Havre wrestling takes second in Cut Bank

The Havre High wrestling teams finally returned from their winter break this past weekend with the Cut Bank Invitational. While it had been a few weeks since the Blue Ponies last competed, they had a strong showing as both the HHS boys and girls wrestling teams finished second in their tournaments.

“I thought we wrestled pretty well,” HHS head coach Beau LaSalle said. “We still got a lot of room to improve but we’re getting better each week and that’s kind of what we’re after.”

The HHS boys team took second in the tournament with 198.0 points. Through the weekend, many Ponies had strong performances to help the team place high.

Orion Thivierge continued his strong start to the season as he took first in the 170-pound weight bracket. He started the tournament with a pin against Malta’s Spencer Gibbs 2:19 into the match. Thivierge then won by pin six seconds into his match against Lewistown’s Payson Jensen. In the semifinals, Thivierge won by pin 1:17 into the match against Trysten Robertson from Conrad. Thivierge then won the championship with a pin 1:58 into the match against Chinook’s Tyler Schoen.

Randy Tommerup also wrestled well as he placed first at 205 pounds. After receiving a bye to open the bracket, Tommerup won by a 4-2 decision over Conard’s Bryce Lohman. In the semifinal, Tommerup won by pin 11 seconds into the match against Ricardo Haffner from the Great Falls junior varsity team. In the first-place match, Tommerup won by an 8-4 decision over Carter Morgan from Choteau.

Riley Pleninger also wrestled well this past weekend as he placed second at 145 pounds. He started the tournament with a pin 50 seconds into his match against Blake Bohannan of the Great Falls junior varsity team. He then won by an 11-0 major decision over Lewistown’s Carson Nelson. In the quarterfinal, he won by pin 4:44 into the match against Poplar’s Mitchell Youngman. Pleninger then pinned Cut Bank’s Mathew Larson to make it to the first-place match.

His twin brother Kendall Pleninger also wrestled well with a second-place finish at 160 pounds. After a bye to start the tournament, Pleninger won by pin 1:38 into his match against Cut Bank’s Jacob Hjartarson. He then won by pin 3:42 into the quarterfinal match against Jefferson’s Jace Oxarart. In the semifinal, Pleninger pinned Joe Ramos from Valier.

Wrestling at 182 pounds, Kale VanCampen placed third for the Ponies. He started the tournament with a win by pin 2:40 into the match against Harlem’s Mike King. He then won by pin 1:19 into his match against Jefferson’s Braeden Jones. In the consolation bracket, won by pin 1:30 into the match against Fort Benton’s Colter Ball. In the third-place match, he pinned Cascade’s Connor Sawyer.

Wrestling at 126 pounds, Carson Harris took fourth for the Ponies. He started the tournament with a win by pin 3:04 into the match against Nathaniel Edmonds of Simms. He then won by pin 1:16 into the match against Ryan Barns from the CM Russell junior varsity team. After a loss, Harris won a consolation match by a 13-5 major decision over Fort Benton’s Teagan Reimer.

Tristan Stygles also placed fourth wrestling at 138 pounds thanks to a strong run in the consolation bracket. He started the run with a win by pin 40 seconds into his match against Jefferson’s Colman Thornton. He then won by pin 1:47 into a match against Tannin Baumann from Big Sandy. After a win by pin over Lewistown’s Caden Ferdinand, Stygles avenged his earlier loss with a win by pin 2:24 into his match against Cut Bank’s Caleb Simpson.

The HHS girls team also wrestled well with 45.0 points to tie for second with Simms. Aaliyah Stiffarm had a strong performance wrestling in the 205/285 pound bracket. In round one, she won by fall 3:25 into her match against Cut Bank’s Haylee Fetters. In round two, Stiffarm won by pin 2:12 into the match against her teammate Clara Laird. Stiffarm solidified her first-place finish in round three with a pin 42 seconds into the match against Cascade’s Skye Smith. Brooklyn Nelson wrestled well as she placed second at 120 pounds. In round one, she won by pin 1:22 into the match against Lewistown's Salome Legast. In rounds four and five, she pinned Valier’s Jazymn Ramos and Chinook’s Shay Hauer. Maleigha Fuzesy placed third wrestling at 126/132 pounds thanks to a pin 33 seconds into the match against Harlem’s Kaitlyn Johnson.

