Chris Peterson Havre Daily News cpeterson@havredailynews.com
After dominating in dual competition early in the season, the Havre High wrestling team will try its hand at it again tonight when the Blue Ponies head to Great Falls to dual the Great Falls High Bison. The Ponies and the Bison have competed in a slew of tournaments together this season, such as the CMR Holiday Classic and other prestigious meets, with the Ponies finishing higher than the Bison in each tournament that both teams competed in. “We have seen Great Falls High a lot this year in different tournaments and we have finished ahead of them each time we have seen them,” HHS head coach Scott Filius said. “But beating a team in a tournament is a lot different than beating a team in a dual.” The Bison look to be in prime condition for their dual against Havre tonight after they went to Billings last weekend for duals against the three Billings schools. The Bison performed well defeating both Billings West and Billings Senior, only to fall short against Billings Skyview. The Bison are toughest in the middle to heavyweight classes with wrestlers such as Zach Mendenhall at 140 pounds, Trylan Wassman at 145 pounds, Tanner Schmidt at 152 pounds, Max Galland at 160 pounds, Zack Wichman at 171 pounds, Ty Vinson at 215 pounds and heavyweight Josh Zimmer. However, the Ponies also have some strong wrestlers in those weight classes, including Chad Ranes at 140 pounds, Aaron Olsen at 145 pounds, Ethan Hinebauch at 152 pounds, Phil Sutherland at 160 pounds, Curtis Shandorf at 171 pounds, Paul Jensen at 215 pounds and Mitch Schnittgen at heavyweight. The match at 140 pounds should be particularly exiting, as Ranes of Havre will try to take down Zach Mendenhall, who is the defending Class AA state champion at 140 pounds. GFH may have a slight advantage over the Ponies in the middle to heavyweight, but there is no doubt that the Ponies should have an advantage in the lightweights From 98-135 pounds, the Ponies have a solid wrestler in nearly every weight class led by Chris Recio, Ryan Shelstad and Myles Mazurkiewicz, who westler at 105, 112 and 130 pounds, respectively. But the Ponies are also tough at 98 pounds with Dual Stadell and also at 125 pounds with Loren Mack. Rounding out the roster for the Ponies will be Brett Normandy at 119 pounds and Kent Pattison at 135 pounds. However, the Bison should prevent some challenges in the lower weight classes with Dylan Mendenhall at 98 pounds, Matt Snyder at 112 pounds, Tanner Jacobsen at 119 pounds, Stehpehn Horn at 125 pounds, Julian Wichman at 130 pounds and Frank Ramsey at 135 pounds. Last season the two teams met for a late-season dual in Havre, which the Bison went on to win, so the Ponies will be looking to return the favor tonight in Great Falls. The dual between Havre and Great Falls High will get under way at 7 at the Swarthout Fieldhouse. On Saturday, Havre will return home to wrestle in its second straight dual, this time against interclass rival Conrad. Conrad comes into its dual with the Ponies fresh off a first-place finish in a dual tournament in Choteau. The Cowboys have a number of solid wrestlers, especially in the light weights, but also have solid wrestlers in the middle to heavyweight classes as well. Conrad will be led by Jaren Van- Dyke at 98 pounds, Kyle Judish at 105, Bryce Gematt at 112, Scott Schlosser at 119, Jared Giard at 125, Colby Johns at 130 pounds and Logan Erickson at 135 pounds. “Conrad is a very solid team especially in the lighter weights, so we will have some good competition there, “ Filius said. But I think we are a little tougher than they are in the bottom weights.” The remainder of the Conrad team includes, Andrew Lehnerz at 140 pounds, Bryce Watterud at 145 pounds, Austin Breding at 152, Trent Knox at 160, Norman Vanderbush at 171, Aaron Lehnerz at 189 and JD Hough of the heavyweight division. HHS will honor its seniors before the dual with the Cowboys. Havre and Conrad will go head-tohead on Saturday night inside the HHS gymnasium.
