Havre grapplers strike gold at the tough Mining City Duals

It is still early, just two weeks into the new season, but the hype surrounding the defending Class A state wrestling champions continues to be proven true.

The Havre High wrestling team has been as impressive as any team in the state the last two weeks. The Central A Blue Ponies were the No. 1 team a week ago at the Havre High Invite, beating out Class AA Great Falls High and CMR. But the Ponies looked even better in their second weekend of action, this time earning the top team finish at the Mining City Duals in Butte.

Many of the state’s top programs were in attendance on Friday and Saturday, but the Ponies found little resistance before claiming the title with a 33-31 win over Billings Skyview in the championship dual. In the semifinals, the Ponies also chopped down the Great Falls High Bison 45-31. HHS went 7-0 in duals over the two days, including a 48-27 win over Bozeman, a 68-10 win over Helena Capital, and an 81-0 win over Polson on Friday in the pool portion of the prestigious tourney. Saturday, the Ponies added a 69-12 win over Helena High and a 58-15 win over Columbia Falls.

Last year, the Ponies finished as the No. 2 team in their first two weeks of action, but still proved to be the No. 1 team in the Class A.

“Our kids wrestled well,” Havre High head coach Scott Filius said. “One of the things we had going for was that we didn’t have any holes in our lineup. And anytime we got beat, those kids really had to work against our guys to get it done. It was a fun weekend.”

The championship dual was the biggest test for the Ponies.

Billings Skyview won seven matches, including a forfeit win at 170 pounds, but the Ponies gained the advantage with eight individual wins, including a Travis Adams forfeit win at 285 pounds and a Grayson Brenna win by forfeit at 120 pounds. Keegan Kennelly (106), defeated Danny Maciel 11-5, Dylan Stewart (126) defeated Jake Burkhalter 5-2, Thomas Gruber (132) defeated Brenton Buerkley 5-2, Parker Filius (138) defeated Jace Holman 3-2, Kody Pribyl (145) pinned Aaron Gordon in 4:52, and Jace Billy (195) defeated Mathew Welch 12-6.

In the remaining six losses by the Pony grapplers, only two came at the hands of a fall. Tate Munyon (98) was pinned in 39 seconds, and Dustin Odegard (182) was pinned in 1:16. Logan Pleninger (113) lost 1-0, Jase Stokes (152) lost 9-2, Jayson Kohler (160) lost 12-3, and Tyler Adams (220) lost 4-3.

It was a close win by the Ponies, but the tough matchups are what are going to make the Ponies better.

“The best thing about this weekend was we saw the best of the Class AA and Class A have to offer,” Filius said. “And if you can keep winning you run into those top teams like Great Falls High and Billings Skyview. And those matches we got, those matches are good building blocks for our kids. Those guys wrestled us all the way through the whistle, and they really made us better all the way around.”

Kennelly, Brenna, Gruber and Pribyl all went undefeated on the weekend, while Billy, Tyler Adams, Travis Adams, Parker Filius and Williams suffered just one loss each. It was a dominating outing by the Ponies both days, and from top to bottom, the entire lineup wrestled very well.

“From where we started the weekend, to where we finished the weekend, we are miles ahead,” Coach Filius said. “Each duel that got tougher, our kids had to dig a little deeper and find a way to respond, and they did. I was just really pleased with the kids, especially the younger ones. Some of our best stuff came in matches where we were overmatched and kids were better than us. You see other teams when that happens, their kids roll over and get pinned, but our guys competed all the way through and weren’t getting pinned. We gave up a decision, but not a major decision, a fall, or a tech fall, and that made a big difference.”

The Ponies will look to keep the momentum rolling Tuesday night when they host Great Falls High for a dual at 5 p.m. at the Havre High Gymnasium in Havre. Lewistown was scheduled to make the trip as well, but decided not to attend.

Mining City Duals

Friday: Pool 1

Havre 48, Bozeman 27

Havre 68, Helena Capital 10

Havre 81, Polson 0

Saturday

Championship Match

Havre def. Billings Skyview 33-31

98 - Brandon Schwalbe (Skyview) pinned Tate Munyon, :39; 106 - Keegan Kennelly (Havre) def. Danny Maciel 11-5; 113 - Tim Garcia (Skyview) def. Logan Pleninge, 1-0; 120 - Grayson Brenna (Havre) won by forfeit; 126 - Dylan Stewart (Havre) def. Jake Burkhalter 5-2; 132 - Thomas Gruber (Havre) def. Brenton Buerkley 5-2; 138 - Parker Filius (Havre) def. Jace Holman 3-2; 145 - Kody Pribyl (Havre) pinned Aaron Gordon 4:52; 152 - Max Miller (Skyview) def. Jase Stokes 9-2; 160 - Jace Cooley (Skyview) def. Jayson Kohler 12-3; 170 - Jake Malchuski (Skyview) won by forfeit; 182 - Matt Dillon (Skyview) pinned Dustin Odegard 1:16;195 - Jase Billy (Havre) def. Matthew Welch 12-6; 220 - Reece Quade (Skyview) def. Tyler Adams 4-3; 285 - Travis Adams (Havre) won by forfeit.

Semifinals

Havre def. Great Falls 45-31

98 - Tate Munyon (Havre) won by forfeit; 106 - Keegan Kennelly (Havre) won by forfeit; 113 - Logan Pleninger (Havre) pinned Tyler Schilling 1:46; 120 - Grayson Brenna (Havre) pinned Tyler Meyer 1:00; 126 - Kenton Evans(GFH) pinned Dylan Stewart 5:21; 132 - Thomas Gruber (Havre) def. Tommy McMillen 8-6; 138 - Aulstin Shupe def. Parker Filius 6-2; 145 - Kody Pribyl (Havre) pinned Gage Bentley 2:32; 152 - Kessler Leonard (GFH) pinned Jase Stokes 2:31; 160 - Walker Ferda(GFH) won by forfeit; 170 - Cody Henderson(GFH) def. Jake Williams 13-3; 182 - Randy Keesler, (GFH) def. Dustin Odegard 15-4; 195 - Jase Billy (Havre) pinned Mateo Amatto-Gattaneo 1:05; 220 - Tyler Adams (Havre) def. Eric Weaver no score provided; 285 - Tyler Adams (Havre) def. Roberto Smith, no score provided.

Other Saturday Duals

Havre 69, Helena 12

Havre 58, Columbia Falls 15