HDN Athlete Profile: Josh Salapich

Being a key component to both the Havre High football program, as well as the wrestling program, Blue Pony Josh Salapich has found a lot of success in his athletic career.

In his four years at HHS Salapich has accomplished a lot as a football player, as he has made several runs in the playoffs and even grabbed Second Team All Conference honors as an offensive tackle in his senior season. And as a wrestler, Salapich has been a part of three Class A state championship and three straight Central A divisional championship teams. Salapich has placed as high as No. 6 six at state at 189 pounds.

Now Salapich gets ready for his final postseason in wrestling.

HDN: How badly do you and the rest of the Blue Pony wrestlers want to beat Belgrade at the divisional tournament?

Salapich: "Beating Belgrade, that would just add to my whole career of wrestling. Beating Belgrade is our top priority right now, especially with things being so close last year and being close again. I think it would just be the perfect ending to the season right now."

HDN: You have been a part of three state wrestling championships already, but how important would a fourth be for you?

Salapich: "A fourth would be great. It's hard to say exactly because I have been lucky all these years to be a part of a great team and great coaches so it's hard to say what it would be like not to win. It would just be the best thing ever to win it all four years."

HDN: As a freshman you participated in varsity tennis, have you ever thought about competing in tennis again?

Salapich: "My freshman year I just wanted to see how it was to play a spring sport because I had never done any, but I don't know. It just wasn't for me really, I never got into it. I have always thought about doing it again, but probably not."

HDN: What will it take team-wise for the Blue Ponies to win state this year?

Salapich: "It will probably just take everybody wanting it, working hard and to remember to just keep pushing it these last two weeks. I think that's really all it will take, there's not much else we can do."

HDN: If you were going to compete in a sport in college, would you rather wrestle or play football?

Salapich: "That is a tough one, I don't know. I have been talking to some football coaches, but I am not sure, it just depends on what school. I would love to wrestle again, but I love football too and I honestly couldn't tell you which one I would rather do in college right now."