The Helena Folkstyle/Little Guy Wrestling Club competed at the Southwest Montana Little Guy Divisional Tournament in Whitehall on Saturday, March 21.

The Helena squad wrestled against clubs from Boulder, Sun River Valley, Townsend, Twin Bridges and Whitehall. The top four place winners in each weight class qualified for the Southwest Montana Little Guy Championships in Belgrade on April 4.

Helena's team collected a team record 70 place winners and 16 individual champions. The following Helena wrestlers earned medals for first through fourth place at the tournament:

PeeWee (Ages 4, 5, 6): 38 Joey Michelotti (third), Chance Moody (fourth); 44 Jackson McMahon (second), Marcus Evans (third), Ryan Henkel (fourth); 46 Cade Coate (second); 48 Carson DesRosier (third), Lane Kosena (fourth); 50 Gavin Beattie (fourth); 52 Whalen Deskins (second); 55 Peyton Morton (first), Ethan Hayes (fourth); 60 Trestin Ishak (second), Wyatt West (third); Unl Luke Murphy (first)

Beginner (Ages 7, 8): 45 Jaxson Yanzick (second); 50 Nolan Dulaney (first), Tyler Mook (fourth); 53 Kye Coate (first), Brock Belcher (second); Fallon Culbertson (fourth); 56 Lee Lambrecht (second), Austin Murphy (third), Jacob Williamson (fourth); 59 Devin Crawford (first), Gavin Anderson (third); 62 Keanan Horne (first), Creed Clevenger (second); 65 Wyatt Loney (third), Ethan Mannix (fourth); 70 Cade Kidder (fourth); 75 Wyatt Deskins (first), Jett Moody (second), Jayden Nachtsheim (third); 82 Max Mader (second), Matthew Culpon (third), Chase Harmon (fourth); SUnl Holden Sampson (second), Seth Jensen (third)

Novice (Ages 9, 10): 60 Jory Songer (second), Parker Dulaney (third); 66 Jaret Rustad (first); 69 Matt Lesofski (second), Justin Baertsch (third), Ricky Clevenger (fourth); 72 Derrik Olsen (first); 75 Jack Murphy (third); 80 Cody Stipcich (first), Kory Broussard (third); 90 Taustin Hauck (second), Tyler Prothero (third); 110 Garrett McLean (second); Unl Beau Brandon (first), Porter Struble (fourth)

Middle School (Ages 11, 12): 75 Walker Ryan (first); 80 Kelly Eller (fourth); 85 Eric Emge (second), Caiden Crawford (third); 90 Grant Lambrecht (second), Ryan Reed (third), Colton Haines (fourth); 95 Charley McFadden (first); 100 Lane Kokoruda (first); 115 Brendan Kjorstad (first), Addison Boyer (second), David Peterson (third); 130 Leroy Haines (third); Unl Chaz McGurn (first), Alan Schmitz (second); Gabe Evans (fourth)

Bozeman named host for MHSRA finals

BOZEMAN -- The Montana High School Rodeo Association (MHSRA) has chosen Bozeman to host the 2009 Montana High School State Finals Rodeo. The rodeo will be held June 10-14, 2009 at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds where contestants from across the state will converge to compete for prizes and the chance to go onto the National High School Rodeo Finals in Farmington, NM.

The MHSRA is one of the 41 states, five Canadian Providences, and Australia that is involved in the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA). Founded in 1947 by Claude Mullins, there are currently 10,500 students in the NHSRA competing in over 1,100 sanctioned rodeos every year.

MHSRA members compete at the state level for local recognition and the top four contestants in each event then qualify to compete in the National High School Finals Rodeo held in July. The NHSRA is an independent student athletic association that relies on the financial assistance of sponsors.

With more than 320 current members in the MHSRA, the spring rodeo season begins in March with rodeos in Helena and Glendive and then every weekend thereafter in communities across Montana. The District rodeo during Memorial Weekend ends the student athletes' final chance to qualify for the state finals.

The state finals rodeo will consist of two go-rounds of competition culminating with a championship round, along with a cutting competition and a queen competition. Besides rodeo action, the Montana High School Rodeo State Finals Host Committee is organizing a trade show, a reunion for past MHSRA members, activities for the student athletes during the week and a shooting sports competition.

For more information on the rodeo, trade show, or sponsorship opportunities, please call the Host Desk at (406) 475-3675 or go to www.hsfinalsrodeo.org

Bobcats name new receivers coach

BOZEMAN -- Brian Von Bergen, receivers coach at Miami (Ohio) University for the past decade, has joined the Montana State football coaching staff in the same capacity, Bobcat coach Rob Ash announced Monday.

Von Bergen served as Miami's recruiting coordinator during his tenure there, and coordinated the RedHawks' passing game since 2005. A 1992 Illinois graduate, Von Bergen was in his second stint at Miami, after serving as volunteer coach (1992) and graduate assistant (1993-95). He also coached running backs at Southern Illinois (1996), and was Director of Football Operations at Northwestern (1997-99) before returning to Miami.

"I'm thrilled that we were able to find a receiver coach with so much Division I experience," Ash said. "Brian brings a proven record of success working with the receivers and the passing game, and that's crucial for us at this time since our receiver group is so young."

In his time at Miami, Von Bergen coordinated the recruiting effort that netted NFL starters Ben Roethlisberger, Jacob Bell and Ryne Robinson.