Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Austin Ratliff, Havre High Wrestling

The Havre High wrestling team has been champing at the bit to get back on the mat in a competitive fashion and this weekend, the Blue Ponies will finally get that chance. And one wrestler who is as excited about that as anyone on the team is senior Austin Ratliff.

"I know I personally am very excited," Ratliff said. "I know the other guys are excited too. Every year we have come in with this hype and we are just ready to battle."

Ratliff and his teammates will get the opportunity to battle with the Havre Invitational, which gets underway Friday inside the HHS gymnasium. The action will start at 1 p.m., Friday with the round-robin matches. The tournament will actually begin Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m.

Of course, every Havre wrestler wants to do well at the Havre Invitational, especially since the Ponies are scheduled to compete at home just one other time this season and that's in a Dec. 20 dual with Sidney.

Either way, this will be the only tournament hosted at the HHS gymnasium this season and that alone will be a motivating factor for Ratliff, who has come close but hasn't been able to capture first place at the Havre Invite. Last season was the closest that he came, as he finished second to K.C. Buday of CMR. The year before that, Ratliff finished fifth.

While Ratliff has yet to win an individual title at his home meet, he did reach the top of the podium last season for the first time, as he took home the top prize at the Malta Invitational. Ratliff followed that up with a third-place finish at the Eastern A Divisional meet. That finish got him to the state tournament for the second time in his career, however, he has yet to reach the podium. He fell one match short of placing last season.

Certainly, wrestling has been the main focus of Ratliff during his athletic career at Havre High, yet he has also played varsity football for the Blue Ponies and this fall, he took part in cross country as an effort to get in better shape for wrestling. He also played on the HHS tennis team last spring.

"I think that is really helped me mentally," Ratliff said. "When I am in the room, it's a lot like when I was in my races. I had to fight through and finish those just like I will have to be able to finish my matches."

With the season just days away, Ratliff and the Ponies have put in plenty of hard work and now, it's time to realize the fruits of their labor. As a team, HHS is hoping to win another team championship at its home meet, while guys like Ratliff hope to do the same as individuals.

Yet, before the season gets started, the Havre Daily News caught up wth Ratliff for five questions.

HDN: You guys have a new coach this year, how has that gone so far?

Ratliff: "It has gone pretty well. (Coach Beau LaSalle) is kind of going his own way with it and I think we are all buying into it. We are hungry from last year. I don't want to say we got complacent but we are just trying to work hard and get tougher."

HDN: What is it going to be like for you as a senior at the Havre Invite for the last time?

Ratliff: "It's going to be something else. I guess I never really thought about it. But I guess when I put the shoes away for the last time I will think about it a little more."

HDN: What would it mean for you to win your home tournament?

Ratliff: "It would be great. I think it would be a great stepping stone for this season. I am feeling pretty confident, but that would help build my confidence even more."

HDN: What is your individual goal for this season?

Ratliff: "Just to wrestle as tough as I can. I am there physically and I am there with everything else, I just need to wrestle through matches and keep grinding."

HDN: What are you looking forward to the most this season?

Ratliff: "Just going out and beating up people with my friends."