SIDNEY — The champs are back.
The Sidney wrestling program is ranked No. 1 in the weekly Class A wrestling polls, holding off second-place Frenchtown and No. 3 Polson for the top spot. Havre and Lewistown round out the top five.
Coach Guy Melby’s Eagles return six state placers from last season, including 103-pound champion Kaiden Cline. Christian Dean and Jace Winter both earned runner-up finishes, while Kade Graves and Jett Jones placed third in their respective weight classes. Trevor Dean finished No. 4 at 170 pounds.
Sidney captured the team title at the Scottie Invitational over the weekend, sending 12 wrestlers to the finals and winning nine individual championships.
Frenchtown returns firepower of its own this winter, including two-time defending state champion Jake Bibler. The junior won the 120-pound weight class last February and is joined by Eli Warner, Landen Stewart, Walker Dyer and Jesse Mecham as returning placers.
Bridger Wenzel, who placed second at 132 pounds, is the top returner for Polson.
Perennial power Havre High, which is in the first year of former Blue Pony Beau LaSalle’s head coaching tenure, will see senior Martin Wilkie chase his fourth state championship this February at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark in Billings.
The complete results of this week’s poll can be found below.
2018-2019 Class A wrestling poll (Dec. 12)
Team rankings
Sidney
Frenchtown
Polson
Havre
Lewistown
Columbia Falls
Laurel
Belgrade
Libby
Corvallis
Individual rankings
103 pounds — Mick Chagnon (Havre), Landen Stewart (Frenchtown), Kolby Hutzenbiler (Sidney), Rene Pierre (Polson), Noah Huffacher (Dillon), Dalton Duncan (Hardin).
113 pounds — Kaiden Cline (Sidney), Eli Warner (Frenchtown), Kedrick Baker (Polson), Jonathan Herr (Laurel), Coltin Picco (Lewistown), Matt Foley (Belgrade).
120 pounds — Walker Dyer (Frenchtown), Buddy Doolin (Libby), Cameron Pleninger (Havre), Jordan Darby (Sidney), Keegan Thompson (Laurel), Cade Gubler (Livingston).
126 pounds — Cooper Birdwell (Lewistown), Jake Bibler (Frenchtown), Dante Venema (Corvallis), Everett Jensen (Sidney), Dominic Perkins (Havre), Jake Murnion (Miles City).
132 pounds — Aden Graves (Sidney), Damien Leidholt (Miles City), Zack Morrison (Libby), Jarod Fassier (Polson), Ethan Boyce (Billings Central), Carter Brown (Corvallis).
138 pounds — Michael Golden (Hamilton), Lane Paulson (Havre), Keegan Campbell (Laurel), Kade Graves (Sidney), Dakota Flannery (Whitefish), Triston Davis (Corvallis).
145 pounds — Martin Wilkie (Havre), Christian Dean (Sidney), Trey Thompson (Libby), Tyler Emineth (Laurel), Peter Gibson (Dillon), Hunter Popetsaithe (Hardin).
152 pounds — John Mears (Belgrade), Bridger Wenzel (Polson), Jace Winter (Sidney), Bridger Williams (Hamilton), Connor Harris (Havre), Jacob Morgan (Billings).
160 pounds — Cooper Hoffman (Dillon), Kyler Pancake (Stevensville), Duane Otto (Lewistown), Conner Schwend (Hardin), Noah Hurst (Hamilton), Easton Hopes (Sidney).
170 pounds — Nelson Crisafulli (Glendive), Hunter Frisch (Polson), Kearon Potter (Lewistown), Canyon Shope (Frenchtown), Ash Norris (Dillon), Riley Waters (Sidney).
182 pounds — Jett Jones (Sidney), Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls), Cameron Younger (Laurel), Ty Arnold (Lewistown), Logan Adler (Polson), Brydn Stadel (Havre).
205 pounds — Jacob Freeman (Columbia Falls), Shane Gibson (Livingston), Tyler Harms (Miles City), Justin Mays (Ronan), Ryan Wyman (Sidney), Austin Ratliff (Havre).
285 pounds — Wacey Zuback (Browning), Keegan Mires (Glendive), Brodey Skogen (Sidney), Gabe Hernandez (Laurel), Jess Roethie (Belgrade), Anthony Weary (Dillon).
