Tough freshman Mick Chagnon looks to help HHS defend Class A Duals title

In recent years, the Havre High wrestling team has seen a number of talented freshmen come through the program and this season, with the emergence of Mick Chagnon, the Blue Ponies have found another.

In the grand scheme of things, the Ponies don't have a lot of seniors, but they have an experienced roster and as of right now, Chagnon is the only freshman among Havre's regulars. And this weekend, he will look to build on his stellar campaign at the Class A Duals in Lewistown.

"Mick is starting to get more consistent each and every week," HHS head coach Scott Filius said.

Before the season, Filius knew what he had in Chagnon. He mentioned Chagnon as someone who could come in right away and potentially do some damage.

"I think that he's got a chance to do something," Filius said back in November.

So far, it appears he was right. Chagnon's fifth-place finish at the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula last week was one of his more impressive showings of the season and not just because of where he placed, but also because of what he did to get there.

Since the Class A wrestling rankings were first released, Chagnon has been among the top wrestlers at 103 pounds. He opened the season with an individual title at the Havre Invitational and he hasn't really slowed down. Chagnon also won an individual crown at the Cut Bank Invitational two weeks ago, but arguably his most impressive victory came over top-ranked Eli Warner of Frenchtown.

The two freshmen first duked it out at the Tri-State wrestling tournament in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where the Frenchtown product got the best of Chagnon after pinning him in 3:44. Yet, in Missoula, the two would meet again, twice in fact.

In the first match at the Jug Beck, Warner got the better of Chagnon again, defeating him by way of an 8-3 decision. However, Chagnon, who was under the weather, bounced back to beat him for fifth place, pinning the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class in 1:45.

"It felt good," Chagnon said. "I was just a little under the weather that day. I kind of learned what he likes to do and I found a way to cope with it."

The win was a signal that Chagnon, who was also beaten earlier in the year by Sidney's Kaden Cline is ready to compete with the best in the state, which has been his goal all along for this season, his first in high school wrestling.

"I just want to get to state," Chagnon said. "And I want to try and get on the podium."

It might not seem like it, but in just two weeks from this Saturday, Chagnon and the Ponies will be wrestling in the Eastern A Divisional and in three weeks, Havre will join the rest of the state at the All-Class state tournament at the Metra. The fact that it's getting closer, means only a few more chances to fine tune things for the postseason.

In what could be the final test of the regular season for the Ponies, they will head to the Class A Duals, which are in Lewistown this weekend. Havre won the tournament last season, knocking off Sidney in the finals, 48-18.

Yet, the Eagles got the best of Havre when the two teams faced each other in a dual last month in Sidney. Because of that, Havre fell to No. 3 in the Class A poll, trailing both Frenchtown and Sidney. However, after finishing second at the Jug Beck, if the Ponies win this weekend, they should resume their customary spot at the top of the rankings.

But with all 22 Class A teams in attendance, winning the team title will be easier said than done. Sidney and Frenchtown look to be the top challengers to Havre's title, but Polson and Lewistown could also find themselves in the mix. Teams will be split into four pools of either five or six teams. The top two teams from each pool will compete in the championship bracket Saturday, while the third and fourth-place teams will compete in the consolation bracket.

The Class A Duals will get underway Friday at 10 a.m. The tournament Saturday will get started at 9 a.m. The Ponies will wrestle at home for the final time when they dual Glasgow on Tuesday night.