Lockwood School was excited about being selected to host the very first statewide girls’ wrestling tournament. The Montana High School Association made the selection for the tournament which was held February 19 and 20.
“It’s unique for a first- ever statewide event to be held as the first ever event in the gym of the newest high school,” said Lockwood Activities Director Mike Erickson. For many people, the fact that there is girls’ wrestling now in Montana schools is also news.
This was the first year for girls’ wrestling teams in Montana. According to Erickson, 48 Montana schools have added the sport to activities, and 169 wrestlers participated in the two-day tournament.
“It is the fastest growing sport in the nation,” said Erickson, adding that a lot of colleges are offering scholarships for girls’ wrestling.
Lockwood is among those schools, having one girl on the “team,” and she is coached by Beau Malia.
Flathead had the most participants on a team with 21, Glacier had 19 and Billings Senior had 16. There were nine schools which had one team member, ten with two team members, five schools with three, four schools with five, one with six, one with eight and one with nine.
The tournament featured all classes of wrestling. The contests were divided by weight classes, and they ran two mats, with championship competitions held on Saturday, February 20.
Local schools found great success at the first girls’ wrestling tournament. As a team, Billings Senior High School placed second, earning 135 points. Representing Billings Senior, Kendal Tucker was the state champion at the 152-pound level. Kassidee Savaria of Billings Skyview High also took first place in her weight class of 205 pounds. Shepherd’s LeAnn Hoch placed second in the 103-pound class. Billings Senior’s Paige Gershmell placed third in the class of 132 pounds. Her teammate, Gracy Jones, also placed third in the 145-pound class. Bella Hernandez of Lockwood placed fourth in the 120-pound class. At the 126-pound class, Gretchen Donally of Huntley Project placed fourth.
