On to state for 14 Pony grapplers

The Havre High wrestling team went to Miles City for the Eastern A Divisional tournament with one objective - qualify as many wrestlers as possible for the state tournament and in that endeavor, the Blue Ponies were quite successful.

While the Ponies were unable to seriously contend with Sidney for the Eastern A championship, Havre did qualify 14 of its 15 wrestlers for the All-Class state meet this Friday and Saturday in Billings. HHS also finished second in the meet with 233.53 points, well behind Sidney, which managed 349.52. Miles City was third, followed by Laurel and then Belgrade.

"I was really pleased with the way the kids wrestled," HHS head coach Beau LaSalle said. "When we wrestled Sidney, I thought that we wrestled well and we got just about every kid through to state and every kid wrestled well."

Havre wound up in second place thanks in large part to seven wrestlers advancing to the finals including both Mick Chagnon and Riley Pleninger at 103 pounds, making it an all-Havre final. Chagnon, who has put together a spectacular season took home the title at 103 pounds and will head to state at the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class. The sophomore steamrolled the field in Miles City with three pins and a major decision.

"Mick wrestled a good tournament," LaSalle sald. "Both he and Riley wrestled well. Mick was just more dominant in the finals and he wrestled a very smart match."

Chagnon was second on the team with 29 points but senior Martin Wilkie wasn't far behind with 27.5, which he earned on his way to winning his fourth consecutive divisional championship. Wilkie won his title after notching two pins, a major decision and a tech fall. He will head to state undefeated and No. 1 at 145 pounds.

"He is our first one to win four times at a super divisional," LaSalle said. "It started when he was a freshman and each year, he has faced some tough kids. It hasn't been a cake walk and this weekend, he faced some tough kids, but he just did what he does."

Joining Wilkie and Chagnon as divisional champions was 120-pounder Cameron Pleninger. The junior who has placed twice at state earned his most significant tournament victory and pinned Jordan Darby of Sidney in 2:57 to get it. That completed a run of four straight pins for Pleninger, who scored a team-high 30 points and earned the tournament's quick-pin crown.

"I expected Cam to win," LaSalle said, "but he pinned his way through and really just established dominance. And winning the quick pin is a nice thing to get, too."

Cameron's younger brother Riley (103 pounds) was one of four Havre wrestlers to finish runner-up and the other three, Lane Paulson, Connor Harris and Austin Ratliff all finished second as a result of close losses.

At 138 pounds, in a battle of former second-place finishers at state, Paulson lost a 3-2 decision to Sidney's Christian Dean. Paulson was second two years ago and Dean was second at 126 pounds last season. Another highly anticipated match took place at 152 pounds between Harris and John Mears of Belgrade, a two-time state champion.

The two have met multiple times this year and just recently, Harris beat Mears. Yet, when they met for the divisional championship, it was Mears who conquered Harris by way of a 7-4 decision. It's a match that spectators could see again Saturday night at the Metra.

Ratliff also put together a solid tournament for HHS, notching an impressive win over Tyler Harms of Miles City before falling in the finals to Shane Gibson of Livingston, who won a 13-7 decision.

"I think with all three of those guys (Paulson, Harris, Ratliff)," LaSalle said. "They were in position for a takedown that could have changed the match. But they are all in a good position. Connor beat a Sidney kid and so did Lane - that was big for him at 138. Looking at the brackets and where we are at, I like how things worked out for us. The kids did a great job setting us up for state."

On top of the Ponies' seven top-2 finishes, Havre also had seven others place in the top eight, which is what is required to advance to the state meet.

The top finisher in that group was freshman Orion Thivierge who was fourth at 145 pounds. Dominic Perkins (126) finished fifth, while Kendall Pleninger (126), Brayden Stadell (182) Taylor Gopher (170) were each fifth, followed by Wyatt Hansen (138) and Randy Tommerup (132) who were each seventh.

The Ponies, who finished second at state last season will look to knock off defending state champion Sidney along with the rest of Class A starting Friday in Billings at the Metra.

Eastern A

at Miles City

Team scores: Sidney 349.52; Havre 233.53; Miles City 173.04; Laurel 152.04; Belgrade 113.56; Lewistown 99.07; Hardin 94.08; Billings Central 76.59; Glendive 69.010; Livingston 49.0.

