By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com
To the victors go the spoils. The Havre High football team dominated Class A football this season and they are now starting to reap the benefits.
The Ponies placed 11 players on the Class A all-state football team and 15 players on the Central A all-conference teams to put an end to an already perfect 13-0 season.
Class A conducted its voting differently this season for its all-state team. Instead of voting on a first and second all-state team, there was just one large all-state team. Regardless of the voting, there was no doubt that Havre would have a large contingent on the team.
Senior Coda Tchida led the way, garnering three all-state selections at wide receiver, cornerback and return specialist. Fellow senior Marc Mariani earned two all-state selections at wide receiver and free safety. Joining them were record-setting quarterback Gary Wagner, running back Scott Robinson, center Nick Daniel, offensive tackle Chad Seely, defensive tackle Tyler Wheeler, defensive end Ricky Houim, inside linebacker Colby Mader, outside linebacker Brett Michels and strong safety Ted Wells.
If Havre had a lot of all-state selections, the Ponies monopolized the Central A all-conference awards. Wagner was named the conference most valuable offensive player, while Mader garnered defensive MVP honors. HHS head coach Troy Purcell was also named coach of the year.
The Central A separated its all-conference teams and Havre had 11 of its players earn first-team honors and four others earn second team all-conference honors. Tchida picked up first-team honors at three positions, and Mariani earned first-team kudos at two spots.
Other players earning selections to the first team at two positions included Seely at offensive and defensive tackle and Wheeler at guard and defensive tackle.
Several other Ponies were named to the first-team at one position and to the second team at another. Robinson was first team at running back and second-team cornerback. Mader earned the same honors at linebacker and fullback, as did Houim at defensive end and tight end.
Wagner, Wells, Daniel and Michels all earned first-team honors at their respective positions. Earning second-team honors were Jared Weigel at defensive end, Craig Kallenberger at outside linebacker, Chad Stratton at guard and Zack Musson at offensive tackle.
Class A All State Team
Offense
Center - Paul Gleukert, Sr., Miles City; Nick Daniel, Sr., Havre; Andy Fjeseth, Jr., Dillon.
Guards - Dustin Merritt, Sr., Sidney; Mike Person, Jr., Glendive; Andrew Uptain, Sr., Belgrade; Travis Hjort, Jr., Libby; Jon Gallatin, Sr., Polson; Kelin Johnson, Sr., Stevensville; Kyle Hardee, Sr., Frenchtown.
Tackles - Terran Hillesland, Sr., Sidney; Chad Seely, Sr., Havre; Justin Winn, Sr., Libby; Chris Dyk, Sr., Dillon; Matt Crowe, Sr., Butte Central; Blake Cranmore, Jr., Corvallis.
Tight end - Cole Prevost, Sr., Sidney; Alex Murphy, Jr., Butte Central; Mac Gordon, Sr., Polson; Jace Ladenburg, Sr., Columbia Falls; Steven Pfahler, Jr., Frenchtown.
Punter - Terry Lundeen, Sr., Polson; J.T. McIntyre, Jr., Butte Central.
Quarterback - Bryce Burton, Sr., Billings Central; Gary Wagner, Sr., Havre; Mitchell Hill, Sr., Big Fork; Brian Lebsock, Jr., Frenchtown.
Running backs - Jeff Brokaw, Sr., Hardin; Doug Copeland, Sr., Sidney; Kyle Rosenbaum, Sr., Columbia Falls; Travis Browne, Sr., Stevensville; Scott Robinson, Sr., Havre.
Wide receivers - Coda Tchida, Sr., Havre; Chris Hicks, Jr., Whitefish; Drew Perry, Sr., Columbia Falls; George Mercer, Sr., Libby; Cory Anderson, Sr., Dillon; Jesse Barnes, Sr., Hamilton; Marc Mariani, Sr., Havre; John Ori, Sr., Dillon.
Fullbacks - Kyle Bushman, Sr., Billings Central; Kyle Begger, Jr., Miles City; Zach Halgren, Jr., Belgrade; Kevin Owen, Sr., Polson; Kim Savik, Sr., Frenchtown.
Kicker - Trever England, Sr., Corvallis; Joe Locke, Sr., Polson; Ryan Kepler, sophomore, Lewistown.
Defense
Defensive line - Kyle Hardee, Sr., Frenchtown; Kevin Sheppard, Jr., Columbia Falls; Travis Hjort, Jr., Libby; Tyler Wheeler, Sr., Havre; Preston Nelson, Sr., Billings Central.
Defensive ends - Steven Pfahler, Jr., Frenchtown; Jon Gallatin, Sr., Polson; Rick Houim, Sr., Havre; Kyle Begger, Jr., Miles City; Wes Davenport, Sr., Colstrip; Marcus Old Coyote, Sr., Hardin; Tyler LeClair, Sr., Stevensville.
Outside linebackers - Kam Savik, Sr., Frenchtown; Blaine Baker, Sr., Libby; Terry Lundeen, Sr., Polson; Brett Michels, Sr., Havre; Gresh Melby, Jr., Sidney.
Inside linebackers - Dustin Putman, Sr., Stevensville; Mac Gordon, Sr., Polson; Ryan Rios, Sr., Libby; Colby Mader, Sr., Havre; Kyle Bushman, Sr., Billings Central; Cole Prevost, Sr., Sidney.
