GFH pins Ponies in a close dual

Both the Havre High and Great Falls High wrestling programs are at the top of the state rankings, and when the two met, the dual was just as competitive as fans hoped for.

Thursday night in Great Falls, the Class A Blue Ponies took on the Class AA Bison in Great Falls. The Bison defeated the Ponies 38-26, sending both teams into the holiday break after a tough night of competition.

The Ponies knew they were going to be fully tested, and the Bison didn't disappoint. This was the third time the Ponies and Bison crossed paths this season, but the first time the two top-tier squads faced off in a dual. Head coach Scott Filius was more interested in his team getting better rather than simply earning a team win, but his Ponies nearly got both. GFH ended up winning by 12 total team points, but the Ponies kept things relatively close by giving up just three falls in the Bison's nine wins. HHS earned six individual wins, but also earned two wins by way of fall.

Grayson Brenna (105) pinned Austin Furr in 3:20, while Jordan Schroeder (152) also pinned Brandon Bilbrey in a blazing 51 seconds. But Keegan Kennelly (98) also earned a technical fall for the Ponies, beating Blade Massey, 18-2. Also earning wins for Havre were, Dylan Stewart (119) with a 4-0 decision, Thomas Gruber (130) by a 4-3 decision, and Grant Pattison (189) with a 6-3 decision. Logan Plenninger (112), Dylan Carpenter (125), Gilbert Bara (135), Gunnar Aageson (140), Kody Pribyl (145), David Borris (160) and Jake Williams (171) all suffered losses for the Ponies.

The Ponies will be back in action on Jan. 4-5 at the Cut Bank Invitational.

Great Falls High 38, Havre 26

98—Keegan Kennelly, Havre, by tech fall over Blade Massey, 18-2; 105—Grayson Brenna, Havre, pinned Austin Furr, 3:20; 112—Jarren Komac, Great Falls, dec. Logan Plenninger, 10-1; 119—Dylan Stewart, Havre, dec. Tommy McMillen, 4-0; 125—Casey Dobson, Great Falls, pinned Dylan Carpenter, 1:14; 130—Thomas Gruber, Havre, dec. Kenton Evans, 4-3; 135—Austin Shupe, Great Falls, dec. Gilbert Bara, 8-4; 140—Kessler Leonard, Great Falls, pinned Gunnar Aageson, 1:50; 145—Gage Bentley, Great Falls, dec. Kody Pribyl, 7-5; 152—Jordan Schroeder, Havre, pinned Brandon Bilbrey, :51; 160—Cody Henderson, Great Falls, dec. David Borris, 13-4; 171—Randy Keesler, Great Falls, dec. Jake Williams, 8-4; 189—Grant Pattison, Havre, dec. Eric Weaver, 6-3; 215—Andreas Geranios, Great Falls, dec. Tyler Adams, 3-2; Hwt—Lane Urick, Great Falls, pinned Dustin Odegard, :44.

Photo courtesy of Larry Beckner/Great Falls Tribune

Great Falls High's Jarren Komac, top, wrestles Havre's Logan Pleninger in the 112-pound match Thursday in the Old Gym at Great Falls High School. Komac won the match 10-1, while the Bison defeated the Blue Ponies 38-26.