103: Mick Chagnon, Havre; Riley Pleninger, Havre; Devon O'Neill; Brendan Pinter, Laurel; Devon Isaacson, Laurel; Brennen Payne, Glendive; Christian Lassey, Sidney-Fairview; Jacob Shurtliff, Miles City

113: Kaiden Cline, Sidney-Fairview; Braxton Scheeler, Miles City; Keith Pretty Weasel, Hardin; Orrin Russell, Miles City; Ivan Lee, Laurel; Matt Foley, Belgrade; Jonathan Herr, Laurel; Jace Kassner, Glendive

120: Cameron Pleninger, Havre; Jordan Darby, Sidney-Fairview; Alex Derbyshire, Billings Central; Cade Gubler, Livingston; Orin Muri, Miles City; Vince Dichos, Billings Central; Cael Nearhoof, Lewistown; Max Brown, Laurel

126: Cooper Birdwell, Lewistown; Everett Jensen, Sidney-Fairview; Oden Currier, Belgrade; Keagan Thompson, Laurel; Dominic Perkins, Havre; Kendall Pleninger, Havre; Jack Murnion, Miles City; Alec Manseau, Lewistown

132: Aden Graves, Sidney-Fairview; Damian Leidholt, Miles City; Kolton Reid, Sidney-Fairview; Cody Todd, Billings Central; Aden Rogge, Livingston; Braeden Foos, Laurel; Randy Tommerup, Havre; Caden McCord, Lewistown

138: Christian Dean, Sidney-Fairview; Lane Paulson, Havre; Keagan Campbell, Laurel; Kade Graves, Sidney-Fairview; Hunter Popestaitke, Hardin; Danny Anderson, Miles City; Wyatt Hansen, Havre; Colter Lindsey, Belgrade

145: Martin Wilkie, Havre; Zander Burnison, Sidney-Fairview; Dylan Lutz, Sidney-Fairview; Orion Thivierge, Havre; Kaid Campbell, Miles City; Tyler Emineth, Laurel; Brendan Gill, Belgrade; Dalton Tvedt, Miles City

152: John Mears, Belgrade; Connor Harris, Havre; Jace Winter, Sidney-Fairview; Jacob Morgan, Billings Central; Caleb Hill, Laurel; Ronald Anderson, Hardin; Nate McAvoy, Miles City; Memphis Burgess, Livingston

160: Riley Waters, Sidney-Fairview; Duane Otto II, Lewistown; Conner Schwend, Hardin; Easton Hopes, Sidney-Fairview; Keevyn Alexander, Laurel; Cage Linn, Belgrade; Pete Saliaris, Billings Central; Calder Pilkington, Hardin

170: Nelson Crisafulli, Glendive; Trevor Dean, Sidney-Fairview; Kevin Aiken, Belgrade; Keaton Potter, Lewistown; Liam Pauley, Miles City; Taylor Gopher, Havre; Ty Greenfield, Hardin; Junior Cady, Lewistown

182: Jett Jones, Sidney-Fairview; Cameron Younger, Laurel; Landon Farrar, Lewistown; Xaden Cunningham, Belgrade; Colton Steen, Miles City; Brayden Stadell, Havre; Dante Pallone, Hardin; Tryg Aamold, Lewistown

205: Shane Gibson, Livingston; Austin Ratliff, Havre; Ryan Wyman, Sidney-Fairview; Tyler Harms, Miles City; Jesse Murdock, Hardin; Kirby Basta, Glendive; Bo Hakert, Billings Central; Codell McNiven, Laurel

285: Keegan Mires, Glendive; Brodey Skogen, Sidney-Fairview; Archie Swift, Miles City; Gabe Hernandez, Laurel; Mason Jacobsen, Belgrade; Preston Bad Bear, Hardin; Zayne Konkol, Belgrade; Gabe Walker, Miles City

Havre Individual results

103 - Mick Chagnon (Champion)

Champ. Rd, 1 - pinned Dyson Kinnaman, BEL, 26; Quarterfinal - pinned Brennen Payne, GLE, 13; Semifinals - pinned Brendan Pinter, LAU, :36; Finals - won major decision, Riley Pleninger, HAV, 14-3.

