Blue Ponies crown two champs, finish third

Havre senior Eli Hinebauch celebrates his 152-pound Class A state championship Saturday night inside Rimrock Auto Arena in Billings. Hinebauch finished an undefeated season with his second consecutive Class A championship.

Havre High sophomore Thomas Gruber (right) battles Belgrade's Ethan Bristol during a 130-pound consolation match Saturday afternoon at the Class A state tournament in Billings.

HHS's Kameron Pribyl (top) battles Corvallis' Riley Nagel in the 160-pound semifinals Saturday morning in Billings.

BILLINGS — A team can't win them all, but that doesn't mean they won't turn in another outstanding showing in their attempt.

Friday and Saturday, the Havre High Blue Pony wrestling team was in Billings for the all class state wrestling tournament. The tournament returned to the Rimrock Arena at the Metra after a one-year vacancy due to the 2010 Father's Day tornadoe in Billings.

But in the arena where the Class A Ponies have found so much success over the years, they looked to be more than comfortable in their return to Billings, and though HHS didn't win a state title this weekend, the Ponies had plenty to do with hwo did. HHS finished in third place with 188.5 points. It was Corvallis who claimed the No. 1 spot with 222.5 and Laurel who took second with 215. The Blue Devils are the first Western A team to capture the Class A crown since they did it in 2002.

Havre finished second a year ago, but took home four consecutive team titles prior, as the Ponies continue to build on one the biggest high school wrestling dynasties in state history.

This weekend nine Havre wrestlers placed. Casey Scaub (189) and Eli Hinebauch (152) both grabbed state championships, while freshman Grayson Brenna (98) was No. 2. Dylan Stewart (105) and Kameron Pribyl (160) both finished No. 3. Thomas Gruber (130) placed fourth, Gilbert Bara (119), Grant Pattison (171) Tyler Adams (215) all finished in fifth for the Ponies.

"I was pleased with our kids," Havre head coach Scott Filius said. "They had another good tournament and wrestled really well. We had a little bit of a lull this morning (Saturday), but we came right back from that and wrestled well after that. Basically, Corvallis and Laurel had a little bit more horsepower than we did this year."

At the start of the weekend, the Ponies looked like they were going to shock the favored Corvallis Blue Devils.

HHS brought 19 kids to state this year, and had one of their best opening days of action in years. They went 12-7 on Friday morning, including 10 wins by way of pin. Unfortunately senior Dillon Seely (140) had his struggles, going 1-2 on Friday, but fellow seniors Hinebauch (152) and Schaub (189) looked at the peak of their game, earning two pins each in less than a total of two minutes.

Also on Friday, Brenna (98) went 2-0, Stewart (105) went 2-0, Nate Kennelly (112) went 2-1, Bara (119) went 2-1, Dustin Seely (125) went 0-2, Gruber (130) went 2-0, Gunnar Aageson (130) went 1-2, Matt Emge (135) went 0-2, Jordan Schroeder (145) went 1-2, Jason Kohler (152) went 1-2, Pribyl (160) went 2-0, Pattison (171) went 2-0, Jace Billy (171) went 0-2, Adams (215) went 2-0, Dustin Odegard (215) went 0-2 and Kolton Lodge (HWT) went 2-1.

Gruber has wrestled well in his sophomore season, and his quarterfinal win was a big one. In the quarterfinals, Gruber defeated the always tough Austin Cannon with a 7-5 decision. And fellow sophomore Adams, his quarterfinal win over James Weidow of Corvallis was also big for not only him, but the Ponies' hunt for contention as well. Adams defeated Weidow with a 9-1 major decision.

After Friday was in the books, the Ponies trailed Corvallis by just seven points.

But when Saturday rolled around, naturally the talent the Ponies faced was much better. And after an extremely hot start on Friday, the Ponies didn't produce the same numbers to Saturday's action. And when the dust settled, the seven point deficit was stretched much further as the Ponies continued to fight for a top spot in the team standings.

Eventually the Ponies finished third, but still battled through a lot of tough matches even with the slow start on Saturday.

"I though there was a couple places where a couple of kids could have done better," Schaub said. "But after watching all weekend long, I have seen that every kid who wrestled gave it their all. That is all you can ask for.

"The competition was great," Filius added. "The second day is always good. We just got outwrestled, so hats off to them."

HHS wrestled 11 matches in the morning session on Saturday, but won just four of those. Kennelly was knocked out of the tournament with a loss, as was Lodge. Losses by Stewart, Gruber, Pribyl, Pattison and Adams knocked them into the consolation bracket, while Brenna, Bara, Hinebauch and Schaub all marched on with wins.

Brenna, Hinebauch and Schaub would also win their semifinal matches to compete in the championship finals.

But Pribyl's loss was a tough one to handle for him as well as Havre fans. Facing Riley Nagel of Corvallis, Pribyl came up just short in the match, losing by a 4-3 decision.

But Stewart, Bara, Gruber, Pribyl, Pattison and Adams were still alive in the consolation semifinals

Stewart bounced back with a 4-3 win over Josh Venema (COR), as did Gruber with a 3-2 win over Ethan Briston (BEL). Pribyl overcame his emotional loss and defeated Colter Devers (BEL) 5-0. Stewart, Gruber and Pribyl all pushed themselves into the third-fourth place matches, while Bara, Pattison and Adams suffered losses and would wrestle in the fifth-sixth place matches.

In the Consolation finals, Stewart once again showed off his freshman talent with a win. Stewart defeated Derrick Sisneros (HAM) 11-9. Near the end of the match Stewart trailed 9-8, but scored three points on a near fall right at the end of the third period for the third place win. Pribyl also won, showing he too was a contender. Pribyl defeated George Smith (CEN) with a 15-2 major decision, controlling the match the entire time. Also vying for third, Gruber suffered a loss in his final match. Canon, who Gruber defeated earlier in the tournament turned the table on Gruber and pinned him in 2:22, giving Gruber the fourth place finish.

"I was pretty excited yesterday (Friday)," Gruber said. "When I made it to the semifinals because I knew that meant I would place. And I am not going to lie, I wasn't expecting to place this weekend just because last year I came and lost both my matches and went home early. This year I made a comeback and ended up taking fourth.

"This year was just as tough for me compared to last year," Gruber added. "But I handled it way better this year. Last year I was really nervous, but this year I understood what I needed to do."

Bara, Pattison and Adams all won their final matches, earning the No. 5 placing this year. Barra pinned Zach Crace (LIB) in 1:57, while Pattison pinned Dace Fisher (SID) in 2:15. Adams defeated Jacob Babcock (COF) with a tight 5-4 decision.

"It feels good to battle back and place," Bara said after missing the majority of this season. "I didn't know if I was going to be able to do it this year, but I battled back and got it done. It took a lot of confidence and determination, and my coaches were right there behind supporting me and helping me, so it was good. I tried my hardest and I feel like it was a pretty good finish.

"We had a whole pile of kids win their last match," Filius added. "We had nine kids place, and of those nine, seven of them won their last match. Picking a highlight, that was great an I am proud of all of them.