With their first tournament of 2022 in the books, the Ponies can now look ahead to the rest of their schedule. With their strong performance in Cut Bank this past weekend, LaSalle thinks it will be a good jumping off point for the rest of the season.

“I think it’s a good confidence booster for a lot of our kids,” LaSalle said. “Just a boost to their confidence and we hope to keep it rolling through the second half of the season.”

The Ponies will next compete in a dual at Lewistown on Tuesday night.

Team Scores

Cut Bank 226.0, Havre 198.0, Jefferson 150.5, Lewistown 107.5, Conrad 95.0, Circle 91.0, Choteau 81.0, Fort Benton 81.0, Chinook 76.0, Poplar 76.0, Simms 67.0, Malta 57.5, Fairfield 57.0, 57.0, Cascade 56.0, Shelby 36.0, Great Falls Junior Varsity 33.0, CM Russell Junior Varsity 32.0, Valier 27.0, Arlee 23.0, Chester-Joplin-Inverness 11.0, Wolf Point 7.0, Harlem 6.0, Big Sandy 4.0, Heart Butte 4.0,

Girls Team Scores

Poplar 49.0, Havre 45.0, Simms 45.0, Harlem 41.0, Cut Bank 38.0, Cascade 32.0, Lewistown 31.0, Chinook 25.0, CJI 18.0, Valier 12.0, Choteau 11.0, Heart Butte 9.0, Circle 5.0.

103

First place: Richard Schmidt, Cut Bank, p. Izaak Munski, Cascade, 3:25; Third place: Landon Young, Poplar, p. Ruben Nelson, Circle, 1:39; Fifth place: Nic DeShayes, Cascade, p. Wyatt Evans, Shelby, 0:33.

113

First place: Leon Anderson, Jefferson, dec. Logan VanDyke, Conrad, 7-3; Third place: Dylan Mikesell, Jefferson, dec. Bradin Murphy, Cut Bank, 2-1; Fifth place: Matthew Lemer, Havre, dec. Trevor O'Hara, Fort Benton, 5-3.

120

First place: Steven Schubarth, Simms, dec. Navarjo Escarcega, Poplar, 8-3; Third place: Jase Frederick, Poplar, p. Reed Zander, Jefferson, 0:40; Fifth place: Kellan Cassidy, Cut Bank, dec. Tyrel Thomas, Arlee, 9-6.

126

First place: Dayne Sullivan, Simms, dec. Cameron Mikesell, Jefferson, 10-4; Third place: Nate Wadlow, Cascade, p. Carson Harris, Havre, 1:49; Fifth place: Teagan Reimer, Fort Benton, p. Nathan Gunderson, Choteau, 1:25.

132

First place: Alex Wahl, Cut Bank, p. Kason Olson, Lewistown, 2:20; Third place: Tugg Taylor, Circle, dec. Miguel Ramos, Fairfield, 4-2; Fifth place: Layne Carter, Fairfield, p. Luke Aakre, GF JV, 2:14.

138

First place: Kanon Branch, Cut Bank, dec. Bryson Bartelson, Circle, 8-2; Third place: Jeffery Colesworth, Choteau, dec. Tristan Stygles, Havre, 10-7; Fifth place: Caleb Simpson, Cut Bank, p. Kameron Reum, Poplar, 4:23.

145

First place: Roper Mycke, Conrad, dec. Riley Pleninger, Havre, 7-0; Third place: Mathew Larson, Cut Bank, p. Harold Miller, Shelby, 2:05; Fifth place: Lane Snider, Chinook, dec. Shawn Gilkerson, Malta, 7-0.

152

First place: Ty Curry, Cut Bank, dec. Canyon Casterline, Circle, 6-5; Third place: Jaron Taylor, Circle, p. John Armstrong, Jefferson, 4:56; Fifth place: Brady Barnhill, Conrad, p. McCoy Banner, Fairfield, 3:27.

