Havre's Pleninger going to Colorado Mines

It was a big wrestling season for Havre High senior Logan Pleninger. And, the future looks pretty good, too.

Recently, Pleninger was one of three Montana grapplers to receive the State-Wide Blewett Wrestling Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarships are awarded to the top wrestler from each school classification who has displayed the best combined qualities of wrestling and academic achievement.  This year's winners exemplify the precise purpose of the scholarships. 

Two of the scholarship recipients were state champions with one winning four state titles. All three student-athletes maintained high grade point averages. 

And one of those was Pleninger, who finished second at the Class A state tournament, losing a heartbreaking match in the finals at 132 pounds. Still, Pleninger was a huge part of leading Havre High to its fourth consecutive Class A state championship.

Pleninger, who was a four-time state placer for the Blue Ponies and head coach Scott Filius, was also a standout in the classroom, as he carries a perfect 4.0 GPA, and, he recently signed to wrestle and attend NCAA Division II Colorado School of Mines, one of the top engineering schools in the western U.S.

"It's great to see kids excel both on the mats and in the classroom," said Zander Blewett. "It's especially inspiring to see a talented wrestler like Logan continue his career at a rigorous academic institution like the Colorado School of Mines."

Caiden Crawford of Helena High a 2016 Class AA state champion, and Forsyth's Luke Weber, a four-time Class B-C state champion also received the Blewett Scholarship.

"We love wrestling for the life lessons it teaches and these kids embody what this great sport is all about," said Blewett.