Indians Qualify For State Meet
The Poplar Indians qualified six wrestlers for the state meet during divisional action in Colstrip on Friday, Feb. 4, and Saturday, Feb. 5.
Poplar placed seventh in the team standings with 85.5 points. The top three teams were Huntley Project with 288, Glasgow with 153.5 and Columbus/Absarokee/Park City with 142.5 points.
Jacob Berger earned third at 285 pounds. He pinned Huntley Project’s Spencer Higareda in 1:31 during the consolation semi-final and then pinned Huntley Project’s Gunnar Oblander in 1:46 for third place.
Jase Frederick placed third at 120 pounds. The senior lost a tough 5-4 match against Huntley Project’s Gavin Nedens in the semi-final round. Frederick then defeated Circle’s Aiden Black, 19-4, on a technical fall and defeated Guy Williams of Columbus/ Absarokee/Park City by a 15-4 margin.
Navarjo Escarcega took fourth at 113 pounds. His victories included 8-6 over Baker’s Tucker Miller and 6-1 over Red Lodge’s Nolan Evenson.
Kameron Reum earned fifth at 138 pounds. After winning his first two matches on pins, Reum lost an 11-9 decision in the quarter-final round. He then outpointed Big Sandy’s Tannin Baumnan, 8-6, and pinned Roundup’s Sheldon Serrano in 1:35. He pinned Ryder Cole of Chester/ Joplin/Inverness in 3:42 for fifth place.
Landon Young placed sixth at 103 pounds. He opened action by pinning Seth Kornick of Columbus/Absarokee/Park City in 1:15. Young lost his last two matches on medical forfeits.
Mitchell Youngman took sixth at 145 pounds. After losing in the quarter-final round, Youngman scored two victories on pins. He lost his last two matches on medical forfeits.
