FRENCHTOWN – Frenchtown head coach Jess Long had heard the story before, and it rarely lived up to the hype. Rumors started last year that a wrestling star was moving to Frenchtown. But this time, the gossip may have undersold the new kid.
Riley Gurr moved to Montana after taking second in state as a freshman and winning a state title as a sophomore in Kennewick, Washington. He carried that dominating style over to Montana, winning another state championship for the Broncs last year.
He went to the East-West Montana All-Star dual this past weekend in Great Falls, and came from behind to beat Colstrip star Jackson Currier 8-7, which once again showed Gurr’s greatest strength on the mats as he chases state title No. 3.
“Really, it’s everything, especially this year. It’s just my main goal,” said Gurr about the quest for a state championship. “I want to go wrestle in college. I want to go (Division I) and hopefully win a title there. That’s my biggest goal, but this is a stepping stone to get there.”
“What makes him tough is he just stays calm all of the time,” said Long. “If you watch him, he doesn’t lose composure during matches, even matches he loses. He stays calm all of the time and just continues to wrestle out of situations.”
Gurr won his 2017 title at 132 pounds. He has wrestled at 132, 138 and 145 this season, as he tries to settle into the best spot.
Frenchtown has another defending state champion out to a great start this year in sophomore Jake Bibler. Long said this is the perfect time to have the leadership of those two in the wrestling room, because the Broncs have a big and talented freshman class on the mats.