160

First place: Wyatt Elam, Lewistown, dec. Kendall Pleninger, Havre, 1-0; Third place: Jace Oxarart, Jefferson, dec. Joe Ramos, Valier, 11-5; Fifth place: Perseverance Bechtold, Choteau, p. Cade Ball, Fort Benton, 2:24.

170

First place: Orion Thivierge, Havre, p. Tyler Schoen, Chinook, 1:58; Third place: Brady Armstrong, Jefferson, p. Spencer Gibbs, Malta, 1:16; Fifth place: Peyton Hartford, Lewistown, p. Trysten Robertson, Conrad, 4:20.

182

First place: Austin Vanek, Cut Bank, p. Camryn Mears, Malta, 5:07; Third place: Kale VanCampen, Havre, p. Connor Sawyer, Cascade, 2:31; Fifth place: Cael Giles, Fairfield, p. Colter Ball, Fort Benton, 4:31.

205

First place: Randy Tommerup, Havre, dec. Carter Morgan, Choteau, 8-4; Third place: Bryce Lohman, Conrad, p. Christian Wolfe, Lewistown, 2:53; Fifth place: Jeyden Sullivan, Jefferson, p. Ricardo Haffner, GF JV, 2:06.

275

First place: Brock Hanford, Fort Benton, p. Wyatt Dunbar, Chinook, 3:39; Third place: Jacob Berger, Poplar, dec. Jeremy Gallagher, Cut Bank, 2-1; Fifth place: Jacob Major, Choteau, dec. Ryan Simpson, Shelby, 6-1.

Havre Individual Results

103 - Matthew Lemer (5th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Matthew Lemer (HAVRE) 3-2 received a bye (Bye); Quarterfinal - Trevor O`Hara (FORT BENTON) 19-8 won by fall over Matthew Lemer (HAVRE) 3-2 (Fall 3:47); Cons. Round 2 - Matthew Lemer (HAVRE) 3-2 won by fall over Gavin Fuhringer (CMR JV) 0-2 (Fall 1:27); Cons. Round 3 - Matthew Lemer (HAVRE) 3-2 won by fall over Jake Simac (FERGUS (LEWISTOWN)) 1-2 (Fall 2:22); Cons. Semi - Dylan Mikesell (JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL) 15-1 won by decision over Matthew Lemer (HAVRE) 3-2 (Dec 10-4); 5th Place Match - Matthew Lemer (HAVRE) 3-2 won by decision over Trevor O`Hara (FORT BENTON) 19-8 (Dec 5-3).

120 - Colter Soloman

Champ. Round 1 - Colter Soloman (HAVRE) 1-2 received a bye (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Colter Soloman (HAVRE) 1-2 won by fall over Levi Conover (ARLEE) 0-2 (Fall 2:52); Quarterfinal - Jase Frederick (POPLAR) 21-7 won by fall over Colter Soloman (HAVRE) 1-2 (Fall 1:57); Cons. Round 4 - Reed Zander (JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL) 10-4 won by fall over Colter Soloman (HAVRE) 1-2 (Fall 0:44).

126 - Carson Harris (4th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Carson Harris (HAVRE) 3-2 won by fall over Nathaniel Edmonds (SIMMS) 2-2 (Fall 3:04); Quarterfinal - Carson Harris (HAVRE) 3-2 won by fall over Ryan Barns (CMR JV) 1-2 (Fall 1:16); Semifinal - Cameron Mikesell (JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL) 15-1 won by major decision over Carson Harris (HAVRE) 3-2 (MD 13-5); Cons. Semi - Carson Harris (HAVRE) 3-2 won by fall over Teagan Reimer (FORT BENTON) 18-6 (Fall 2:45); 3rd Place Match - Nate Wadlow (CASCADE) 11-7 won by fall over Carson Harris (HAVRE) 3-2 (Fall 1:49).

