2015 State Wrestling Preview: Loaded: 16 Ponies looking for glory

The Havre High wrestling team will walk into the Rimrock Auto Arena at the Billings Metra Friday morning as the two-time defending Class A state champions and the No. 1 team in Class A.

Included in Friday morning's Parade of Athletes will be three returning state champions for Havre and nine Ponies who placed at the state meet a year ago - not to mention 10 wrestlers who won divisional titles last weekend in Livingston.

Yes, Havre is a heavy favorite to capture the state championship for a third straight year. But, when it comes to the state tournament, things get a bit more complicated, no matter how much talent a team like Havre has. And while other teams in Class A, with the exception of Sidney, don't have the firepower the Blue Ponies have, there's always the individual talent that can make differences in what the outcome of a state tournament might end up being.

And make no mistake, the 2015 Class A state tournament is loaded with individual talent. There are 11 returning state champions in the field, and a record 15 wrestlers who have won at least one state title in their career. There's also over 30 grapplers who reached the medal stand a year ago, and, if that wasn't enough, there will be a host of new faces ready to make a name for themselves this weekend in Billings.

Here's a breakdown of all 16 Havre grapplers entered in this weekend's Class A state tournament, by their weight class.

103 – Ryan Stewart (24-17)

Stewart is a freshman, and the 103-pound class is the new combination weight class this year. The MHSA did away with 98 and 105 pounds, and went to 103 instead. And, though he's just a frosh, Stewart should have an excellent chance to reach the final. Frenchtown's Caleb Bagnell is the only returning placer in the bracket, while Stewart just beat top-ranked Bridger Grover of Lewistown in the Central A final. Stewart opens the tourney against Miles City's Kon Speelman.

113 – Open

The Ponies have been open at 113 all season long. The bracket itself will be a dog fight, with defending 98-pound champ Sawyer Deegan of Belgrade and Sidney's Wyatt Van Buren as the favorites. It would actually be a big help to HHS if Deegan, or anyone else in the field but Van Buren wins the state title.

120 – Keegan Kennelly (24-5)

Kennelly, a junior, is a two-time state runner-up, including at 106 pounds last year. He's been ranked one or two at 120 all season long, but he'll again have a brutal road to his first state title. He's on a collision course with defending 113-pound state champ Trace Jones of Sidney in the semifinals, while Dillon's Kholtin Starkel, who beat Kennelly in the final a year ago, is on the other side of the draw. Frenchtown's Cody Warner and Columbia Falls' Mason Fetters add to what is one of the toughest brackets in the lower weights. Kennelly opens the state tourney with Sidney's Jace Johnson.

120 – Dylan Stewart (22-5)

Stewart, ranked No. 6, is a two-time returning placer for the Ponies, including finishing fifth at 126 a year ago. He's had a great senior season, and he should give Havre plenty of extra points with Kennelly at 120. Still, his road will be a tough one with such a loaded weight class, but of all the wrestlers in the bracket, Stewart is the one none of the top seeds should overlook. Stewart begins his state tourney against Billings Central's Hunter Braaten.

126 – Logan Pleninger (30-7)

Pleninger is also a two-time returning state placer for the Ponies, having finished third at 113 a year ago. He's been ranked No. 2 for most of the season, and has been brilliant against tough competition all year long. But, he's also in one of the premier weight classes in the tournament, a class that includes Sidney star Gresh Jones, who's on the verge of history and is headed to the University of Minnesota. If Jones wins Saturday night, he'll join the rare four-time state champion club. The bracket also includes former two-time 98-pound state champ Clay Stillwagon of Butte Central, 2014 120-pound runner-up Chase Connor of Corvallis and Columbia Falls standout Haze Bell. Pleninger would see Jones in the semis, but he opens the bracket against Billings Central's Dylan Neutgens.

132 – Grayson Brenna (41-3)

Brenna has one mission this weekend – to win a state title. He did that as a sophomore, but lost a heartbreaker to Jones in the 120-pound semis a year ago. Brenna has been the class of the 132-pound division all season long, ranked No. 1 and winning multiple titles. And he's a heavy favorite this weekend. But it won't be easy as his bracket includes former state champ Ethan Graves of Sidney, as well as returning state placers Clayton Carter of Laurel, Brent Tezak of Dillon and Tyler Isher of Frenchtown. Brenna's quest begins with Anaconda's Drew Vaughn.

132 – Jazz Schroeder (5-5)

Schroeder, a freshman, will be a wildcard in the bracket. The Ponies will count on him to get key points, and he should make some noise after a strong first season in Havre. Yes, the bracket is loaded, but he's on the other side from the likes of Brenna and Graves, and if he can get by Corvallis' Drew Schmitt in the first round, things will be wide open.

