Vanderwall ends career with a medal

Plains senior Josiah Vanderwall ended his high school wrestling career on the podium last weekend in Billings, earning a fifth-place finish at the Montana all-class wrestling tournament.

Vanderwall, younger brother Conrad, Taylor Angle, Peter Carey and Steven Yother represented the Plains/Hot Springs co-op team at the state tournament, held each February at MetraPark in Billings.

"Josiah had good matches and ended his high school career with a medal," said coach Jeff Kujala, who is already looking forward to next season just days after the state tournament. "Overall I think we wrestled up to our expectations. It just shows you how tough the tournament is. State is brutal."

Kujala said the teams that placed well at the state tournament work year-round, and it shows. He said he is prepping for offseason work and hopes Carey and Conrad Vanderwall will step up to lead the team next year.

The level of competition is much tougher at state, Kujala said. "These kids have worked hard. You can tell those kids work out as a group and the whole team stays busy all year."

Josiah Vanderwall finished first at the Western B-C Divisional meet in Thompson Falls the week prior, drawing Blake Zimmerman of Hunley Project in his first match at state. Vanderwall pinned Zimmerman in the first period to move on to the quarterfinals. There he met Connor Schnabel of Fort Benton, earning another pin in 2:47 and assuring him a medal. Vanderwall moved on to the semifinals on Saturday, where he faced a tough Jackson Currier of Colstrip, the first-place finisher from the Eastern Division. Currier pinned Vanderall in 40 seconds, forcing the division champ into the wrestlebacks. Vanderwall lost a close 11-9 decision to Glasgow's Kaden Zimmerman, putting him against Ron Barnhill of Conrad in the battle for fifth place. Vanderwall earned his spot on the podium with a 17-1 technical fall over Barnhill.

Taylor Angle finished second at the Western B-C Divisional meet in Thompson Falls and was matched with Anaconda's Brad Connolly in the first round of the 103-pound bracket at state, falling in 1:38. Angle then fell to Colstrip's Robbie Burns in 2:30 in the consolation bracket, ending her wrestling season.

At 120 pounds, Peter Carey pinned Columbus/Absarokee's Cooper Cook in 3:31 in his first match at state. Carey then battled Camron Reilly of Forsyth, the first-place finisher at the Eastern divisional tournament. Reilly pinned Carey in 4:18, forcing Carey into the consolation bracket. Carey lost his battle in the consolation match, going back and forth with Riley Richtmyer of Townsend before falling in 2:25.

Josiah's brother Conrad Vanderwall came up just short of a spot on the podium at 132 pounds, with his state tournament ending in the consolation quarterfinals. In the first round on Friday, Conrad lost to Cole Becker of Circle 6-3. He then rallied for two wins, pinning John Hughes of Harlem in 4:17 and going three periods to win 10-4 over Valier's Ty Curry, who finished second in the Northern Division the week before. Vanderwall then met Connor Johnson of Whitehall in the consolation quarterfinals, falling in the second period in 2:15. Vanderwall was injured in the match and had to be helped off the mat. Kjala said that Vanderwall misplaced a rib and a doctor at the tournament had to put it back in. Coach Kujala said Vanderwall is doing fine now.

Steven Yother competed for Plains/Hot Springs in the 285-pound bracket. Yother lost out in two matches, with his first match against Shelby's Jacob Kingsolver. Yother fell in 2:16 and met up with Whitehall's Coy Best, who was first in the Southern Division. Best pinned Yother in 46 seconds, finishing the Plains wrestler's season.