132 - Jacob Kunz

Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Kunz (HAVRE) 2-2 received a bye (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Layne Carter (FAIRFIELD) 20-8 won by major decision over Jacob Kunz (HAVRE) 2-2 (MD 16-2); Cons. Round 2 - Jacob Kunz (HAVRE) 2-2 won by fall over Aaron Sawyer (CASCADE) 1-12 (Fall 1:31); Cons. Round 3 - Jacob Kunz (HAVRE) 2-2 won by fall over Maddox Reum (WOLF POINT) 2-2 (Fall 1:27); Cons. Round 4 - Luke Aakre (GFH JV) 3-3 won by decision over Jacob Kunz (HAVRE) 2-2 (Dec 6-4).

132 - Jack Gillen

Champ. Round 1 - Jack Gillen (HAVRE) 0-2 received a bye (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Joe Arensmeyer (HARLEM HIGH SCHOOL) 2-2 won by fall over Jack Gillen (HAVRE) 0-2 (Fall 5:01); Cons. Round 2 - Layne Clark (CMR JV) 1-2 won by decision over Jack Gillen (HAVRE) 0-2 (Dec 11-8).

138 - Tristian Stygles (4th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Caleb Simpson (CUT BANK) 3-2 won by fall over Tristian Stygles (HAVRE) 4-2 (Fall 2:53); Cons. Round 1 - Tristian Stygles (HAVRE) 4-2 won by fall over Colman Thornton (JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL) 3-5 (Fall 0:40); Cons. Round 2 - Tristian Stygles (HAVRE) 4-2 won by fall over Tannin Baumann (BIG SANDY) 10-9 (Fall 1:47); Cons. Round 3 - Tristian Stygles (HAVRE) 4-2 won by fall over Caden Ferdinand (FERGUS (LEWISTOWN)) 2-2 (Fall 2:18); Cons. Semi - Tristian Stygles (HAVRE) 4-2 won by fall over Caleb Simpson (CUT BANK) 3-2 (Fall 2:24); 3rd Place Match - Jeffery Colesworthy (CHOTEAU) 22-6 won by decision over Tristian Stygles (HAVRE) 4-2 (Dec 10-7).

138 - Justin Awtrey

Champ. Round 1 - Bryson Bartelson (CIRCLE) 24-6 won by fall over Justin Awtrey (HAVRE) 1-2 (Fall 1:10); Cons. Round 1 - Justin Awtrey (HAVRE) 1-2 won by forfeit over Kaleb Adams (CMR JV) 0-2 (For.); Cons. Round 2 - Jeffery Colesworthy (CHOTEAU) 22-6 won by major decision over Justin Awtrey (HAVRE) 1-2 (MD 18-7).

145 - Riley Pleninger (2nd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Riley Pleninger (HAVRE) 4-1 won by fall over Blake Bohannan (GFH JV) 2-2 (Fall 0:50); Champ. Round 2 - Riley Pleninger (HAVRE) 4-1 won by major decision over Carson Nelson (FERGUS (LEWISTOWN)) 1-2 (MD 11-0); Quarterfinal - Riley Pleninger (HAVRE) 4-1 won by fall over Mitchell Youngman (POPLAR) 13-11 (Fall 4:44); Semifinal - Riley Pleninger (HAVRE) 4-1 won by fall over Mathew Larson (CUT BANK) 5-1 (Fall 4:40); 1st Place Match - Roper Mycke (CONRAD HIGH SCHOOL) 4-0 won by decision over Riley Pleninger (HAVRE) 4-1 (Dec 7-0).

152 - Landon Caplette

Champ. Round 1 - Jaron Taylor (CIRCLE) 6-1 won by fall over Landon Caplette (HAVRE) 3-2 (Fall 0:53); Cons. Round 1 - Landon Caplette (HAVRE) 3-2 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 2 - Landon Caplette (HAVRE) 3-2 won by fall over Zach Chinn (FERGUS (LEWISTOWN)) 1-2 (Fall 2:04); Cons. Round 3 - Landon Caplette (HAVRE) 3-2 won by fall over Byron Lopez (FERGUS (LEWISTOWN)) 1-2 (Fall 0:38); Cons. Round 4 - Landon Caplette (HAVRE) 3-2 won by injury default over Drake Berreth (CHINOOK) 2-2 (Inj. 0:10); Cons. Round 5 - Jaron Taylor (CIRCLE) 6-1 won by fall over Landon Caplette (HAVRE) 3-2 (Fall 1:42).

