On a roll: Ponies trample Rustlers

The Havre High wrestling team is fresh off one of its biggest tournament wins in years. But last night, against CMR, the Blue Ponies showed no signs of complacency, dominating the Rustlers 51-15 inside the HHS Gymnasium Tuesday night.

Havre wasn't perfect on the night, but in the end, the Ponies were pretty close, losing a total of just three matches, while taking home nine victories, with one coming by forfeit.

"We were tired," HHS head coach Scott Filius said. "We have done a lot of wrestling and we had a long trip. But it was really nice to wrestle in our gym and nice not to have to travel. We know, living in Havre, that we have to travel a lot and we accept that, but it was nice to be home in front of our fans. They will follow us a long way, we had a lot of parents cheering us on in Coeur d'Alene but, it was nice they could watch us at home. We don't get many at home."

CMR won the opening match of the night, but after that Mason Dionne got a pin at 152 pounds for Havre over J.C. Depping, then Dane Flammond pinned CMR's Mike Ryan in 25 seconds and HHS led 12-6.

Graydon Irish answered with the Rustlers second win by fall of the night, as he pinned Taylor Gopher of Havre, to tie the dual at 12-12. But thanks to pins by Walter White (182) and Jase Stokes (205), the Ponies grabbed a 24-12 advantage. K.C. Budlay did earn a hard-fought decision for the Rustlers in the heavyweight class, knocking off Jared Sienkowski 4-1, but it would be CMR's last victory of the night.

Cameron Pleninger notched a pin at 103 pounds for Havre, followed by a victory by Ryan Stewart that also came via pin in just 1:13. Marc Ramirez got a win for HHS, via forfeit at 120 pounds, which pushed the lead to 42-15.

Lane Paulson (126) won a 4-2 decision over Carter Carroll and to close things out, Martin Wilkie got a victory at 132 pounds after pinning CMR's Zach Williamson in 1:19.

"I was pleased with the effort throughout," Filius said. "Technically, the kids are starting to get better and they are starting to understand what we want from them as coaches. It's coming around."

After taking on the Rustlers inside the HHS gymnasium Tuesday, Havre will turn around and take on Lewistown Thursday The two Central A rivals rarely dual each other head-to-head, but Filius said the Eagles could provide a challenge, at least at a few different weights.

"Overall, I don't think it will be much of a challenge," Filius said. "But they do have four or five kids that will make things hard on us. They have some good young kids and they have an up-and-coming program. So it will be nice to have them come here and it will be nice for us to wrestle in our gym again."

Coach Filius said his lineup will be mostly the same, except he may substitute Quinn Reno at 103 pounds for Pleninger. Parker Filius should also be back in action. He didn't wrestle Tuesday because CMR did not have a 145-pounder.

"CMR didn't have anyone at 145 pounds," coach Filius said. "So we didn't see the point of getting him weighed in."

Havre and Lewistown will dual Thursday 4 p.m.

Havre 51, CMR 15

103 - Cameron Pleninger, HAV pinned Jared Masters, CMR, 3:14; 113 - Ryan Stewart, HAV, pinned Andrew Paradise, CMR, 1:22; 120 - Marc Ramirez, HAV, win by forfeit; 126 - Lane Pauslon, HAV, 4-2 dec. Carter Carroll, CMR; 132 - Martin Wilkie, HAV, pinned Zach Williamson, 1:19; Kai Stewart, CMR, pinned Connor Harris, HAV, 4:30; 152 - Mason Dionne, HAV, pinned JC Depping, 2:00; 160 - Dane Flammond, HAV, pinned Mike Ryan, CMR, :25; 170 - Graydon Irish, CMR, pinned Taylor Gopher, HAV, 3:20; 182 - Walter White, HAV, pinned Eric Adle, CMR, 1:31; 205- Jase Stokes, HAV, pinned Austin Cooper, CMR, 1:20. HWT - KC Buday, CMR, 4-1 dec. Jared Sienkowksi, HAV.