4-Peat COMPLETE

BILLINGS — The Havre High wrestling team went to Billings for the All-Class state wrestling tournament this past weekend with the goal of winning a fourth straight team championship. When it was all said and done, the Blue Ponies achieved that goal with what looked like ease.

The Blue Ponies trailed in the tournament only for a short time Friday after the first round, but after that, HHS led wire-to-wire and steamrolled the competition, capturing the Class A title at the two-day meet inside the Rimrock Auto Arena at the Metra in impressive fashion.

Havre scored a total of 213 points and crowned five individual champions on its way to the championship. Polson finished second with 147 points and Hardin was third with 115.

“It was fun,” HHS head coach Scott Filius said. “You never get sick of (winning the state championship). It was a little anti-climatic because we knew that we had it walking in, and I don’t mean that to be cocky or whatever. Our kids were just that good.”

Filius is correct in the fact that there was never much drama about which team would hoist the Class A trophy at the end of the day on Saturday, especially with the work the Ponies put in Friday, on the first day of the tournament.

After qualifying 13 wrestlers total, the Ponies advanced nine of them to Saturday, with eight of them reaching the semifinals. In all, Havre was 19-9 on the first day with a total of 13 pins.

While Havre had four wrestlers eliminated Friday, the Ponies still led by 15 points heading to Saturday and after getting wins from Martin Wilkie (120 pounds), Logan Pleninger (132 pounds), Kody Pribyl (138 pounds), Parker Filius (152), Jase Stokes (182), Tyler Schaub (205) and Travis Adams (HWT), in the semifinals to advance to the championship round, as well as a win from Ryan Stewart (113) in the consolation quarterfinals, Havre’s lead ballooned to 80 points.

At that point, the drama of the team competition was over and the only question that remained was how many champions could Havre put into the the winner’s circle. In the end, the answer was five, as Wilkie, Filius, Stokes, Schaub and Adams were all crowned champions.

Yet, even though Havre got five champions, coach Filius was hoping for six or seven and in terms of getting a sixth individual champion, Havre came oh so close.

Senior Logan Pleninger, who has been a staple in the Havre lineup for four years, had done just about everything in his career except win an individual title, which he was shooting for on finals night. However, after a classic bout with Clayton Carter, Pleninger fell 3-2 in overtime on a somewhat controversial ending to finish second.

For almost five minutes in the match, Carter and Pleninger were stalemated at 0-0, before Carter finally scored a takedown to jump up 2-0. Yet, in the final minute, Pleninger answered with two points of his own, which sent the match to overtime tied at 2-2.

With no other matches going on, the entire crowd at the Metra focused on Carter and Pleninger, who went through three extra sessions without so much as a point scored. Then, with Pleninger on bottom, needing just an escape point to win, he was called for a false start. And since he had already received warnings in the first and third periods for the same offense, Carter was awarded a point and the match. And while the call was made correctly, it was simply a shame to see such a classic match end that way.

“It was a great match, both kids competed hard. But the bottom line is that we control it, we had to get off bottom and we didn’t do it,” Filius said. “We didn’t in the two minutes and we didn’t in the overtime. It was a false start. It was unfortunate but hats off to Carter, he did a good job. He beat us in a position I didn’t think that he could.”

Right after Pleninger lost in dramatic fashion, Havre’s last senior, Pribyl took his shot at winning an individual title, something he had yet to do and unfortunately, he also came up short, losing a 9-2 decision to Brent Tezak of Dillon.

“They have both been in the program for four years and are great wrestlers,” Filius said. “We were hoping that we could get one of them (Pleninger or Pribyl) through to the dance, but we came up short. That burns right now and that’s just where I am at with it.”

Yet, despite losing, both Pleninger and Pribyl were four-time medalists at state and each were part of four state championship teams.

“Not too many people can say that they were part of four state championship teams,” Pleninger said. “It’s really something special.”

“Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be a Blue Pony wrestler and it just meant a lot to be part of the team,” Pribyl said. “It was great to finally get to finals night until the end there.”

On a positive note, Parker Filius and Stokes set themselves up to make some history next year, as both captured their third consecutive individual title, which will give them each a chance to be four-time champions next season.

"It would be a lot of fun, but there is three," coach Filius said referring to Parker, Stokes and the freshman Wilkie, who has a chance to be a four-timer as well now. "If we are going to make it two, we might as well make it three."

Adams, who is also a senior, closed out his career as a two-time champion with his second consecutive title.