160 - Lucas Fhal

Champ. Round 1 - Lucas Fhal (HAVRE) 0-2 received a bye (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Wyatt Elam (FERGUS (LEWISTOWN)) 4-0 won by fall over Lucas Fhal (HAVRE) 0-2 (Fall 0:59); Cons. Round 2 - Lucas Fhal (HAVRE) 0-2 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 3 - Marcus Kovnesky (CMR JV) 1-2 won by fall over Lucas Fhal (HAVRE) 0-2 (Fall 4:41).

160 - Kendall Pleninger (2nd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Kendall Pleninger (HAVRE) 3-1 received a bye (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Kendall Pleninger (HAVRE) 3-1 won by fall over Jacob Hjartarson (CUT BANK) 1-2 (Fall 1:38); Quarterfinal - Kendall Pleninger (HAVRE) 3-1 won by fall over Jace Oxarart (JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL) 8-2 (Fall 3:42); Semifinal - Kendall Pleninger (HAVRE) 3-1 won by fall over Joe Ramos (VALIER) 18-6 (Fall 1:09); 1st Place Match - Wyatt Elam (FERGUS (LEWISTOWN)) 4-0 won by decision over Kendall Pleninger (HAVRE) 3-1 (Dec 1-0).

160 - Mason Wilting

Champ. Round 1 - Mason Wilting (HAVRE) 1-2 received a bye (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Joe Ramos (VALIER) 18-6 won by fall over Mason Wilting (HAVRE) 1-2 (Fall 1:36); Cons. Round 2 - Mason Wilting (HAVRE) 1-2 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 3 - Mason Wilting (HAVRE) 1-2 won by fall over Lincoln Reich (CHINOOK) 1-2 (Fall 0:34); Cons. Round 4 - Wyatt Rauch (JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL) 3-4 won by fall over Mason Wilting (HAVRE) 1-2 (Fall 1:37).

170 - Orion Thivierge (1st Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Orion Thivierge (HAVRE) 4-0 won by fall over Spencer Gibbs (MALTA) 19-9 (Fall 2:19); Quarterfinal - Orion Thivierge (HAVRE) 4-0 won by fall over Payson Jensen (FERGUS (LEWISTOWN)) 1-2 (Fall 0:06); Semifinal - Orion Thivierge (HAVRE) 4-0 won by fall over Trysten Robertson (CONRAD HIGH SCHOOL) 2-3 (Fall 1:17); 1st Place Match - Orion Thivierge (HAVRE) 4-0 won by fall over Tyler Schoen (CHINOOK) 3-1 (Fall 1:58).

182 - Pierce Caplette

Champ. Round 1 - Pierce Caplette (HAVRE) 1-2 won by fall over Quinn Boogman (FERGUS (LEWISTOWN)) 0-2 (Fall 2:41); Quarterfinal - Austin Vanek (CUT BANK) 4-0 won by fall over Pierce Caplette (HAVRE) 1-2 (Fall 1:01); Cons. Round 2 - Jett Boyce (FERGUS (LEWISTOWN)) 2-2 won by forfeit over Pierce Caplette (HAVRE) 1-2 (For.).

182 - Kale VanCampen (3rd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Kale VanCampen (HAVRE) 4-1 won by fall over Mike King (HARLEM HIGH SCHOOL) 0-2 (Fall 2:40); Quarterfinal - Kale VanCampen (HAVRE) 4-1 won by fall over Braeden Jones (JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL) 11-5 (Fall 1:19); Semifinal - Camryn Mears (MALTA) 19-6 won in sudden victory - 1 over Kale VanCampen (HAVRE) 4-1 (SV-1 6-4); Cons. Semi - Kale VanCampen (HAVRE) 4-1 won by fall over Colter Ball (FORT BENTON) 9-8 (Fall 1:30); 3rd Place Match - Kale VanCampen (HAVRE) 4-1 won by fall over Connor Sawyer (CASCADE) 15-5 (Fall 2:31).