Defensive corners - Brian Lebsock, Jr., Frenchtown; Drew Perry, Sr., Columbia Falls; Colton Woods, Jr., Polson; Coda Tchida, Sr., Havre; Jesse Johnson, Jr., Glendive.
Strong safety - Jeff Brokaw, Sr., Hardin; Ted Wells, Sr., Havre; Austin Duncan, Sr., Frenchtown.
Free safety - Marc Mariani, Sr., Havre; Blaine Berg, Sr., Glendive; Jake Stagnoli, Jr., Butte Central; Chance Plutt, Jr., Dillon.
Return specialist - Travis Browne, Sr., Stevensville; Jeff Brokaw, Sr., Hardin; Coda Tchida, Sr., Havre.
Central A All-Conference Teams
Offensive MVP - Gary Wagner, Sr.,
Defensive MVP - Colby Mader, Sr.,
Coach of the year - Troy Purcell
First Team
Offense
Quarterback - Gary Wagner, Sr., Havre
Tailback - Scott Robinson, Sr., Havre
Fullback - Zach Halgren, Jr., Belgrade
Wide Receiver - Coda Tchida, Sr., Havre; Marc Mariani, Sr., Havre; Jeremy Olsen, Sr., Lewistown
Tight End - Alex Murphy, Jr., Butte Central
Center - Nick Daniel, Sr., Havre
Guards - Andrew Uptain, Sr., Belgrade; Tyler Wheeler, Sr., Havre
Tackles - Chad Seely, Sr., Havre; Matt Crowe, Sr., Butte Central
Defense
Tackles - Tyler Wheeler, Sr., Havre; Chad Seely, Sr., Havre
Ends - Rick Houim, Sr., Havre; Brian Jeide, Sr., Lewistown
Inside Linebackers - Colby Mader, Sr., Havre; Stephen Burns, Jr., Butte Central
Outside Linebackers - Brett Michels, Sr., Havre; Zach Halgren, Jr., Belgrade
Cornerbacks - Coda Tchida, Sr., Havre; Shaughn McKeon, Jr., Butte Central
Strong Safety - Ted Wells, Sr., Havre
Free Safety - Marc Mariani, Sr., Havre; Jake Stagnoli, Jr., Butte Central
Kicker - Ryan Kepler, Soph., Lewistown
Punter - J.T. McIntyre, Jr., Butte Central
Return Specialist - Coda Tchida, Sr., Havre
Second Team
Offense
Quarterback - Jake Stagnoli, Jr., Butte Central; Colby Tognetti, Jr., Lewistown
Tailback - Dustin Scotten, Jr., Lewistown; Ben Ward, Jr., Belgrade
Fullback - Colby Mader, Sr., Havre; Matt Irish, Jr., Lewistown
Wide Receivers - J.T. McIntyre, Jr., Butte Central
Tight End - Brian Jeide, Sr., Lewistown; Rick Houim, Sr., Havre
Center - Mike Hamling, Sr., Lewistown
Guards - Ian Matteson, Jr., Lewistown; Chad Stratton, Sr., Havre
Tackles - Bill Robinson, Jr., Butte Central; Zack Musson, Sr., Havre
Defense
Tackles - Matt Crowe, Sr., Butte Central; Dan Trammell, Sr., Belgrade
Ends - Bill Robinson, Jr., Butte Central; Jared Weigel, Jr., Havre
Inside Linebackers - Nolan Porter, Sr., Lewistown; Willy Burns, Jr., Livingston
Outside Linebackers - Craig Kallenberger, Sr., Havre; Robert Wheeler, Sr., Butte Central; Aaron Kurshner, Sr., Livingston
Cornerbacks - Scott Robinson, Sr., Havre; Jourdan Feller, Jr., Lewistown; J.T. McIntyre, Jr., Butte Central
Strong Safety - Ben Ward, Jr. , Belgrade
Free Safety - Jeremy Olsen, Sr., Lewistown
Kicker - Gary Wagner, Sr., Havre
Return Specialist - J.T. McIntyre, Jr., Butte Central
Honorable Mention
Offense
Quarterback - none
Tailback - Mychal Macnamee, Jr., Livingston
Fullback - Matt Pokorny, Jr., Butte Central
Wide Receivers - Shaughn McKeon, Jr., Butte Central
Tight End - Mike Benvenga, Jr., Livingston
Center - Greg Knupp, Jr., Livingston
Guards - Drew Rudolph, Sr., Livingston; Anthony Boyce, Sr., Browning
Tackles - Coley Potts, Sr., Browning
Defense
Tackles - Ian Matteson, Jr., Lewistown; Coley Potts, Sr., Browning
Ends - Joey Castro, Sr., Belgrade
Inside Linebackers - Kolten Knatterud, Jr., Belgrade
Outside Linebackers - Allen Mad Plume, Sr., Browning; Mike Mayernik, Jr., Lewistown
Cornerbacks - none
Strong Safety - Alex Murphy, Jr., Butte Central; Robert Hall, Sr., Browning
Free Safety - Thomas Higgins, Sr., Browning
Return Specialist - Colby Tognetti, Jr., Lewistown
