Butte High qualifies 15 boys, 10 girls for State tournament

MISSOULA — Four boys and two girls from Butte High claimed divisional wrestling titles during the Western AA Divisional tournament Saturday at Missoula Sentinel.

Crew O’Connor, Keegan Hunt, Ryder McEwen and Bridger Garrison won crowns on the boys’ side. Adalie Hazlett and Mattie Stepan delivered titles for the girls.

In all, the Bulldogs will send 15 boys and 10 girls to next week’s All-Class State Tournament in Billings.

O’Connor, an eighth grader, took home the title at 103 pounds. He pinned teammate Reny LeProwse in 1 minute, 48 seconds in the title bout. The top eight in each weight class move on the boys’ side.

Hunt, a senior who won state title a year ago, claimed the 110-pound crown. He pinned Dayton Naldrett of Kalispell Flathead in 51 seconds in the championship match.

McEwen, a senior, won at 150 pounds, pinning Jasper Bench of Flathead in 1:44 in the title match. Junior Bridger Garrison won at 165 pounds, with a 6-3 decision over Connor Lamping of Helena High in the chipper.

Hazlett, a junior and 2025 state champion who has been wrestling through an injury, took second at 157 pounds. He dropped an 8-1 decision to Flathead’s Brett Chivers.

Bradey Doyle (132 pounds), Kuley Queer (110) and Bridger Brancamp (215) placed third, and Reveles McEwen (118), Darryn Rossiter (126) Waylond Hicks (285 limit) placed fourth. Kasen O’Keefe (175) placed fifth, Aiden Maesar (118) took seventh and Blaise Perez (138) finished eighth.

For the Bulldog girls, Hazlett, an eighth grader, continued her remarkable first year with the Bulldogs by winning the 125-pound title. She pinned Trinity Stoner of Helena Capital in 2:21. The top three move on automatically on the girls’ side. The rest are based on a formula.

Stepan, a senior, won the 155-pound division. She stuck Kassidy Lingle of Glacier in 2:46 in the title bout.

Butte High senior Peyton Liva took second at 100 pounds. She fell to Katelyn Sphuler of Glacier in 3:53 in the championship match.

Eighth grader Loretta Matteson finished second at 140 pounds. She fell to Addison Clixby of Missoula Big Sky in 2:00.

Lilyi Malone (110), Jessica Blow (125), Sage Queer (145), Rylee Radcliffe (170) and Chyanne Robinson (235 limit) placed third for Butte High. Allie Ballensky (235 limit) placed fourth, while Irelynn Cullen (105), Deearea Naugle (120), and Mattison Neighbor (155) placed fifth.

Brooke Johnson (145) took sixth place, and Chalie Richter (130) and Brooklyn Hettick (110) placed eighth. Even though they placed, Cullen, Naugle, Neighbor, Richter, Johnson and Hettick will be left out based on the predetermined formula to qualify.

The State meet runs Thursday through Saturday at the Billings Metra.

Complete results can be found at trackwrestling.com.

Note: this story was updated to reflect the six Butte High wrestlers who placed in their weight classes but will miss out on State based on the formula to qualify.