HISTORICALLY HAVRE: 5-Peat

BILLINGS - Over the years, the Havre High wrestling team has had some memorable state tournaments inside the Rimrock Auto Arena at the Metra, but there was never a day quite like the one the Blue Ponies enjoyed Saturday.

That's because Havre made history at the 2017 All-Class State Wrestling meet and it did so without batting an eye. HHS ran away with the team competition, securing a school-record fifth consecutive state championship with 257.5 points. Columbia Falls finished a way distant second with 131.

But even though Havre tied Ronan for the all-time mark in Class A for consecutive wrestling championships, that wasn't the history-making moment that will be remembered from the 2017 state tournament. That moment, or moments - the ones Havre wrestling fans will never forget - came courtesy of Parker Filius and Jase Stokes, who each delivered on their opportunity to join the exclusive club of four-time individual state champions.

Technically, Stokes wound up doing it first, as he got the first opportunity to wrestle on finals night and when he pinned Travis Catina of Whitefish in 1:57 to win the 205-pound weight class, Havre had its first ever four-time state champion.

"It's indescribable," Stokes said. "You know it wouldn't have mattered to me if it was me or Parker, but it's awesome, it's the best feeling in the world."

While Stokes technically did it first, he remained Havre's only four-timer for an hour and 33 minutes. That's when his long-time friend and former wrestling partner, Parker Filius joined him, following his pin over Ben Windauer of Columbia Falls in 1:24 to win the 145-pound final.

"It feels good," Filius said after his match. "I am pretty happy right now.

"It was kind of anti-climactic," HHS head coach Scott Filius added. "I was confident coming in and (Parker) was confident coming in. The same with Stokes. We were confident coming in that we just had to come out and wrestle and everything would take care of itself."

While Stokes and Filius finishing off their quests to be four-time champions was the highlight of the weekend for the Ponies, it was far from the only signature moment. One of the others, was the individual championship of senior Dane Flammond.

Flammond had finished third at the state tournament the past two years and was still searching for that elusive first individual title that had alluded him. But after three dominant victories (he got a first-round bye), he finally got his moment in the sun, thanks to a 15-0 technical fall in the 160-pound final against Hunter Fritsch of Polson.

"A ton, a ton," coach Filius said when asked how happy he was for Flammond. "That was one of the things from the weekend that was probably my brightest moment."

"It feels great, I am so happy right now," Flammond said after his championship match. "Just to end the year that way, I have never felt anything like it.

"It feels very special," Flammond added about winning another team title. "There are a lot of teams that have never won one state title, so it just feels very special and I am glad that I am part of it."

In addition to getting individual titles from Stokes, Filius and Flammond, the Ponies crowned two other individual champions and had two other finalists. In all, HHS placed 11 wrestlers and nine of them, including four freshmen finished in the top three of their respective weight classes.

"I was really pleased with the kids," coach Filius said. "They did a great job in the placement matches. I think we lost a couple, we were overmatched in one and lost a heartbreaker, but the kids competed well all weekend, it was a lot of fun.

"It feels pretty good right now," he added about the team championship. "It's a little bittersweet. I have had a lot of fun with this group of kids, but they are ready to go though. They are ready to move on."

In terms of four-time individual champions, Martin Wilkie completed the second leg of that journey Saturday, capturing his second state title after pinning Clay Fisher of Butte Central in 2:48.

"It was fun. I need to go get some ice cream," Wilkie said after his match. "But the season is far from over. I still have some tournaments to do before the summer, so I am looking forward to those."

When asked if he had thought about being a four-timer Wilkie responded: "I am trying not to put too much thought into (that) right now, just trying to take it one year at a time."

Wilkie set himself up for a run at winning four and so did freshman Quinn Reno, as he won the 103-pound state championship, knocking off fellow Havre freshman Cameron Pleninger in the final.

"It feels great," Reno said. "It's the best feeling in the world."

Pleninger settled for second, as did Lane Paulson, a sophomore who lost in the championship round to John Mears of Belgrade. In addition to Pleninger and Paulson, four other Havre wrestlers found the podium.