103 - Riley Pleninger (Runner-up)

Quarterfinal - pinned Devon Isaacson, LAU, :15; Semifinals - pinned Deon O'Neil, BC,, 2:59; Finals - lost major decision, Mick Chagnon, HAV, 14-3;

113 - Hunter Velk

Quarterfinals - pinned by Kaiden Cline, SID, 2:53; Cons. Rd. 2 - Pinned by Jonathan Herr, LAU, 3:39.

120 - Cameron Pleninger (Champion)

Champ. Rd. 1 - pinned Max Brown, LAU, :53; Quarterfinals: pinned Orin Muri, Miles City, :24; Semifinals - pinned Cade Gubler, LIV, :45; Finals - pinned Jordan Darby, SID, 2:57;

126 - Kendall Pleninger (6th Place)

Quarterfinal - pinned by Everett Jensen, SID, 1:20; Cons. Rd. 2 - dec. Dillon Ray, LAU, 4-0; Cons. Rd. 3 - pinned Jake Murnion, Miles City, 1:35; Cons. Semi - pinned by Oden Currier, BEL, 1:42; 5th Place - pinned by Dominic Perkins, HAV, 1:16;

126 - Dominic Perkins (5th Place)

Champ. Rd. 1 - pinned Dillon Ray, LAU, 2:29; Quarterfinal - pinned by Cooper Birdwell, LEW, 2:26; Cons. Rd. 2 - pinned Nate Rowe, BEL, 2:22; Cons. Rd. 3 - Pinned Alec Manseau, LEW, 1:46; Cons. Semis - lost tech fall, Keagan Thompson, LAU, 20-4; 5th-Place match - pinned Kendall Pleninger, HAV, 1:16.

132 - Randy Tommerup (7th Place)

Quarterfinal - lost decision, Cody Todd, BC, 7-2; Cons. Rd. 3 - lost decision to Aden Rogge, LV, 8-2; 7th-Place match - pinned Caden McCord, LEW, 2:20.

138 - Wyatt Hansen (7th Place)

Champ Rd. 1 - Pinned by Christian Dean, SID, 1:59; Cons. Rd. 2 - pinned Dylan Gatz, LEW, 3:29; Cons. Rd. 3 - pinned by Danny Anderson, MC, 1:25; 7th-Place Match - pinned Colter Lindsley, BEL, 4:07.

138 - Lane Paulson (Runner-up)

Champ. Rd. 1 - pinned Aaron Foster, BC, :43; Quarterfinal - pinned Dylan Gatz, LEW, :57; Semifinal - won dec. Kade Graves, SID, 8-2; Finals - lost dec. Christian Dean, SID, 3-2.

145 - Martin Wilkie (Champion)

Champ Rd. 1 - pinned Ashton Groves, LEW, 1:44; Quarterfinal - pinned Brendan Gill, BEL, 1:05; Semifinals - dec. Dylan Lutz, SID, 4-0; Finals - tech fall, Zander Burnison, SID, 16-0;

145 - Orion Thivierge (4th Place)

Champ. Rd. 1 - pinned Cole Younger, LAU, :50; Quarterfinal - maj. Dec. Kaid Campbell, MC, 14-6; Semifinal - lost maj. Dec, Zander Burnison, SId, 13-2; Cons. Semi - maj. Dec. Tyler Emineth, Lau, 10-1; 3rd-Place Match - lost sudden victory Dylan Lutz, SID.

152 - Connor Harris (Runner-Up)

Quarterfinal - pinned Nate McCavoy, MC, 2:28; Semifinals - dec. Jace Winter, SD, 4-1; Finals - lost dec. John Mears, BEL, 7-4.

170 - Taylor Gopher (6th Place)

Quarterfinal - pinned by Keaton Potter, LEW, 2:39; Cons. Rd. 3 - maj. Dec. Ty Greenfield HAR 13-5; Cons. Semi - pinned by Kevin Aiken, BEl, 1:45; 5th-Place Match - pinned by Liam Pauley, MC, 1:18.

182 - Brayden Stadell (6th Place)

Quarterfinals - pinned by Cameron Younger, LAU, 1:22; Cons. Rd. 3 - dec.Dante Pallon, HAR, 7-1; Cons. Semis - pinned by Xaden Cunningham, BEL, 1:43; 5th-Place Match - lost by injury default.

205 - Austin Ratliff (Runner-up)

Quarterfinals - pinned Kirby Basta, GLE, :40; Semifinals - dec. Tyler Harms, MC, 12-5; Finals - lost dec.Shane Park, LIV, 13-7.