2024

Tot Boys: Cohen Wells – 1st, Waylon Teter – 2nd, Rhett Borchgrevink – 2nd, Rilyn Nelson – 4th

Tot Girls: Mai Hammel – 1st, Kamlyn Kono – 1st, Loraina Kratzer – 2nd, Grace Mitchell – 3rd, Emberly Claeys – 4th, Rogue Spring – 5th

Bantam Boys: Daxon Van Zee – 1st, Rafe Bettenhausen – 1st, Chantz Huft – 2nd, Ryder Christenson – 2nd, Dallas Spencer – 4th, Hiro Hammel – 4th, Rory Dahl – 4th, Henry Bertsch – 5th

Bantam Girls: Kjayjer Hoversland – 2nd

Midget Boys: Grant Bertsch – 1st, Brantley Kono – 1st, Cuyler Huft – 1st, Dylan Eisele – 2nd, Liam Dahl – 2nd, Cooper Enos – 3rd, Kess Hoversland – 3rd, Abel Mitchell – 4th, Clancy Higgins – 4th, Westin Nelson – 4th, Calgary Spring – 5th

Midget Girls: Violet Strub – 3rd

Novice Boys: Masa Hammel – 1st, Aiden Dahl – 2nd, Treylan Harbaugh – 2nd, Bentley Jardee – 3rd, Matthew Claeys – 3rd, Leo Enos – 4th, Judd Walker – 6th

Novice Girls: Daisey Kratzer – 2nd, Cora Wright – 3rd

Schoolboys: Gavin Reynonlds – 3rd

Schoolgirls: Kira Kratzer – 2nd, Vera Strub – 3rd

Cadet Boys: Weston Strub – 1st

Darkhorse Invitational

Billings, MT

March 3, 2024

Tot Boys: Titus Graham – 2nd

Tot Girls: Gianna Varner – 2nd, Zeyka Graham – 3rd

Bantam Boys: Lex Varner – 1st, Rory Dahl – 1st, Henry Bertsch – 2nd

Bantam Girls: Ava Brown – 2nd, Madison Johnson – 6th

Midget Boys: Abel Mitchell – 1st, Keaton DuCharme – 1st, Liam Dahl – 1st, Miles Brown – 2nd, Gradin Varner – 3rd, Grant Bertsch – 3rd, Ryder Johnson – 3rd

Novice Boys: Aiden Dahl – 1st, Mason Brown – 2nd

Novice Girls: Sarah Johnson – 2nd

Cadet Boys: Blake Barness – 1st, Waylon Wilson – 2nd

Cadet Girls: Emmalyn Miller – 1st, Kylie Schwartz – 1st