Daniel Horton Havre Daily News cpeterson@havredailynews.com
The divisional and state tournaments are approaching fast for the topranked Havre High wrestling program, and this weekend the Blue Ponies will get a chance to see how they match up against other Class A schools. On Friday and Saturday, the Ponies will be in Belgrade where they will participate as one of the clear favorites in the Class A Duals. “Collectively as a team I don’t see anyone there who can challenge us.” Havre High head coach Scott Filius said. “We haven’t seen all the teams in the east we would like to see, so really that’s what we are going down their to do.” HHS has yet to see Miles City and Hardin this year, and will be keeping a close eye on both of them this weekend. Miles City is currently ranked fourth in Class A. Laurel, Corvallis, Ronan Browning, Butte Central, Belgrade, Lewistown, and Livingston will also compete in Belgrade this weekend, making up a big pig part of the 18 Class A schools expected to attend. “From a competition standpoint there isn’t near the intensity of the last two or three weeks.” Filius said. There aren’t many teams the Ponies will face who have the same depth and overall talented team built for these dual formats. But many of the teams are equipped with individual talent. The Ponies have been wrestling well up to this point, and will need the same big names to step up once again. Duell Stadel (105), Myles Mazurkiewicz (135) , Eli Hinebauch (130) and Ethan Hinebauch (160) are all coming off top finishes a week ago and are expected to do well again. Kent Pattison (140) , Aaron Olson (145) and Mitch Schnittgen (HWT) have also been performing very well for the Ponies, and should be ones to watch this weekend and further on down the stretch. Zack Smith (98), Brett Normandy (119) , Dillon Seely (125), Casey Schaub (152) , Curtis Shandorf (165), Phillip Sutherland (171) and Paul Jensen(215) make up the rest of the Ponies lineup along with the missed and returning state champion, Chris Recio (112). “He goes out and competes very hard every week and has been very successful.” Filius said of Recio. “It really brings some leadership back to the program. It’s a dual meet so instead of a forfeit, we are probably picking up five or six points.” With the fast approaching state tournament right around the corner, this weekends duals will be the perfect opportunity for the Ponies to fine tune. These are the same teams the Ponies will run into at divisionals as well, so it will be good repetition for the athletes. The Ponies, the defending champions at the tournament, will be in Belgrade Friday and Saturday for the Class A duals, where action will begin on Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the Belgrade Special Events Center.
