Plains wrestlers get work in at Ronan
Plains wrestlers get work in at Ronan
Matt Unrau
With a small team it was going to be a daunting task for the Plains wrestling squad to win duals at the highly competitive Ronan meet last weekend. With only seven wrestlers in seven different weight classes the team had to take quite a few forfeits for every dual losing six points each time.
However the team was still able to scratch out a win against Superior and excel on an individual level at the meet.
“The kids are really starting to show good improvements,” says Coach Kenny Marjerrison.
Kenneth Beech once again starred for Plains by going 6-0 at the meet, while his brother Kris went 2-3 in matches only losing to wrestlers from Class A and AA schools.
Cole Goodwin also wrestled exceptionally well going 3-3 in matches losing only to three wrestlers who were ranked at the state level in his class.
“He’s making huge advancements,” says Marjerrison. Goodwin is in his second year of wrestling.
All of the improvements are coming just in time for the Plains wrestlers as this upcoming weekend the team will have its largest test of the year by traveling to the well-known Choteau meet that features almost every B-C team in state.
“We don’t hype it too much. We focus on one match at a time and keep moving forward,” says Marjerrison. The coach estimates that there will be between 500 and 600 wrestlers at the meet.
“We make sure the kids are aware of it, but they still have to take it one match at a time. It’s just another ney,” says Marjerrison.
With the large number of teams at the meet, Marjerrison plans to work on conditioning for the week hitting practice hard until Wednesday as well as working on leg defense as teams east of the mountains run a lot of leg wrestling, which differs from this side of the state that usually focuses on upper body.
A matchup to look out for at the meet will be between Kenneth and two-time state winner Jade Rauseaur of Townsend. Rauseaur is ranked first at the state level with Kenneth ranked second. Last year Kenneth lost to Rauseaur’s twin brother at state.