Matejovsky, Escarcega Win State Titles
Roosevelt County has reason to be proud with two high school wrestlers capturing state titles at the girls’ state wrestling meet held in Billings.
Wolf Point’s eighth-grader Annaleigh Matejovsky at 120 pounds and Poplar’s senior Angelina Escarcega at 100 pounds earned gold medals during action on Saturday, Feb. 15.
Escarcega pinned Lockwood’s Wai Fandrich in 1:23 for the title. Escarcega won her three other matches at the tournament on pins in 2:08, 1:14 and 3:39.
She ends her high school career with three state championships and a second-place showing. She finished her career with a record of 130-3 and was 44-0 this season.
“Nina had an upset last year and knew she had to overcome it,” Poplar Coach Jason Frederick said. “She set her mind and put in the work and got the title back this year.”
Matejovsky pinned Billings West’s Elise MacDonald in 4:55 for the championship at 120 pounds. She became the state’s first female eighthgrade wrestling champion and first female wrestling title holder in Wolf Point school history.
Matejovsky, who finished the season with a 46-2 record, started wrestling when she was 7 years old. She said she didn’t expect this kind of success as only an eighth-grader.
She added the toughest of her four victories at the state meet was a 10-0 major decision over Wolf Point native Ava Dewitt of Billings Senior in the second round. “She put up a good fight and was fairly flexible,” Matejovsky said.
Matejovsky remembers attending the state meet two years ago and watching Escarcega win a state title. She recalled that time when she was warming up on Saturday. “Oh my gosh, I was watching this two years ago,” Matejovsky said. The eighth-grader admitted she was nervous on Saturday morning but was able to calm down later in the day.
“I had an idea of what to do and I did it,” Matejovsky explained.
In the boys’ state meet, Wolf Point’s Mike Bell placed second at 285 pounds and Jesse Reed earned second at 150 pounds.
Bell, a senior, finished the second with a record of 233. Bell opened the meet with a 15-0 technical fall victory over Cascade’s Hal McGregor. Bell then scored an 18-2 technical fall win over Broadwater/ Townsend’s Gavin Schmele. Bell defeated St. Ignatius’ Ryan Sharbono, 15-0, in the semi-final match. Bell was pinned by Eureka’s Wes Bank in 4:41 during the championship match.
Reed finished the season with a 32-12 mark. Reed pinned Superior’s Sam Doughty in 1:28 to open action. Reed then pinned Eureka’s Josh Lambertson in 4:57. Reed outpointed Choteau’s Nathan Gunderson, 13-10, in the semi-final round. Huntley Project’s Grady Schmidt pinned Reed in 1:24 for the title.
Poplar’s Navarjo Escarcega earned second place at 138 pounds. The senior lost in the title match, 6-5, in an ulti- mate tie-breaker against Huntley Project’s Baylor Burton. Escarcega scored technical fall victories in his first two matches and then edged Malta’s Lane Spenceer, 11-9, in the semi-final round.
“It’s been a pleasure for the entire coaching staff to watch them develop over the years,” Frederick said of the Escarcegas. “I’m so proud of the commitment and dedication they put towards their careers. I am excited to see how they do continuing their college careers at Sioux Falls and Jamestown. It was my birthday, and I couldn’t of asked for a better gift.”
Poplar’s Alara Cooper placed sixth in the girls’ 115-pound weight class. Cooper won two matches on decisions during the meet.
“Alara was our most improved wrestler ending the year last year. She had a great year and we are eager to see what next year brings for her,” Frederick said.
