By Tiffany L. Rehbein
A 152-pound wrestling rivalry sparked last season looks to continue this season for the Havre Blue Ponies.
Sophomore K.P. Fisher won by decision over Chris Scotten of Fergus to advance to the championship round at the Havre Invitational Saturday.
Scotten, formerly of Havre, and Fisher battled last season and look to do the same this year.
In overtime of the championship match, with neither grappler scoring a take-down point, Fisher pinned Luke Spencer of Malta for the title.
"That was a big win for him in overtime," Filius said. "It looked to me like they were out of gas going into the third period, so it was big."
However, the Ponies fell short as team, finishing second with 205.5 points behind Malta, who won the invite with 208 points.
"We really didn't do too badly," head coach Scott Filius said. "Malta did a great job. They've got a really nice squad and they work hard."
Senior Nick Newell, who did not wrestle past the first period, took first place at 105 pounds.
"Nobody even worked him up," Filius said.
Junior Nick Holt (130) won by decision over Will Haugen of Chinook for a first-place finish. He also did not get out of the first period. Holt finished second at state last season.
Aaron Jensen, a junior, outwrestled teammate Chad Finneman who wrestled unattached at 145 pounds for the top finish in the division.
"This is the first tournament that he has won," Filius said. "He did a real nice job of doing it, and that was nice to see."
Havre's Travis Velk finished second, falling to Malta's Wayne French in the championship match at 112 pounds.
Blue Pony junior Chad Maney fell to Casey Reid of Chinook at 125 pounds for a second-place finish.
Sophomore Jacob Szudera was overcome by state finisher Kris LaBrie of Malta at 135 pounds. Szudera finished second for Havre.
At 140 pounds, Cody Hanson fell to Adam Johnson of Malta to finish second.
Mike Maddox of Chinook outwrestled Willie Hulett at 171 pounds for the title.
"Right now, we need to make sure that we are wrestling to win and not wrestling not to lose," Filius said. "We need to get their attitude to where they're just a little more competitive."
The Blue Ponies, the defending State A champion, travels to Dillon Thursday for a duals meet, and returns to Butte Friday and Saturday for the Mining City Duals.
