By George Ferguson/Havre Daily News Sports/gferguson@havredailynews.com
Despite being shorthanded this weekend, the No. 2-ranked Havre High wrestling team put forth a valiant effort at the Class A duals in Belgrade. The Ponies narrowly missed capturing another team title, losing only to No. 8 Libby in the championship match.
Havre had to reshuffle its lineup for the two-day event because of several key wrestlers missing the tournament due to illness. That didn't stop the Ponies from going 3-0 in their pool on the opening day of the tournament. Havre also defeated Belgrade and Laurel, losing only two matches in those two duals to reach Saturday night's finale against a very good Libby Logger team. In the final, Libby narrowly defeated the Ponies 41-37.
Havre got wins by fall from Chad Ranes at 98 pounds, Billy Wagner at 105 and Clint Bradbury at 112 pounds. Evan Hinebauch, who earned the tournament's most outstanding wrestler, also picked up a win by fall over Reese Gossett at 160 pounds and Chad Seely, who was wrestling at 215 pounds instead of his usual 189 pounds. also earned a win by fall.
But those five pins weren't enough to over come a couple of critical losses. Mike Sutherland lost a tough decision at 140 pounds and Dustin Haukenberry, who also moved up a weight, was pinned by No. 2 ranked Jake Graham at 189 pounds. The Ponies Stephen Brown, who was filling in for top-ranked Matt Schnittgen, was pinned by Tyler Croft in the heavyweight match.
Still, the Havre Ponies went 5-1 on the weekend and ran their dual record to 15-2 on the season. The Ponies have just two duals remaining before next Saturday's Central A divisional tournament in Havre. Havre will host CMR at the MSU-Northern gymnasium on Thursday night as part of a doubleheader of wrestling. The MSU-Northern Lights will take on North Idaho College later that night. On Saturday, the Ponies will travel to Conrad to finish the regular season.
Havre High head coach Scott Filius caught the illness that has plagued his team and was unavailable for comment.
Central A Duals
Championship match
Libby 41, Havre 37
98 - Chad Ranes, HAV pinned Logan Ricke, Lib, :48; 105 - Billy Wagner, HAV pinned Loran Nelson, Lib, 3:08; 112 - Clint Bradbury, HAV pinned Trevor Kelly, LIB, :25; 119 - Kyle Ames, LIB dec. Nate Harada, HAV, 7-1; 125 - Matt Roberts, LIB pinned Justin McLeod, HAV, 3:40; 130 - Boomer Peak, LIB pinned Gray Chagnon, HAV, 2:33; 135 - Mike Hipple, HAV dec. Seth Cummings, 16-5; 140 - Tim Spencer, LIB dec. Mike Sutherland, HAV, 9-4; 145 - Kyle McKay, HAV won by forfeit; 152 - Dallas Thompson, HAV dec. Niles Ulger, LIB, 5-0; 160 - Evan Hinebauch, HAV pinned Reece Gossett, LIB, 2:16; 171 - Jake Spencer, LIB pinned Chris Buskirk, HAV, 1:59; 189 - Jake Graham, LIB pinned Dustin Haukenberry, HAV, 3:18; 215 - Chad Seely, HAV pinned Travis Hjort, LIB, 5:47; HWT-Tyler Croft, LIB pinned Stephen Brown, HAV, 3:59.
Other scores
Placing round - Hardin 54, Lewistown 30, seventh place; Miles City 48, Belgrade 30, ninth place; Colstrip 40, Hamilton 24, 11th place; Livingston 30, Havre JV 22, 13th place; Billings Central 36, Browning 30, 15th place; Belgrade JV 24, Butte Central 12, 17th place.
Round 1
Havre 54, Butte Central 3; Anaconda 66, Browning 15; Libby 89, Billings Central 6; Hardin 41, Havre JV 39; Corvallis 77, Livingston 6; Dillon 74, Belgrade JV 12.
Round 2
Hamilton 42, Butte Central 12; Miles City 51, Browning 21; Lewistown 75, Billings Central 6; Belgrade 47, Havre JV 24; Laurel 72, Livingston 12; Colstrip 66, Belgrade JV 6.
Round 3
Havre 60, Hamilton 12; Anaconda 66, Miles City 12; Lewistown 65, Libby 18; Hardin 51, Belgrade 36; Laurel 46, Corvallis 24; Dillon 57, Colstrip 18.
Round 4
Havre 58, Corvallis 19; Anaconda 44, Colstrip 35; Libby 87, Miles City 6; Hardin 54, Hamilton 27; Livingston 54, Butte Central 6; Browning 31, Belgrade JV 30.
Round 5
Corvallis 57, Belgrade 26; Lewistown 43, Colstrip 42; Dillon 66, Miles City 3; Laurel 60, Hamilton 18; Livingston 42, Billings Central 30; Havre JV 30, Belgrade JV 24.
Round 6
Havre 61, Belgrade 0; Anaconda 51, Lewistown 18; Libby 62, Dillon 21; Laurel 48, Hardin 21; Billings Central 54, Butte Central 12; Havre JV 17, Browning 12.
Outstanding wrestler - Evan Hinebauch, Havre.