Freshmen Connor Harris (132) and Mason Dionne (152) both got through the wrestle backs to finish third, while junior Ryan Stewart finished fourth at 113 pounds, and Marc Ramirez came within one match of placing at 113. And finally, senior Jared Sienkowski, who was making his first appearance at the state tournament, rallied from an opening-round defeat Friday, to take fifth place, thanks to a pin over Eli Marley of Glendive in just 19 seconds in his final high school match.

"It was just great to be able to come through like that and come all the way back through the bracket," Sienkowski said. "It was amazing and it just meant that much more that I proved to myself that I could do it."

"Jared, he has been with us for a few years now," coach Filius said. "And that early part of the season was rough on him, but he came back and had the best tournament of his career."

Amazing is a word that gets used often when it comes to Havre wrestling, and after two spectacular days in Billings, it's easy to see why. Under Filius, Havre has won 12 state championships, and Saturday was the school's 13th, which is now second all-time to Butte High's 17. The Ponies have also won four or more in a row twice in the last decade. Havre had a four-peat from 2007-2010, and now has a five-peat. The Ponies also now have 20 trophies from the state meet, which puts them fifth all time.

And the 2016-17 team, the one that walked out of the Metra Saturday night with yet more hardware and wrestling glory, is going to be a team Filius won't soon forget.

"This was a great group of kids," coach Filius said. "They put the work in, the older kids showed great leadership and worked with the younger kids and helped them come of age. It's bittersweet, but it was a lot of fun."

Team scores: Havre 257.5, Columbia Falls 131, Glendive 125, Hardin 111.5, Polson 109, Frenchtown 109, Corvallis-Darby 94.5, Belgrade 90, Hamilton 90, Dillon-Twin Bridges 89.5, Sidney 81, Lewistown 73.5, Laurel 70.5, Stevensville 62, Livingston 52, Browning 39.5, Butte Central 34.5, Whitefish 33, Billings Central 23, Miles City 18.5.

Placing Results

103 - Championship: Quinn Reno (Havre) 35-5 won by fall over Cameron Pleninger (Havre) 29-6 (Fall 3:59); Third: Walker Dyer (Frenchtown) 21-1 won by decision over Kedrick Baker (Polson) 12-7 (Dec 13-7); Fifth: Braxton Scheeler (Miles City) 21-18 won by fall over Roy Russell (Butte Central) 9-6 (Fall 0:39).

113 - Championship: Jake Bibler (Frenchtown) 21-0 won by decision over Matthew DeWitt (Laurel) 44-6 (Dec 7-6); Third: Michael Golden (Hamilton) 22-5 won by decision over Ryan Stewart (Havre) 34-9 (Dec 3-2); Fifth: Mateo Quinones (Polson) 13-6 won by decision over Austin Nelson (Columbia Falls) 10-6 (Dec 8-4).

120 - Championship: John Mears (Belgrade) 38-5 won by fall over Lane Paulson (Havre) 36-13 (Fall 5:24); Third: Keagan Campbell (Laurel) 48-9 won by decision over Dante Venema (Corvallis/Darby) 22-6 (Dec 7-0); Fifth: Winfield West (Columbia Falls) 14-4 won by tech fall over Tanner Mannin (Lewistown) 18-25 (TF-1.5 5:00 (15-0)).

126 - Championship: Martin Wilkie (Havre) 43-1 won by fall over Clay Fisher (Butte Central) 11-2 (Fall 2:48); Third: Bridger Wenzel (Polson) 8-5 won by major decision over Bridger Williams (Hamilton) 24-9 (MD 14-1); Fifth: Ayden Role (Columbia Falls) 14-5 won by decision over Sean Comstock (Billings Central) 27-13 (Dec 3-1).

132 - Championship: Riley Gurr (Frenchtown) 18-0 won by major decision over Caleb Birdwell (Lewistown) 28-6 (MD 12-0); Third: Connor Harris (Havre) 30-20 won by decision over Travis Kinn (Glendive) 37-10 (Dec 7-4); Fifth: Kwin Stoddard (Dillon/Twin Bridges) 13-4 won by fall over Hunter Peterson (Columbia Falls) 12-6 (Fall 2:41).

