Broadus traveled to Hardin last Saturday for their last test before the Divisional Tourney, at the Battle on the Big Horn Tournament, featuring pool play matches between 16 total teams. In pool play, wrestlers were split into one of several different pools for their weight class, which meant that competition only took place between those in the pool, and no medals were awarded. One big plus side of this setup was the speed in which the tournament was completed. Broadus Head Wrestling Coach Frankie Schoonover told us that the tournament lasted around 8.5 hours and the team returned home at a decent time, as opposed to the pre-dawn to late night trips of other competitions.

The Broadus wrestlers performed exceptionally well at the tournament, with the team winning 4th out of the 16 teams. Broadus trailed Hardin, Billings Senior, and Billings West in points – a good showing especially considering Broadus doesn’t have a full complement of wrestlers at every weight class.

Results were as follows:

Raiden Aurand placed 3rd in the 120A weight class, and scored 15.0 team points. Raiden lost by fall to Andrew Najar of Billings West in 0:41. He then received a bye. Next Raiden pinned Noah Clark of Billings West in 2:45. To take 3rd place, Raiden won by fall in 2:15 over Wyatt Nelson of Colstrip.

Schoonover told us that Nelson had previously beaten Aurand in an earlier meeting, and Raiden was excited to return the favor this time around.

Kail Irish placed 5th in the 132A weight class, and scored 7.0 team points. In the first match, Jeff Kordonowy of Lockwood won by fall in 3:16. Kail then received a bye. Next, he took on Jack Melger of Tongue River, who won by decision 8-3. In the 5th place match, Kail won by forfeit over Malaki Alden of Skyview.

Irish was bumped up a weight class at Hardin due to not making weight as his normal 126 lb rating, and Frankie said the tougher competition against the heavier wrestlers proved to be a good test of Irish’s fortitude.

Archer Edwards’ place is unknown in the 132B weight class, and he scored 0.0 team points. In the quarterfinal, Gage McGillvray of Park won by fall over Archer in 0:51. Gavin Blair of Billings West then pinned Archer in 2:27.

“Archer’s goal at the start of the year was to better himself, and it was impressive to see how far he’s come at Hardin. In earlier matches this year, he was losing out due to arm bars and half nelsons, and at Hardin he was able to recognize those moves and stay away from them.”

Seth McDowell placed 4th in the 138A weight class, and scored 12.0 team points. Seth won his first match by decision 12-7 over Taryn Yager of Colstrip. Next, Logan Knaub of Laurel won by tech fall 16-1. Seth then pinned Ty Bowen of Billings West in 4:26. In the 3rd place match, Deegan Tvedt of Custer County pinned Seth in 2:27.

Frankie commented: “Seth had a good tournament. He was going along well until he met Deegan Tvedt, son of former Broadus Wrestling Coach Derrick Tvedt.”

Riggin Schaffer placed 5th in the 152B weight class, and scored 6.0 team points. Ian Willoughby of Colstrip won over Riggin by decision 7-3. Riggin then won by decision 8-2 over Tyler Reed of Billings West. Wyatt Barnes of Tongue River won by decision 12-9 in the consolation semifinal. In the 5th place match, Riggin won by a 6-0 decision over Ty Volmer of Laurel.

Frankie spoke of Riggin’s performance: “When Riggin started wrestling at Hardin something was off – he was having a tough time. I told him when he was on top [of the other wrestler] to shut his eyes and just wrestle, and when the time came in his next match I yelled to shut his eyes. It worked! Riggin gets into his own head and by shutting his eyes he was able to just relax and wrestle. The fact that he listened to me showed that he trusts me and has the capability to win.”

Alex Edwards placed 3rd in the 170A weight class, and scored 14.0 team points. His first opponent, Austin Griffith of Billings West, won by pin in 1:15. Alex then won by fall in 1:39 over Carter Curley of Skyview. In the 3rd place match, Alex won by fall in 1:26 over Payson Jensen of Fergus.

“Before the Hardin tournament, Alex told us that he doesn’t want us giving him advice just before his matches, he just wants to mentally prepare on his own. He was able to use that preparation to win at Hardin, and I recognize that he has been growing as a wrestler in his ability to recognize within himself what it takes to win. Everyone is different in how they need to prepare,” Schoonover told us of Edwards’ preparation for the matches.

Dakota Holbrook won 1st in the 182B weight class, and scored 26.0 team points. Dakota cruised through the quarterfinal with a win by forfeit over Adam Stainbrook of Tongue River High. In the semifinal, Dakota pinned Quinn Boogman from Fergus County in 3:46. In the 1st place match, Holbrook pinned Zane Cox of Park City in 2:17 to win the 182B division.

“Dakota had a good tourney. He was a little sloppy in the first match but after that he walked through the competition. I’m looking forward to seeing him at Divisionals,” Schoonover commented.

Josiah Middle Rider won second in the 285B division, and scored 12.0 team points. Josiah had three straight pins in his matches. In round 1, Josiah pinned Tye Brown of Laurel in 2:28. Round 2 - Josiah pinned Braydan Ryan of Shepherd in 1:46, and in round three he pinned Nathan Mitchell of Billings West in 1:50. In the championship round, Middle Rider was pinned by Gabe Walker of Miles City in 1:46.

“Josiah was out to prove a point this weekend,” Frankie said. He wrestled well, and in the finals finally lost to Gabe Walker out of Miles City, who Frankie said likely had a 20 to 30 lb advantage on Middle Rider. “Josiah has a good shot at Colstrip if he keeps wrestling the way he has been going.”

Reflecting on the team’s ability to learn and grow, Schoonover waxed: “The wrestling mat is the loneliest place in the world. You have to rely on yourself, and there’s no one to blame but yourself if you’re not looking to get better.”

The Hawks seem to have improved individually and as a team as they look toward tournament time.

This Friday and Saturday Broadus will face off against teams from across the eastern end of the state in Colstrip at the Eastern Divisional B/C Tournament.

With eight wrestlers from each weight class going on to State in Billings, Broadus has a good shot at sending a good number of participants.

For Schoonover, he’s looking to beat his first season as coach in 2013, when four Broadus wrestlers went to State.