Finishing Strong: HHS grapplers dominate

The Havre High wrestling program had its hands full with two tough programs this weekend.

On Friday at the Havre High gymnasium, thesecond-ranked Class A Blue Ponies hosted the top-ranked Class B-C Forsyth Dogies as well as the Conrad Cowboys in a special double dual. And getting the home sweep, the Ponies defeated the Dogies 42-30 and defeated the Cowboys 70-9.

"It's great to wrestle these guys, especially since we won't see any of them at state," Havre High head coach Scott Filius said. "There was nothing on the line and our good kids matched up with their good kids. We know Conrad pretty well, but we never see Forsyth. It was fun, I think it was positive all the way around."

Facing Conrad, the Ponies lost just two matches.

Both squads were open at 98 pounds, but the Cowboys grabbed wins at 112 and 140. Luke Schlosser earned a 6-0 decision over Gilbert Bara (112) and Brandon French won by forfeit.

But grabbing HHS wins against the Cowboys were Nate Kennelley (105) with a fall in 1:37, Duell Stadel (119) with a fall in 3:39, Thomas Gruber (125) winning by forfeit, Zack Smith (130) winning by forfeit, Dillon Seely (135) earning a fall in 5:29, Eli Hinebauch (145) winning by forfeit, Kameron Pribyl (152) winning by forfeit, Grant Pattison (160) winning with a fall in :59, Casey Schaub winning by a 17-1 technical fall, Jared Ruttkofsky (189) winning by a fall in 3:38, Josh Salapich winning with a fall in :45 and Tyler Adams (HWT) winning with a fall in 2:54.

In the dual, the Ponies won four matches by forfeit.

Facing Forsyth, things got quite a bit tougher.

HHS still won five matches by forfeit, but the matches they did wrestle were very against top talent.

Chris Nile (112) defeated Bara 6-0, while Brendon Webber (130) defeated Smith 6-3. Dallen Brauer (145) also earned a 4-3 upset decision over Hinebauch in a very close matchup. Gabe Nelson (98) won by forfeit.

But helping the Ponies grab the win was Stadel, Gruber, Pribyl and Pattison. Stadel (119) pinned Nick Pulver in 3:15, Gruber (125) pinned Taylor French in 3:18, Pribyl (152) earned a 3-2 decision over Daryl Fulton and Pattison (160) pinned Frank Macey in 3:38.

Kennelley (105), Schaub (171), Ruttkofsky (189), Salapich (215) and Tyler Adams (275) all won by forfeit.

"They are tough, solid," Filius said of the Dogies. "We run into them with our club kids all the time and they've put in a lot time over the last 10 years and it shows. They have some good looking kids."

Friday was also senior night for Ruttkofsky, Salapich and Stadel. Al three seniors wrestled well and it was a good end to the regular season.

"This was a good night," Stadel said. "Getting to wrestle Conrad and Forsyth, they (Forsyth) are the No. 1 team in the state.

"This is their time to be recognized in the gym and all three of them wrestled real well," Filius added. "It's always nice to see those kids go out on a high note."

Several Blue Ponies also made a trip to Malta on Saturday for the Malta Athletic Club Tournament. The Pony team finished sixth overall in the meet with 59 points. Chinook was third with 93 points and Harlem was fourth with 67 points. Big Sandy was also in attendance and scored 19.5 points.

Individually, the Blue Ponies placed four wrestlers in the top four. Gruber lost in the 125-pound championship match to Forsyth's Taylor French.

Kennelly lost to Malta's Joe Rappold 9-8 in the 105-pound third-place match. Freshman Jacob Williams also took fourth place at 152 pounds. He was pinned by Wolf Point's Dustin Kinzie. Kolton Lodge grabbed a third-place finish with a 8-2 win over Malta's Henry Oyler in the heavyweight division.

Next up for the Ponies is the Central A divisional tournament on Saturday at the Havre High gymnasium.

Havre 43, Forsyth 30

98 -- Gabe Nelson, For, win by forfeit. 105 -- Nate Kennelley, Hav, won by forfeit. 112 -- Chris Nile, For, dec. Gilbert Bara, 6-0. 119 -- Duell Stadel, Hav, p. Nick Pulver, 3:15. 125 -- Thomas Gruber, Hav, p. Taylor French, 3:18. 130 -- Brendon Weber, For, dec. Zack Smithb, 6-3. 145 -- Dallen Brauer, For, dec. Eli Hinebauch, 4-3. 152 -- Kameron Pribyl, Hav, dec. Daryl Fulton, 3-2. 160 -- Grant Pattison, Hav, p. Frank Macey, 3:38. 171 -- Casey Schaub, Hav, won by forfeit. 189 -- Jared Ruttkofsky, Hav, won by forfeit. 215 -- Josh Salapich, Hav, won by forfeit. 275 -- Tyler Adams, Hav, won by forfeit.

Havre 70, Conrad 9

98 -- open. 105 -- Nate Kennelley, Hav, p. Morgan Koenig, 1:37. 112 -- Luke Schlosser, Con, dec. Gilbert Bara, 6-0. 119 -- Duell Stadel, Hav, p. Barrett Moritz, 3:39. 125 -- Thomas Gruber, Hav, won by forfeit. 130 -- Zach Smith, Hav, won by forfeit. 135 -- Dillon Seely, Hav, p. Colt Harris 5:29. 140 -- Brandon French, Con, won by forfeit. 145 -- Eli Hinebauch, Hav, won by forfeit. 152 -- Kameron Pribyl, Hav, won by forfeit. 160 -- Grant Pattison, Hav, p. Ryan Orcutt, :59. 171 -- Casey Schaub, Hav, tech. fall Tyler Nelson, 17-1. 189 -- Jared Ruttkofksy, Hav, p. Lucas Schultz, 3:38. 215 -- Josh Salapich, Hav, p. Justin Raztburg, :45. 275 -- Tyler Adams, Hav, p. Ryan Townsend, 2:54.

Forsyth 42, Conrad 36

98 -- Morgan Koening, Con, p. Gabe Nelson, 1:49. 105 -- open. 112 -- Luke Schlosser, Con, p. Nick Polver, 1:16. 119 -- Chris Nile, For, p. Garret t Moritz, 5:47. 125 -- Taylor French, For, win by forfeit. 130 -- Brendon Weber, For, win by forfeit. 135 -- Garrett Rath, For, p. Harris, 4:45. 140 -- Brandon French, Con, p. KC French, 5:31. 145 -- Dallen Brauer, For, win by forfeit. 152 -- open. 160 -- Ryan Orcutt, Con, p. Darell Fulton, 1:19. 171 -- Frank Mary, For, p. Tyler Nelson, 1:17. 189 -- Lucus Schultz, Con, win by forfeit. 215 -- Justin Ratzberg, Con, win by forfeit. 275 -- Ryan Townsend, Con, win by forfeit.