Helena-area wrestlers place at All-Class State Tournament in Billings

Taylor Lay clinched her third individual state championship at the All-Class State Wrestling Tournament in Billings on Feb. 26, 2026, winning the 120-pounds title and establishing herself as the most decorated wrestler in Helena Capital history. The senior’s victory Saturday gives Helena Capital a record-holder whose three state crowns exceed any previous individual total for the school.

Lay spoke about the broader impact of her run for the Helena Capital girls program, saying, “And I want that to motivate them to wrestle their best because I do think that wrestling is one of the best sports out there,” continued Lay. “And I think you can learn so much from it. And I just really want that to motivate them. And hopefully our girls program continues to grow as well, and we get maybe first place one year for team trophy.” Those comments underline her role as a senior leader pushing for program growth and an eventual team trophy.

In Billings, East Helena senior Eli Erdahl captured the Class A boys 110-pounds state title, becoming the first Vigilante in East Helena history to win a state wrestling championship. Erdahl described the finish in the medal match: “So, at first, I didn’t even know I won,” Erdahl said. “He had a bloody nose, so I thought they stopped the match for that at first. And then I realized I won. And I was the most excited I’ve ever been. I was clapping, and I was so happy. I was overwhelmed by it.”

East Helena head coach Tim Baird framed Erdahl’s title as a program milestone and a model for teammates, saying, “He set the bar. And everyone else now sees what it takes from summer workouts to eating correctly to making every practice to practicing correctly. He just led by example, and hopefully the rest of his teammates follow.” Erdahl reinforced that aim for program momentum: “I hope that it makes people work harder,” Erdahl said. “And also want to win more and have a better team – more people go to state, more people win matches and [more people] also get a state title.”

Both championships added new entries to local record books and delivered landmark individual performances for Helena-area programs at the marquee all-class state tournament in Billings, setting up offseason expectations for deeper team results and expanded participation from Helena Capital’s girls roster and East Helena’s Vigilantes.