Havre Invite is here

The wait is over, and after a much-anticipated end of another offseason, the Havre High wrestling program will return to action.

Last year the Central A Blue Ponies had another standout season, as they went onto win their fourth straight Class A state championship. And while the streak continued to build on the Ponies already impressive dynasty status, the state win was also the seventh under head coach Scott Filius.

A championship repeat is one of the hardest things to do in sports. But after already clearing that hurdle four times, the Ponies will hope to do so a fifth, as their season gets underway this weekend.

Today and Saturday the Ponies will host the Havre Invite at the Havre High gymnasium in Havre. Today, the invite will begin at 1 p.m., and on Saturday action will continue at 9 a.m.

The Havre Invite is one of only four home appearances for the Ponies this season.

HHS is starting their season off right, facing a lot of good talent. Making the trip and competing in Havre this weekend will be Cut Bank, Shelby, Chester, Chinook, Malta, Lewistown and Browning.

None of the teams making the trip will be favored as a whole, but there will be some stiff individual talent.

"For teams," Filius said. "I don't know if there are any real deep teams to be honest. But there will great individuals. Lewistown has a returning state champion, Cut Bank has a returning finalist, Chinook has a couple returning champion and finalist and Malta has some kids that are returning and scrappy. There will be some very good individual matchups."

Lewistown will be without the likes of three time state champion Ryan Martin, but should still house talent that will pose as a major threats. And with talented wrestlers like Ben Stroh coming in from Chinook, there is no doubt the Ponies will be tested in their meet of the season.

But the Ponies aren't just looking to win their home invite, they are looking to improve and tie up few more loose ends.

Nate Kennelly will wrestle at 98 pounds, while Gilbert Bara will wrestle at 112, Duell Stadel at 119, Thomas Gruber at 125, Zack Smith at 130 and Dillon Seely at 135. The 140 and 145 pound weight classes will be filled by either David Borris, Zack Plum or Jacob William, while Eli Hinebauch will wrestle at 152, Kameron Pribyl will wrestle at 160 and Casey Schaub at 171. And at 189, 215 and HWT, the Ponies will also wait to see which of Jared Ruttkofsky, Josh Salapich, Tyler Adams or Kolton Lodge will hold down a spot.

This weekend will be used to improve against outside opponents, but also as the teams wrestle offs.

"Sometimes kids are really good in the room and very poor in competition," Filius said. "But sometimes you look at kids in the room and they aren't much, but in competition they really shine. This weekend we will really get an idea of where the kids are at. This will also be our wrestle offs so there will be a lot riding on the line, this should be a lot of fun."

The Havre Invite is a very good place for the Ponies to start their season.

They get underway with a good talent pool in a schedule that only grows tougher as the year goes on. And even without some of the dominanting names in the Ponies lineup that fans have grown accustomed to, the Ponies will compete this season.

"We are going to compete," Filius said. "I have no doubt. The kids are working too hard not to. Right now I just think kids are anxious, especially the older kids, they are just ready to wrestle some matches."