Savage Horsemen take fifth

CHOTEAU – The Savage Horsemen wrestling team had a big weekend and came away from the tough Choteau Invitational Tournament with a top finish in the competition.

The tournament draws 35 wrestling teams from across the state and features some very strong grapplers from the large field of teams, which take part in the competition.

The Savage Horsemen scored 110 points over the weekend tournament and earned a fifth place finish.

According to Savage Horsemen Head Coach Kenny Marjerrison, the team finished only two points behind the tournament’s fourth place squad, Cut Bank.

“The kids are really starting to come around. Our new kids are stepping up and starting to score points,” Marjerrison said.

Marjerrison stated it was one of the strongest performances the team had experienced at the Choteau Invitational.

According to Marjerrison, five wrestlers from the Savage Horsemen meddled during the weekend tournament.

Senior Russell Kujala, who finished in first place in the 145-pound weight class at the Ted Kato Invitational on Jan. 10, in Thompson Falls again had another strong performance and ended as the 145-pound champion in Choteau.  

Jake Lile of the Savage Horsemen who took first in the 138-pound weight class at the tournament in Thompson Falls finished second in his weight class at the Choteau invitational.

“He (Lile) is wrestling phenomenally well. He has really turned a corner this season,” Marjerrison said.

Senior Dusten Henning of Plains-Hot Springs finished the Choteau tournament with a third place finish in the 132-pound weight class.

Savage Horsemen James Detienne also had a strong tournament taking fourth in the 138-pound weight class.

Marjerisson was particularly pleased his two entrants in the 138-pound bracket  who finished the tournament with exceptionally strong performances.

Plains-Hot Springs also got a top finish from Bryce Henning who took fifth in the 126-pound bracket.

In addition to the success the Savage Horsemen experienced at Choteau, the squad also performed strongly at a Conrad Mixer, prior to the tournament last week.

Marjerrison said the team won 17 of the 20 matches they wrestled at the mixer in Conrad.

“We saw a lot of kids we needed to see at the mixer. Our kids are really wrestling well,” Marjerrison said.

Up next for the Savage Horsemen will be a mixer in Deer Lodge on Thursday, Jan. 22.

Following the mixer the team will head to St. Ignatius for the Mission Mountain Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 24.

Though the upcoming tournament will feature a smaller field than the Choteau Invitational Marjerrison sill expects to see some tough competition.

“The kids we will see there are going to be tough. The western division is very tough this year, especially the middle-weights,” Marjerrison said.