It seems I usually don't get around to posting about Custer County Cowboy Wrestling until the state tournament has taken place and the season has ended. I want to buck that trend this time.

Just from the web sites I have been able to glance, it seems the Cowboy grapplers are having a helluva year! Coach Mike Etchemendy has had the program trending up with each passing season since he took over a couple years ago. It would take a few years for the program to catch-up to the king of the State A mountain in Sidney which has won 2 State A championships in a row and seems well on their way to their third with the roster they have, but the Cowboys are putting in the work and are drawing closer little by little.

There have been some impressive results this year: at last month's Cowboy invitational, for example, the Cowboys took 4th in the team standings, finishing behind only the three Billings AA schools. Sidney did not compete in the Cowboy this year, opting to go to a tournament in Bismarck instead, but still! Against the likes of a few other traditionally strong teams such as Laurel, Moorcroft and Worland, WY, Huntley Project, Colstrip and some others, that's impressive. More recently, they took 3rd place at the State Class A Dual meet which was held in Lewistown...they're going to Lewistown agsin for Divisionals this weekend, and the state meet is, of course, in Billings once again the weekend after.

Some of the individual wrestlers that I've heard are doing well include, but are not limited to: Braxton Scheeler at 113, Tucker Ellison at 120, Currey Brown and Jake Murnion at 126, Damian Leidholt at 138, Kaid Campbell at 145, Brennan Hager at 160, Nate McAvoy at 170, and Tyler Harms at 285. It's as loaded a team as the Cowboys have had in a while.

FINISH STRONG COWBOYS! Thank you for making us proud!

WELL DONE!!! The Cowboys managed to place third at the Eastern A tournament yesterday - an improvement over last year's 4th place at the divisional. Sidney is still the powerhouse as they dominated with 370 points followed by second place Laurel with 213.5. The Cowboys had 192.5.

Among the Miles City wrestlers who placed, Damian Leidholt grabbed 1st place at 138, Kaid Campbell and Tyler Harms finished 2nd at 145 and 285, respectively; and Braxton Scheeler and Curry Brown captured 3rd at 113 and 126, respectively. A few others also did well - this link has the full results:

https://www.montanasports...ling-title

Rest-up and get ready for State boys! Best of luck to the Cowboy wrestlers.

Shu

we placed 3rd last year as well. We did however score 20 more points this year and have an overall better showing.

And thanks for all the support

Mike,

When is the last time the wrestling team sent someone from every weight class to State and two in at least two weight groups maybe 3? That is an incredible accomplishment. Keep up the good work and please take out those Locos when it matters!! Co Cowboys!

Happy Birthday, Coach! 🎂👍🎈

The first day of the state tournament is in the books and the Cowboys are looking good.

They finished the first day in a tie with Frenchtown for second place with 83.5 points...and yes, HUBBZ, they are ahead of Laurel which is currently 4th with 72. Sidney is way out in front with 147.5 points as the Eagles placed 12 wrestlers in tomorrow's semifinals and have 4 others still alive.

Damian Leidholt (138), Kaid Campbell (145) and Tyler Harms (285) each won twice for Miles City on Day 1.

Go get em on day 2 Cowboys! FINISH STRONG!

Good news and bad news:

After the semifinal rounds have concluded, 2 of the 3 Cowboy wrestlers who made it that far: Damian Leidholt and Tyler Harms, will be wrestling in the championship finals tonight to try to capture state titles in their weight classes. Best of luck to them both! Also best of luck to all other members of the Cowboy team who will be wrestling in the consolation matches.

The bad news is that Frenchtown has 5 wrestlers in tonight's finals, so the Cowboys are out of the running for second place and are now trying for third place along with Laurel and Havre. Let's hope they make that happen!

GO GET EM BOYS!

WOO-HOO!!! COWBOYS GOT THIRD PLACE!!!

Sidney, of course, got their third state title in a row as they set a new scoring record with 340 points. Sidney had 15 wrestlers win medals including 7 state champions. Frenchtown finished only 11 points ahead of the Cowboys to take second with 156.5. The Cowboys tallied 145.5 for third - quite an improvement over last year's 6th place finish at state.

We have a state champion! Damian Leidholt rules the state at 138 pounds...and man, it was a close match; a 3-2 decision over his Laurel opponent. After the match, Leidholt said: “Having been in the finals three years now and losing the first two, I was really itching to get that first win. It feels great. It finally paid off. It’s kind of like working for two years and never getting a paycheck.”

Cowboy medal winners in addition to Leidholt: Braxton Scheeler placed 5th at 113, Currey Brown 3rd at 126, Kaid Campbell 4th at 145, and at 285 Tyler Harms took 2nd AND Gabe Walker took 4th. Other Cowboy wrestlers also won matches to add to the team point total.

Congratulations to Coach Etchemendy and the Cowboys! That was a great season. CHEERS!