Ponies primed for a historic year

It’s hard to truly describe the dominance of the Havre High wrestling program over the past two decades. And as another season is set to start this weekend, the Blue Ponies come in having won eight of the last 10 Class A state championships, including the last four.

But of all the state championships Havre has won, there are a number of reasons why this year could be more historic than ever. And that’s why, as the new season looms, the Ponies and their fans are glad they are getting back on the mats.

“I think we are ready to wrestle somebody else,” HHS head coach Scott Filius said. “We are tired of beating up on each other and we are ready to do it to somebody else.”

Over the last few years, the Ponies have beaten up on just about everybody they have faced. Yet, that doesn’t mean Havre hasn’t sought out the best competition possible because it has. It’s why Havre wrestles the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Invitational and in tournaments like the Tri-State wrestling tournament in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

The Ponies don’t shy away from tournaments like those and this year will be no different and that’s one reason why, according to Filius, his teams have managed to stay hungry despite all the success.

“A big reason we have been able to stay hungry, is that we have had a commitment to go out and find great competition and get our good kids beat,” Filius said. “If you know you are going to go to the Rocky, if you know you are going to Coeur d’Alene, you know you are going to wrestle the best teams in the state and you have something to look forward to.”

While Filius and his team look forward to some of the great competition they will face this season, its opponents may not share the same enthusiasm. During his lengthy tenure at Havre High, Filius has had some great teams, but talent-wise, this year’s bunch is as good as any, which doesn’t bode well for the competition.

Of course it starts with the Ponies’ two three-time state champions, Parker Filius (145) and Jase Stokes (205). Both Filius and Stokes will be seeking to be Havre’s first ever four-time state champions, giving both the chance to make history come February.

Yet, Stokes and Filius aren’t the only returning state champs for the Ponies. Havre actually has a total of four, including junior Tyler Schaub (205), who won last season after finishing third as a freshman, as well as Martin Wilkie (132), who started his path to being a four-timer as a freshman last season.

There is no question that Havre has some elite talent on its roster, however its four state champions are just the beginning. The Ponies also boast Dane Flammond, who has placed twice at state, including a third-place showing last year at 160 pounds, where he will wrestle again this season. HHS also features junior Ryan Stewart, who finished sixth a year ago and will wrestle at 120 pounds once again.

In all, Havre has nine upperclassmen and the other veterans include seniors Jared Laux, who will wrestle at 160 pounds after qualifying for state last season and heavyweight Jared Sienkowski. Juniors JayR Caplette, who will wrestle at 170 pounds and Walter White, who will compete at 182 pounds, should also contribute.

But coach Filius also said he is looking forward to seeing how his young wrestlers perform, a group that includes some highly-touted freshman.

“I know what a lot of these older guys are capable of,” Filius said. “And actually, I know what our sophomores are capable of, too. So I am looking forward to seeing how these young guys compete. I hope they make the same kind of impact that we have had from freshmen the last couple years. I hope they don’t put a ceiling on themselves and I hope they come in and wrestle at a high level right away. Our program is kind of designed that way and hopefully these kids come in and take it by the horns.”

Joining Wilkie in the sophomore class are Lane Paulson (126), Taylor Gopher (170) and Austin Ratliff (205), all of whom are capable of being key contributors. And last but not least, a talented group of freshmen includes Cameron Pleninger (103), Marc Ramirez (113), Quinn Reno (113), Shawn Sullivan (126), Connor Harris (126), Cameron Nelson (132) and Mason Dionne (152).

In addition to the talent the youngsters will bring to the table, the group will also help Filius to have wrestlers in weight classes like 103 and 113, something he didn’t have last season. The only weight without a wrestler right now is 138.

“That will be nice,” Filius said of filling more weights this year. “We are probably going to be missing one of the middle weights there, but we are pretty close to a full lineup.”

The deep and talented Ponies, who are certainly the Class A favorites once again, will get their season started this weekend at the Havre Invitational, which starts Friday inside the HHS gymnasium. The meet will conclude Saturday. After that, Havre will take part in many of its traditional events, such as the Butte Central Mixer (Dec. 8) and the Mining City Duals (Dec. 10).

Havre will make the trek to the Tri-Cities meet in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Dec. 16-17 and will wrestle at the Rocky Mountain Invitational Jan. 13-14, after a dual with CMR (Dec. 20), taking part in the Cut Bank Invite (Jan. 6-7) and a dual against Great Falls High (Jan. 12).

Also on the schedule this year for Havre is a dual versus Sidney at home Jan. 17 and the Class A Duals in Belgrade Jan. 20-21. The Eastern A Divisional tournament will be held in Glendive Feb. 4 and the All-Class State meet will be in Billings Feb. 10-11.

“We have a great group of kids,” coach Filius said of his team. “We have some great leadership at the top and our youngers kids are following along. I am having a lot of fun and we have some great coaches. They are great people and we have some great kids and that’s fun to be around.”