“I am ready to go drink my first soda, eat a steak and some seafood,” Adams quipped after this championship match. “This is the last match I will ever wrestle for the Havre Blue Ponies. It’s hard to describe, I’d compare to the angels rejoicing in heaven around God’s throne.”

Overall, the Blue Ponies placed nine grapplers. Junior Dane Flammond (160) reached the semis and finished third for the second straight year, while Stewart finished sixth at 113 pounds. Jazz Schroeder (145) and Lane Paulson (126) also scored points for the Ponies.

Havre also tied its own record for most state champions on one team with five, while the Blue Ponies won their 11th state championship under Filius, and, broke a tie with Missoula Sentinel for the second-most wrestling state championships in Montana with 13. Havre now trails Butte High, which has won 17 titles.

“This is a great group of kids," HHS head coach Scott Filius said. "They are fun to be around. They care for each other, they work hard, they are a class act, they work hard on and off the mat and they are fun to be associated with."

CLASS A

Team scores – 1, Havre 213; 2, Polson 147.5; 3, Hardin 114.5; 4, Columbia Falls 113; t-4, Laurel 113; 6, Sidney 109.5; 7, Lewistown 106.5; 8, Belgrade 101; 9, Hamilton 99; 10, Dillon 97; 11, Glendive 90.5; 12, Stevensville 71; 13, Corvallis 57; 14, Frenchtown 53; 15, Billings Central 40.5; 16, Whitefish 34; 17, Browning 31.5; 18, Livingston 27; 19, Miles City 21; 20, Butte Central 5.

Championship

103 – Christian Dean, SID, md. Adam Bankert, LIV, 15-1.; 113 – Travis Kinn, GLE, d. Ben Stortz, GLE, 4-1.; 120 – Martin Wilkie, HAV, p. Caleb Birdwell, LEW, 3:15.; 126 – Sawyer Degen, BEL, d. Kohltin Starkel, DIL, 6-5.; 132 – Clayton Carter, LAU, d. Logan Pleninger, HAV, 3-2 (UTB); 138 – Brent Tezak, DIL, d. Kody Pribyl, HAV, 9-2.; 145 – Jarrett Degen, BEL, p. Mason Fetters, CF, 1:42.; 152 – Parker Filius, HAV, tf. Alex Wickens, LEW, 3:42 (20-5).; 160 – Patrick Griffin, DIL, d. Manny Rivera, HAM, 8-4.; 170 – Ben Crews, STV, d. Wyatt Blythe, LEW, 13-6. 182 – Jase Stokes, HAV, d. Connor Murdock, HAR, 7-4.; 205 – Tyler Schaub, HAV, d. Hunter Severson, SID, 6-2.; 285 – Travis Adams, HAV, p. Bryce Blumenschein, 3:04.

Third place

103 – Mateo Quinones, POL, d. Rene Pierre, POL, 3-1.; 113 – Eric LaFontaine, HAR, d. Michael Golden, HAM, 6-2.; 120 – Bridger Wenzel, POL, d. Wyatt Vanburen, SID, 10-5.; 126 – Ben Windauer, CF, p. Thunder Morales, POL, 1:38.; 132 – Cameron Brown, POL, d. Hunter Peterson, CF, 3-0.; 138 – Jaben Wenzel, POL, d. Bryce Roan, HAR, 13-7.; 145 – Brenden Roan, HAR, md. Parker Adler, POL, 11-0.; 152 – Jon Blanchard, FRN, p. Steven Scheffer, HAM, 4:54.; 160 – Dane Flammond, HAV, md. Chad Landers, LEW, 11-0.; 170 – Cody Lucke, BRN, p. Matt Kale, BIL, 2:32.; 182 – Jon Jares, LAU, p. Mason Griffin, STV, 1:38.; 205 – Justin Hinson, HAM, d. Mike Corrigan, POL, 3-2.; 285 – Brandon Connolly, LAU, p. Luke Channer, COR, 1:44.

Fifth place

103 – Kaleb Ripley, LAU, p. Wyatt Harmer, HAR, 2:21.; 113 – Winfield West, CF, md. Ryan Stewart, HAV, 12-3.; 120 – Tristan Slye, BEL, d. Bridger Grover, LEW, 8-2.; 126 – Trey Sokoloski, GLE, d. Jace Winter, SID, 4-0.; 132 – Kwin Stoddard, DIL, d. Steven Banks, HAM, 8-2.; 138 – Torrey Watts, MC, p. Cody Warner, FRN, :45.; 145 – Connor Ludwig, LAU, d. Bryce Williams, FRN, 7-3.; 152 – Bridger Coffman, SID, d. Kye McCollaum, COR, 12-9.; 160 – Tyler Clapp, GLE, d. Colten McPhee, CF, 9-2.; 170 – Storm Kemppainen, CF, d. Konrad Zinke, WF, 2:32.; 182 – Jerry Cassidy, STV, def. LaRenzo Roan Bear, HAR, injury.; 205 – Braden Watson, BIL, d. Shawn Cassidy, STV, 9-4.; 285 – Steven Quimby, WF, def. Garret Hunt, COR, injury.