138 - Championship: Sawyer Degen (Belgrade) 38-0 won by decision over Parker Adler (Polson) 13-3 (Dec 4-0); Third: Ben Stortz (Glendive) 34-11 won by decision over Jace Winter (Sidney) 42-16 (Dec 5-4); Fifth: Cooper Hoffman (Dillon/Twin Bridges) 13-6 won by decision over Cade Livoti (Frenchtown) 17-6 (Dec 6-3).

145 - Championship: Parker Filius (Havre) 40-0 won by fall over Ben Windauer (Columbia Falls) 15-1 (Fall 1:24); Third: Bryce Roan (Hardin) 18-6 won by fall over Cameron Brown (Polson) 7-3 (Fall 4:52); Fifth: Jace Johnson (Sidney) 32-19 won by decision over Brandon Held (Glendive) 33-14 (Dec 6-4).

152 - Championship: Brent Tezak (Dillon/Twin Bridges) 13-0 won in sudden victory - 1 over Brenden Roan (Hardin) 20-7 (SV-1 6-4); Third: Mason Dionne (Havre) 31-19 won by decision over Calvin Racine (Browning) 21-15 (Dec 5-3); Fifth: Brandt Ackerman (Glendive) 26-19 won by fall over Avery Gurney (Sidney) 27-21 (Fall 0:26).

160 - Championship: Dane Flammond (Havre) 38-6 won by tech fall over Hunter Fritsch (Polson) 10-1 (TF-1.5 2:31 (15-0)); Third: Tyler Clapp (Glendive) 33-8 won in sudden victory - 1 over Alex Wickens (Lewistown) 41-10 (SV-1 6-1); Fifth: Kye McCollaum (Corvallis/Darby) 19-8 won by decision over Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls) 12-6 (Dec 9-5).

170 - Championship: Patrick Griffin (Dillon/Twin Bridges) 15-1 won by fall over Ben Crews (Stevensville) 13-5 (Fall 3:36); Third: Nelson Crisafulli (Glendive) 35-11 won by tech fall over Justin Zier (Hardin) 26-15 (TF-1.5 3:19 (16-0)); Fifth: Storm Kemppainen (Columbia Falls) 11-4 won by fall over Wyatt Blythe (Lewistown) 32-9 (Fall 3:28).

182 - Championship: Manny Rivera (Hamilton) 26-6 won by decision over Shane Gibson (Livingston) 30-11 (Dec 6-4); Third: Jerry Cassidy (Stevensville) 15-3 won by decision over Jemal Williams (Belgrade) 13-11 (Dec 4-2); Fifth: Sawyer Thogerson (Sidney) 35-22 won by fall over Jakob Freeman (Columbia Falls) 12-5 (Fall 0:40).

205 - Championship: Jase Stokes (Havre) 38-1 won by fall over Travis Catina (Whitefish) 26-2 (Fall 1:57); Third: Justin Hinson (Hamilton) 20-3 won by decision over Tyler Laverty (Livingston) 36-11 (Dec 2-1); Fifth: Will Caprata (Hardin) 25-18 won by fall over Brady Boyce (Lewistown) 35-19 (Fall 2:44).

285 - Championship: Garret Hunt (Corvallis/Darby) 20-1 won by fall over Wacey Zuback (Browning) 13-10 (Fall 0:00); Third: Grant Scalpcane (Hardin) 34-14 won by decision over Kyler Koski (Columbia Falls) 13-6 (Dec 3-1); Fifth: Jared Sienkowski (Havre) 28-22 won by fall over Eli Marley (Glendive) 26-14 (Fall 0:19).

Havre Individual Results

103 – Quinn Reno (State Champion)

1st rd – pinned Garhet Salminen, CF, :51; Quarterfinals – maj. dec. Caleb Olson, STV, 12-1; Semifinals – pinned Kedrick Baker, POL, :58; Final – pinned Cameron Pleninger, HAV, 3:59.

103 – Cameron Pleninger (2nd Place)

1st rd – pinned Will Flowers, COR, 2:38; Quarterfinals – maj. dec. Kaiden Cline, SID, 12-1; Semifinals – dec. Walker Dyer, FTN, 7-4; Final – pinned by Quinn Reno, HAV, 3:59.

