Wolf Point’s Gorder Captures State Wrestling Title

Wolf Point’s wrestler Cali Gorder knew she was going to face a big challenge when she met Billing Centra’s Ashlyn McCann in the state championship match at 100 pounds on Saturday.

Twice the two standout wrestlers battled during the regular season, and Mc-Cann won both times on pins.

“I was thinking we were 0-0 and the other losses didn’t matter,” Gorder said of her mindset prior to the match. “What mattered was today.”

She also received positive words from head coach Maestro Martinez and her father, Chris Gorder, in preparation for the title match.

Martinez told her that when he won the state title, he defeated a wrestler that had earlier defeated him. Chris told his daughter to work her butt off regardless.

“He always says takedowns win,” Cali said of her father. “And it did actually.”

Gorder led after the first two periods of the title match, but McCann came back for a 10-10 tie to force overtime.

“I was just thinking I had to get this takedown,” Gorder said of overtime. “It was hard, but it was worth it at the end.”

Gorder was the lone eighth-grader who earned a state championship during the weekend. She had added inspiration because her older sister, Jazmin, was a state wrestling champion for Poplar.

Cali felt she had a chance to do well as an eighth-grader but needed to take things one match at a time. She is also a national champion in AAU wrestling.

“She is a pleasure to coach,” Wolf Point’s assistant coach Dana Matejovsky said. “She’s very talented and she has a great career ahead of her.”

Her first two victories at the state meet came on pins in 11 seconds and at 2:29. She then earned a 15-0 technical call in the semi-final round.

Two Wolf Point wrestlers placed in the boys’ division.

Jesse Reed earned third at 150 pounds. The junior won four decisions and scored a technical fall victory at the meet.

Kayeiko Villaluz, a freshman, placed fifth at 110 pounds. He came into the meet unseeded but enjoyed an outstanding tournament. He won one match on a pin and two matches on pins including a major decision.

Poplar’s Alara Cooper placed fifth at 115 pounds. Her four victories included two on pins. She also won a match by technical fall.

Poplar’s Jaden Eder earned sixth-place honors at 175 pounds. Two of his three victories came on pins.