State Wrestling 2014: Havre has 17 grapplers ready to rumble

Blue Pony State Tournament Glance

HHS Facts: Havre has won eight state titles under head coach Scott Filius (1997, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013). HHS and Sidney have combined to win 11 state championships since 1999. The Ponies have five first-timer’s going this weekend, including three freshman. Havre hasn’t had at least one individual state champion in the last 12 seasons. The Ponies haven’t finished outside the Top 3 at state since 2003. Havre scored 233.5 points to win last year’s championship. The Ponies hold the Class A record for team points, scoring 294.5 points in 2009.

106 – Keegan Kennelly

Kennelly, ranked No. 1, is a state runner-up, finishing second at 98 pounds as a freshman a year ago. He’s been extremely dominant this season, even moving up for a couple of weeks to compete at 113. Kennelly will have a bye in the first round, and will probably face Sidney’s Wyatt Van Buren in the semifinals, while Dillon’s Kholten Starkel is tough and Frenchtown’s Cody Warner is a returning state placer from a year ago. Still, Kennelly is a heavy favorite this weekend, and has never lost to anyone in his bracket.

113 – Logan Pleninger

Pleninger, ranked No. 4, finished a solid fourth at 105 pounds as a freshman and has had an outstanding sophomore season. Pleninger will be among the favorites this weekend, but the new 113-pound bracket is tough, especially with two-time state champion Clay Stillwagon of Butte Central. Pleninger wouldn’t see Stillwagon until the finals but will have to get through Anaconda’s Tre Smollack and Sidney’s Trace Jones to get there. Pleninger faces Laurel’s Jordan Shovar in the first round.

120 – Grayson Brenna

Brenna, ranked No. 2, captured the 105-pound state title last season and has been nearly unbeatable in his junior campaign. He’s the favorite this weekend, but his bracket is all about a potential matchup with Sidney’s Gresh Jones, who won the 119-pound title in 2013. Brenna and Jones are on the same side of the bracket, so a semifinal meeting is likely barring any upsets, and that match could have a profound effect on the team title. Corvallis’ Chase Connor and Billings Central’s Zach Wall, both returning state placers should vie for the other spot in the final. Brenna battles Brandon Burnhagen of Miles City in the opening round.

126 – Dylan Stewart

Stewart, ranked No. 6, is in one of the most loaded brackets in the tournament, but he can still contend. As a sophomore, Stewart finished third at 112 pounds, but the 126-pound bracket has no less than seven returning state placers, including himself. Columbia Falls’ Shonn Roberts is a returning state champ up from 112 pounds, while Lewistown’s Hunter Grover finished second at 119 last season and Polson’s Carlos Quinones was third and Corvallis’ Josh Venema was fourth. The bracket also includes Frenchtown’s Tyler Ishler and perhaps the favorite to battle Roberts in Sidney’s Ethan Graves. Stewart will face Laurel’s Connor Ludwig in the first round, with a quarterfinal matchup with Roberts on the horizon.

126 – Dane Flammond

Havre is doubled at 126 pounds. Freshman Dane Flammond made a good run at last weekend’s Central A meet, but he’ll have a tough fight on his hands in such a loaded bracket. Still, Flammond is expected to score key points for the Ponies. He’ll face Hardin’s Chandler Metcalf in the first round, and with a win, would likely meet Venema in the quarterfinals.

132 – Thomas Gruber

Gruber, ranked No. 3, is entering his final state tournament. And he’s a three-time state placer. But he’s always been in one of the premier brackets of the state tourney, and his senior season will be no different. Gruber finished fifth at 130 a year ago, but lost two heartbreakers and was that close to a state title. This weekend, he’ll be back in the bracket with returning 125-pound state champion Jarrett Degan of Belgrade, who beat Gruber at last weekend’s Central A. Dillon Tennant of Glendive, who finished second at 130 last season is also in the bracket, as is Sidney’s Layne Schaeffer. Gruber wrestles Donovan Williams of Corvallis in the first round, then his state titles hopes will rest on a quarterfinal bout with Tennant, who he lost to 5-3 in last year’s semifinals.

138 – Parker Filius

In his first crack at the state tournament, Filius, ranked No. 2, goes in as one of two favorites at 138 pounds. He hasn’t lost a match to a Class A opponent this season, but Filius has company in his bracket. Sidney’s Jordan Stevens finished second at 140 a year ago, and he and Filius should meet in the final Saturday. However, stalwarts like Butte Central’s Zach Hart, Libby’s Zach Crace, both returning state placers and Belgrade’s Lyle Degan are all on Steven’s side so they may have something to say about the outcome. Filius has no returning state placers in his half of the bracket and wrestles Anaconda’s Brevin Thompson in the first round and will face either Colton Grove of Columbia Falls or Braydon Rooks of Sidney in the quarterfinals.

