A parade of Ponies on finals night

BILLINGS - When it comes to high school sports in Montana, few things compare to finals night inside the Metra at the All-Class state wrestling tournament.

In a showcase of the best wrestlers the state has to offer, the Rimrock Auto Arena was at capacity Saturday evening in Billings and the thousands that showed up, including plenty from Havre, were treated to a special night that saw three wrestlers, including Havre's own Martin Wilkie join the exclusive club of four-time state champions.

For Wilkie, it was a moment that has been in the making since his first victory on finals night back in 2016 when he pinned Caleb Birdwell of Lewistown to win his first state championship. Then, after winning titles in 2017 and 2018, by the time Wilkie reached the Metra this weekend, his fourth title seemed like foregone conclusion.

After getting three wins by fall, including pins in 23 and 46 seconds Friday, Wilkie met Zander Burnison of Sidney in the finals and like he has done with most of his opponents this season, Wilkie made quick work of Burnison, pinning him in 38 seconds to clinch his fourth championship.

"I just wanted to get into my attacks early," Wilkie said. "I didn't want to mess around with him, and it went the way that we expected it to go."

While Wilkie made quick work of his opponent on finals night, Havre sophomore Mick Chagnon also dominated en route to his first individual state championship.

Following an impressive season that featured just one loss when wrestling in the 103-pound weight class, Chagnon pinned Logan Bratch of Hamilton and Trevor Bartel of Ronan in a combined 25 seconds Friday to get to the semifinals for the second straight year. Then, Chagnon won a 5-1 decision over Landen Stewart of Frenchtown to reach the finals.

In the championship match at 103 pounds, Chagnon was matched up with Noah Huffaker of Dillon and from the start, it was clear that Chagnon was on a mission. Ultimately, the match lasted a little more than three minutes before it ended as a technical fall (18-1). Like Wilkie, Chagnon attacked from the start and registered multiple takedowns and a couple of near falls in the first period to build a 10-0 lead. In the second, Chagnon got close again and after he locked Huffaker into a cradle, giving him another near fall, the match was over, causing a surge of emotion for the normally stoic Chagnon.

"It's the best feeling that I could feel right now," Chagnon said. "I have been working really hard these past two years to get here and for it to finally happen, it's hard to describe."

Chagnon who also won the Eastern A Divisional title, has gotten comfortable on the big stage and it was never more evident than it was with his performance Saturday night.

"It was awesome," Chagnon said of wrestling on finals night. "I loved representing Havre out there in the finals."

Wilkie and Chagnon were each victorious on finals night, but Havre was also represented by seniors Austin Ratliff (205) and Lane Paulson (138), as well as junior Cameron Pleninger (120).

While Paulson and Pleninger had each been to the finals previously back in 2017, when each finished as a runner-up, Ratliff hadn't placed previously but scored a clutch 4-2 win over Justin Mays of Ronan to reach state wrestling's biggest stage.

And with bright lights turned up, Ratliff was up to the task and grabbed an early 1-0 lead after an escape. Yet, his opponent, Shane Gibson of Livingston, tied things with an escape in the second before finally taking the lead with another escape point in the third with just over a minute left. At that point, one takedown could have given Ratliff a state championship, he couldn't quite get it and instead, Gibson notched a takedown late in the match to wrap up the 4-1 win.

"I had never placed before and so it meant a lot to me to get to the finals," Ratliff said. "It was great to be able to experience the Metra like that."

Paulson, another senior, was also attempting to end his stellar career with a state championship, yet fell just short against Christian Dean of Sidney, who beat Paulson in the 138-pound final 4-1. Dean notched a takedown early and after Paulson scored an escape point, the next takedown was likely going to win the match and it was Dean, not Paulson who came away with it.

"It was fun," Paulson said. "It kind of has you in awe when you see all the people. It was a blast."

Pleninger fell short of winning his first state championship, but he did reach the finals for the second time but ran into a buzzsaw at 120 pounds in Frenchtown's Jake Bibler, who is now a three-time state champion. Being a two-time finalist is nothing to scoff at, but still, reaching the top of the podium is what Pleninger is focused on already.

"I just need to train all summer," Pleninger said. "I didn't do that enough over the last two summers but I am going to put that work in and I should get there."