113 – Ryan Stewart (4th Place)

1st rd – tech. fall Luke Huffaker, DIL, 16-1; Quarterfinals – tech. fall Austin Nelson, CF, 17-2; Semifinals – lost dec. Jake Bibler, FTN, 7-4; Consolation Semi – dec. Mateo Quinones, POL, 5-2; Consolation Final – lost dec. Mike Golden, HAM, 3-2.

113 – Marc Ramirez

1st rd – pinned Kelson Bauman, FTN, 5:12; Quarterfinals – lost dec. Mike Golden, HAM, 6-5; Consolation 2nd rd – pinned Luke Huffaker, DIL, 2:31; Consolation 3rd rd – lost dec. Mateo Quinones, POL, 5-2.

120 – Lane Paulson (2nd Place)

1st rd – pinned Auston Stevens, FTN, 1:04; Quarterfinals – maj. dec. Keagan Campbell, LAU, 12-4; Semifinals – dec. Dante Venema, COR, 5-3; Final – pinned by John Means, BEL, 5:24.

126 – Martin Wilkie (State Champion)

1st rd – pinned Sidney Cooke, WF, :43; Quarterfinals – pinned Ayden Roles, CF, 1:44; Semifinals – dec. Bridger Wenzel, POL, 6-0; Final – pinned Clay Fisher, BUC, 2:48.

132 – Connor Harris (3rd Place)

1st rd – pinned Adrian Garcia, HAM, :46; Quarterfinals – lost dec. Travis Kinn, GLE, 9-5; Consolation 2nd rd – dec. Kaid Campbell, MC, 13-6; Consolation 3rd rd – pinned Dakota Flannery, WF, 2:16; Consolation Semi – pinned Kwin Stoddard, DIL, 2:11; Consolation Final – dec. Travis Kinn, GLE, 7-4.

145 – Parker Filius (State Champion)

1st rd – pinned Kaleb Unger, POL, 1:02; Quarterfinals – tech. fall Brandon Held, GLE, 16-1; Semifinals – pinned Cameron Brown, POL< 1:40; Final – pinned Ben Windauer, CF, 1:24.

152 – Mason Dionne (3rd Place)

1st rd – pinned Isaac Maxfield, STV, :35; Quarterfinals – pinned Mason Fetters, CF, 3:42; Semifinals – lost tech. fall Brendan Roan, HAR, 16-0; Consolation Semifinal – dec. Brandt Ackerman, GLE, 8-4; Consolation Final – dec. Calvin Racine, BRO, 5-3.

160 – Dane Flammond (State Champion)

1st rd – bye; Quarterfinals – tech. fall Gidion Herbel, HAR, 18-2; Semifinals – pinned Colton McPhee, CF, :19; Final – tech. fall Hunter Fritsch, POL, 15-0.

170 – Taylor Gopher

1st rd – pinned by Patrick Griffin, DIL, 1:56; Consolation 1st rd – pinned by Coltor Stillwagon, BUC, 3:26.

205 – Jase Stokes (State Champion)

1st rd – pinned Bailey Hayes, HAM, :08; Quarterfinals – pinned Austin Ratliff, HAV, 1:28; Semifinals – dec. Justin Hinson, HAM, 11-5; Final – pinned Travis Catina, WF, 1:57.

205 – Austin Ratliff

1st rd – pinned Jordan Thomas, STV, 5:08; Quarterfinals – pinned by Jase Stokes, HAV, 1:28; Consolation 2nd rd – maj. dec. Matt Fulton, GLE, 15-6; Consolation 2rd rd – lost maj. dec. Brady Boyce, LEW, 15-1.

285 – Jared Sienkowski (5th Place)

1st rd – pinned by Kyle Anderson, HAM, 2:58; Consolation 1st rd – pinned Archie Swift, MC, 1:46; Consolation 2nd rd – dec. Keegan Mires, GLE, 3-2 in SVO; Consolation 3rd rd – dec. Ryan Horner, SID, 5-2; Consolation Semis – pinned by Kyler Koski, CF, 2:40; Fifth-Sixth – pinned Eli Marley, GLE, :19.