Pony grapplers wrap up the regular season

The Havre High wrestling team is just one week away from defending its title at the Central A Divisional meet and two weeks away from going for its third consecutive Class A state championship. But, before the Blue Ponies can wrestle in the two biggest meets of the season, they have one more tune up left on the schedule.

That final tune up to the season-ending meets that matter most will come this Saturday, when the Ponies will compete in the Malta Invitational, which will feature a number of schools from the Class B-C ranks, including one of the top teams from Class B in Choteau.

"I think the only real team that we will see down there is Choteau, and they are top in Class B-C," HHS head coach Scott Filius said. "But the great thing about Malta is that it will bring in a lot of kids from the south and from the Hi-Line, so there will be some tough kids there. It's going to be a really competitive tournament, and we should get a lot of good matches. As far as our team is concerned we should be fine with our depth but on an individual level, it will be a barn burner."

Havre, which is the top-ranked team in Class A is coming off yet another team championship after dominating the competition and taking home the first-place prize at the Class A duals last weekend in Belgrade.

This week, the Ponies will have their full roster of wrestlers in action as they all prepare for divisionals next week and state, which will take place in Billings at the Metra beginning Feb.13. That means that HHS will have multiple wrestlers at numerous weight classes this week.

At 103 pounds, there will be just be Ryan Stewart. But at 120 pounds, the Ponies will be wrestling both Dylan Stewart and Keegan Kennelly. At 126 pounds, the Ponies will send out Logan Pleninger, at 132 pounds there will be top-ranked Grayson Brenna in addition to Jazz Schroeder. And at 138 pounds will be Dane Flammond and Dawson Kinsella.

The 145-pound weight class is another that will feature a pair of Havre wrestlers starting with Parker Filius, who is the No. 1 wrestler at 145 along with senior Gunner Aageson. At 152 pounds, the Ponies will have Kody Pribyl, followed by top-ranked Jase Stokes at 160 pounds. Walter White will also be in the mix at 160 pounds for HHS.

When it comes to 170 pounds, both John Chinadle and Tyler Schaub will be in action, then at 182 pounds, Havre will have Jordan Schroeder as well as Jayr Caplette. Rounding things out for the Ponies will be top-ranked wrestlers at both 205 pounds and in the heavyweight division with Jace Billy and Travis Adams, respectively. Brock Smith will also be wrestling at 205 pounds in Malta for Havre.

"Right now we are just working on getting better every day," Filius said. "The thing you have to do to fight complacency is to keep bringing challenges out to those kids and we have done that and they have been responding. So we are just working at getting better."

Havre will travel to Malta for its final meet of the regular season Saturday. Next week’s Central A Divisional is set for Feb. 7 in Livingston.