Four Havre High wrestlers accomplished something none of them had done before in their high school careers win individual state championships.
Sophomore Jeff Hedges took the crown at 105 pounds by pinning Anaconda's J. Richman in 5:38. Jeff Hedges also won the quick pin award for the Class A division by getting the most pins in the shortest amount of time. Jeff Hedges came into the tournament with the top seed in the state. Jeff Hedges placed sixth in his only other state tournament appearance. Jeff Hedges finished the season with a 35-4 record.
"I knew we needed the team points, if I let him up it would be a technical fall and only five team points," Jeff Hedges said Saturday. "I didn't know if I was going to get it or not. I was awful tired, but I figured it was the last match of the year and I had to give it my all."
Senior Chad Hedges, Jeff's older brother, battled his way to his first state championship title with a 5-2 win by decision over Curt Coates from Hamilton at 130 pounds. Chad Hedges had placed second in two other state tournament appearances and fourth in his other as a sophomore. Chad Hedges also took the top ranking into state and finished the season with a 39-1 record.
"Winning a state championship is great," Chad Hedges said Saturday. "Having your brother win one the same year is awesome."
Another senior, K.P. Fisher, rebounded from a second-place finish at last year's state tournament to take the title at 152 pounds. Fisher defeated James Byrd of Columbia Falls by decision 6-2.
"This tourney was all about guts," Fisher said Saturday. "Our guys stayed solid through the semis, wrestlebacks and the whole tournament."
Havre's fourth title winner, senior Garrett Hanson, edged Lewistown's Chris Scotten with a win by decision 4-3. Hanson, who took the top seed into the state tournament, placed third in his only other state appearance.
"I knew I had to step it up for the team," Hanson said. "The team wrestled hard. Some guys lost some matches earlier that we could have won, but having four state champions is great."
The four individual titles led the Ponies to a second-place finish, falling just one-half point short of the title. Corvallis won the state championship with 160.5 points with Havre trailing at 160 points. Polson finished in a near third with 158 points.