205 - Randy Tommerup (1st Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Randy Tommerup (HAVRE) 3-0 received a bye (Bye); Quarterfinal - Randy Tommerup (HAVRE) 3-0 won by decision over Bryce Lohman (CONRAD HIGH SCHOOL) 5-1 (Dec 4-2); Semifinal - Randy Tommerup (HAVRE) 3-0 won by fall over Ricardo Haffner (GFH JV) 2-3 (Fall 0:11); 1st Place Match - Randy Tommerup (HAVRE) 3-0 won by decision over Carter Morgan (CHOTEAU) 16-7 (Dec 8-4).

275 - Zale Thomas

Champ. Round 1 - Zale Thomas (HAVRE) 0-2 received a bye (Bye); Quarterfinal - Ryan Simpson (SHELBY) 5-9 won by fall over Zale Thomas (HAVRE) 0-2 (Fall 2:49); Cons. Round 2 - Zale Thomas (HAVRE) 0-2 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 3 - Jacob Major (CHOTEAU) 15-7 won by fall over Zale Thomas (HAVRE) 0-2 (Fall 1:53).

120 - Brooklyn Nelson (2nd Place)

Round 1 - Brooklyn Nelson (Havre Girls) 3-1 won by fall over Salome Legast (Fergus Girls) 0-4 (Fall 1:22); Round 3 - Savannah Riggin (CJI Girls ) 4-0 won by fall over Brooklyn Nelson (Havre Girls) 3-1 (Fall 1:20); Round 4 - Brooklyn Nelson (Havre Girls) 3-1 won by fall over Jazymn Ramos (Valier Girls ) 1-3 (Fall 1:34); Round 5 - Brooklyn Nelson (Havre Girls) 3-1 won by fall over Shay Hauer (Chinook Girls ) 2-2 (Fall 1:07).

152 - Angelina Caplette (3rd Place)

Round 1 - Ihte Stiffarm (Harlem Girls ) 1-1 won by fall over Angelina Caplette (Havre Girls) 0-2 (Fall 5:07); Round 3 - Kate Maxwell (Fergus Girls) 2-0 won by fall over Angelina Caplette (Havre Girls) 0-2 (Fall 2:13).

126/132 - Maleigha Fuzesy (3rd Place)

Round 1 - Ryley Hofeldt (Chinook Girls ) 2-1 won by fall over Maleigha Fuzesy (Havre Girls) 1-2 (Fall 4:44); Round 2 - Lli Schubarth (Simms Girls ) 3-0 won by fall over Maleigha Fuzesy (Havre Girls) 1-2 (Fall 1:00); Round 3 - Maleigha Fuzesy (Havre Girls) 1-2 won by fall over Kaitlyn Johnson (Harlem Girls ) 0-3 (Fall 0:33).

205/285 - Claire Laird (4th Place)

Round 1 - Skye Smith (Cascade Girls) 9-5 won by decision over Claire Laird (Havre Girls) 0-3 (Dec 5-4); Round 2 - Aaliyah Stiffarm (Havre Girls) 3-0 won by fall over Claire Laird (Havre Girls) 0-3 (Fall 2:12); Round 3 - Haylee Fetters (Cut Bank Girls) 1-2 won by fall over Claire Laird (Havre Girls) 0-3 (Fall 1:13).

205/285 - Aaliyah Stiffarm (1st Place)

Round 1 - Aaliyah Stiffarm (Havre Girls) 3-0 won by fall over Haylee Fetters (Cut Bank Girls) 1-2 (Fall 3:25); Round 2 - Aaliyah Stiffarm (Havre Girls) 3-0 won by fall over Claire Laird (Havre Girls) 0-3 (Fall 2:12); Round 3 - Aaliyah Stiffarm (Havre Girls) 3-0 won by fall over Skye Smith (Cascade Girls) 9-5 (Fall 0:42).