Havre Individual Results

113 – Ryan Stewart (6th Place)

1st rd – pinned Taisuke Matsuo, WF, 1:15; Quarterfinals – pinned by Travis Kinn, GLE, 3:44; Consolation 2nd rd – pinned Elliot Vanosdell, STV, 2:59; Consolation 3rd rd – dec. Jacob Morgan BC, 5-2; Consolation Semis – lost dec. Michael Golden, HAM, 7-3; Fifth-Sixth – lost maj. dec. Winfield West, CF, 12-3.

120 – Martin Wilkie (State Champion)

1st rd – pinned Sidney Cooke, WF, :28; Quarterfinals – pinned Bridger Grover, LEW, 3:14; Semifinal – maj. dec. Tristan Slye, BEL, 14-3; Championship – pinned Caleb Birdwell, LEW, 3:15

126 – Lane Paulson

1st rd – pinned by Ben Windauer, CF, 1:11; Consolation 1st rd – dec. Ethan Boyce, BC, 9-2; Consolation 2nd rd – lost maj. dec. Jace Winter, SID, 9-0.

132 – Logan Pleninger (2nd Place)

1st rd – pinned Rob Bertelsen, WF, :57; Quarterfinals – pinned Chase Farrar, LEW, 1:17; Semifinal – dec. Hunter Peterson, CF, 6-0; Championship – lost dec. Clayton Carter, LAU, 3-2, UT.

138 – Kody Pribyl (2nd Place)

1st rd – pinned James Bess, HAM, :53; Quarterfinals – pinned Torry Watts, MC, 3:11; Semifinal – maj. dec. Cody Warner, FTN, 9-0; Championship – lost dec. Brent Tezak, DIL, 9-2.

145 – Jazz Schroeder

1st rd – pinned by Mason Fetters, CF, 2:30; Consolation 1st rd – dec. Kris Anderson, HAM, 9-3; Consolation 2nd rd – pinned by Mason Fend, LAU, 4:06.

152 – Parker Filius (State Champion)

1st rd – pinned Hunter Allen, FTN, :31; Quarterfinals – pinned Cade Dockter, GLE, :55; Semifinal – tech. fall Steven Scheffer, HAM, 17-2; Championship – tech. fall Alex Wickens, LEW, 20-5.

152 – Jared Laux

1st rd – pinned by McCollaum Kye, COR, 3:04; Consolation 1st rd – lost dec. Tanner Branstetter, LAU, 2-1.

160 – Dane Flammond (3rd Place)

1st rd – tech. fall Malik Heydon, WF, 15-0; Quarterfinals – tech. fall Colten McPhee, CF, 16-0; Semifinal – lost dec. Manny Rivera, HAM, 5-2; Consolation Semis – dec. Tyler Klapp, GLE, 4-0; Consolation Final – maj. dec. Chad Landers, LEW, 11-0.

182 – Jase Stokes (State Champion)

1st rd – pinned Noah Humphrey, POL, :41; Quarterfinals – pinned Brady Boyce, LEW, :17; Semifinals – pinned Mason Griffin, STV, 1:15; Championship – dec. Connor Murdock, HAR, 7-4.

205 – Tyler Schaub (State Champion)

1st rd – pinned Matt Stafford, DIL, 3:30; Quarterfinals – maj. dec. Braden Watson, BC, 12-4; Semifinals – dec. Justin Hinson, HAM, 5-3 in SVO; Championship – dec. Hunter Severson, SID, 6-2.

205 – JayR Caplette

1st rd – pinned by Mike Corrigan, POL, 2:56; Consolation 1st rd – pinned by Uriah Turner, HAR, 3:53.

HWT – Travis Adams (State Champion)

1st rd – Bye; Quarterfinals – pinned Grant Scalpcrane, HAR, 1:28; Semifinals – dec. Luke Channer, COR, 4-0; Championship – pinned Bryce Blumenschein, BEL, 3:53.