138 – Gunnar Aageson

Another weight Havre is doubled up at. Aageson is a junior with state tourney experience, and he’ll look to make noise alongside Filius this weekend. The bracket is tough, but Aageson is now a veteran and could end up on the podium. After a third-place finish in the Central A, Aageson faces Butte Central’s Hart in the opening round.

145 – Kody Pribyl

In 2013, Pribyl stormed onto the Class A scene by finishing third at 140 pounds. But he won’t be a secret this weekend. Pribyl, ranked No. 3, has had an outstanding year and goes into state as a No. 1 seed out of the Central A. His bracket includes defending state champion and unbeaten Bryan Armstrong of Anaconda, as well as Hardin’s Jon Lemon, Frenchtown’s Cody Lemons and Sidney’s Ryan Chatteron. Pribyl also wound up on Armstrong’s side of the bracket and would have to face him in the semifinals. But to even get there, he will have to get through Dillon’s Austin Olsen in the first round, and probably Lemon in the quarterfinals.

152 – Jase Stokes

The Ponies have had good success with freshman at state over the years, and Stokes, ranked No. 4, is in a position to keep that tradition going. He enters his first state tourney as a Central A champion in what is a wide open 152-pound bracket. Hardin’s Shawn Purcell is the likely favorite after finishing second at 145 a year ago, while Corvallis’ Riley Jessop is also strong. But Stokes is on the opposite side of both, and if he wrestles well, a trip to the finals isn’t out of the question. Stokes wrestles Butte Central’s Sean Cooney in the first round.

160 – Jared Laux

Laux has been a bit of an under-the-radar guy this season, but he came through by finishing second at the Central A last weekend, and he could be a key factor for the Ponies this weekend. His bracket includes returning state placers Wyatt Jessop of Corvallis and Keevan Pickle of Belgrade, while a quarterfinal matchup with Sidney’s Cody Johnson looms. But overall, appearing in his first state tourney, Laux could really help HHS in the team title race. Laux faces Stevensville’s Braden Lovelass in the opening round.

170 – Jake Williams

Injuries have always plagued Williams. But he enters his final state tournament as healthy as he’s been in some time, and also as a Central A champion. And with momentum on his side and a favorable draw, Williams, ranked No. 4, will fight hard to reach Saturday’s finals. Ethan Reich of Anaconda is the favorite in the bracket, while Sidney’s Cody Christian and Libby’s Garrett Chapel are returning state placers, but Williams is poised to have his best state tournament of an injury-riddled career. He’ll face Columbia Falls’ Jason Williams in the first round, with Corvallis’ Tucker Jessop likely waiting for him I the quarters and most likely Chapel in the semifinals.

182 – Dustin Odegard

Odegard, too, is a veteran of the state tourney, but now he’s looking for the podium. He’s been consistent for the Ponies all season long and he could make some serious noise this weekend. His bracket includes top seed Ethan Blythe of Lewistown Dace Fisher of Sidney while Hardin’s Connor Murdock and Polson’s Tele Seeman are also tough. Odegard’s draw starts with Columbia Falls’ Ike Schweichert in the first round, and most likely a meeting with Fisher in the quarterfinals.

195 – Jace Billy

After rising to a third-place finish at 189 last season, Billy, ranked No. 1 has really taken off in his junior year. He’s been ranked No. 1 at 195 for most of the season and hasn’t lost to a Class A opponent this year. He’s certainly one of the favorites in his bracket, but it won’t be easy. Dillon’s Parker Tezak and Hamilton’s Michael Bumgartner are returning state placers, while Sidney has two stalwarts qualified in Austin Kendall and Garrett Darby. Corvallis’ Monty Jessop is also strong, but Billy has a shot at state title. He’ll face Andrew Burgess of Columbia Falls first and could see Sidney grapplers in both the quarters and semis.

195 – John Chinadle

Chinadle could really help the Ponies in the upper weights, especially in the wrestle backs. He didn’t see much varsity dual time this season, but he got through the Central A and gives Havre more depth. In his first state tourney, Chinadle has to face Northwest A champion Mike Corrigan of Polson.

220 – Tyler Adams

Adams, ranked No. 1, came oh so close to a state title as a junior. This weekend, he’s expected to win. Adams hasn’t lost to a Class A rival this season and has been a dominant force for the Ponies. Not only should he win the 220-pound title, but he is also a candidate for the Quick Pin Award. That’s how good he’s been this season. Sidney’s Hunter Severson is Adams’ only road block to the finals, while all of the Southwest A qualifiers are also tough. Still, Adams is as heavy a favorite as there is in any bracket in the tournament.

220 – Travis Adams

The biggest road block for Tyler Adams in the 220-pound bracket could be younger brother Travis. A state placer a year ago, Travis, ranked No. 4, was pretty dominant as a heavy for much of the season. But he moved down to 220 for the Central A, setting up Havre with a chance to completely own the bracket. He’ll face Stevi’s Kordale Behner in the first round and he’s on a side of the bracket that doesn’t have a single returning state placer, making an all Adams’ final entirely possible.