138 – Dane Flammond (24-14)

A sophomore, Flammond is making his second state tourney trip. He finished second at the Central A behind two-time state champ Jarrett Deegan of Belgrade. The bracket features not only Deegan, but Columbia Falls' Shonn Roberts who's trying to become part of history as a four-time state champion. Corvallis' Tyler Olson is another strong wrestler in the bracket, but Flammond not only has a good chance to place, but to at least reach the semifinals. He faces Anaconda's Jesse Cooper in the first round.

145 – Parker Filius (34-4)

Filius is one of two Havre wrestlers with a chance to be a four-time state champion. But in order to do that, he's got to win as a sophomore. Filius cruised to the 138-pound title a year ago, and has been ranked No. 1 all this season. His bracket doesn't have a single returning placer from a year ago, with Columbia Falls' Colton Grove being the top contender. Filius begins his quest for a second straight state title against Hamilton's Dustin Copeland.

145 – Gunnar Aageson (24-16)

Aageson is making his fourth straight trip to state. He's a returning placer and is also in the wide-open 145-pound class. He's had a strong senior season, and it's not out of the question that Aageson could wrestle his way into the final and face off against Filius. He begins his last state tourney against Anaconda's Brevlin Thompson.

152 – Kody Pribyl (32-13)

Pribyl had a strong showing at last year's state tourney, finishing fourth at 145, and he's been even better as a junior. Ranked No. 3 coming in, Pribyl is in a bracket with no returning state champs, though Sidney's Ryan Chatterton was a runner-up last year and Libby's Zach Crace is another strong contender, as is Butte Central's Zach Hart. But Pribyl is on the opposite side of the draw from Chatterton and Crace, meaning a trip to final's night is certainly within his grasp. He opens the tourney against Corvallis' Baylee Burt.

160 – Jase Stokes (36-5)

Stokes, like Filius, has a chance to be a four-timer, and in his sophomore season, he's become one of the most dominant middle-weight wrestlers in Montana. Winning at 152 as a freshman, Stokes' bracket this year is wide open, and he is a heavy favorite to repeat. Corvallis' Riley Jessop is the only returning state placer in the draw, while Sidney's Doug Rooney is having a strong season. But make no mistake, this draw is Stokes' for the taking. Stokes will wrestle Stevensville's Mason Griffin in the first round.

170 – Tyler Schaub (22-15)

Schaub, a freshman, won a Central A title last weekend. And there's no question, he's already good enough to get on the podium in his first state tourney appearance. But he's in one of the premier brackets of the upper weights, a bracket that includes two defending state champions. Top-ranked Cody Johnson of Sidney won the 160-pound title a year ago, while Libby's Garrett Chapel is the defending 170-pound champ. So Schaub is in a bracket with two of the elite wrestlers in Class A. Schaub will wrestle his first-ever state tourney match against Libby's Alex Yeadon.

170 – John Chinadle (15-8)

Chinadle is also in the loaded 170-pound bracket, but together, he and Schaub could certainly rack up extra points for the Ponies. Chinadle finished third at the Central A last week, and will open the tourney with a tough match against Polson's Tele Seelman.

182 – Jordan Schroeder (10-2)

If there is an award for comeback wrestler of the year, it should go to Schroeder. At one point, it looked like injuries had derailed his entire wrestling career, but in the last three weeks, he's stormed back into competition. His bracket is tough with returning state runner-up Cody Christian of Sidney, as well as returning state placers Connor Murdock of Hardin and Raven Cunningham of Belgrade, along with Central A champ Devan Blythe of Lewistown. But Schroeder might just be the guy no one wants to face this weekend. Schroeder will wrestle his first match at state since his sophomore year against Frenchtown's Tristan Austin.

205 – Jace Billy (29-4)

It shouldn't be much of a sweat for Billy to conquer the new 205-pound weight class. He's ranked No. 1 and has been dominant all year, and he's a returning state champion. So, if Billy wrestlers like he's been wrestling all season, the rest of the field doesn't stand much of a chance. Still, Hamilton's Michael Bumgarner, Dillon's Parker Tezak and Sidney's Hunter Severson are all returning state placers. But Billy is the heavy favorite, no doubt. Billy begins his quest for a second straight state title against Travis Catina of Whitefish.

HWT – Travis Adams (40-3)

Adams made a brilliant run to the 220-pound title match a year ago, losing to his older brother Tyler. As a junior, Adams has dominated the heavyweights across Montana, losing just three times all season. Adams is on the smaller side for a heavyweight, and Columbia Falls' Spencer Ross and Sidney's Christian Gomez are two threats, but Adams is definitely the big man to beat this weekend. He'll begin his quest for a first individual title against Glendive's Eli Marley.