14 Ponies ready to defend their state title

For years, the Havre High wrestling team has dominated divisional weekend, winning numerous Central A and back-to-back Eastern A titles. However, Saturday in Belgrade, Sidney put an end to the Blue Ponies’ run.

On the strength of three individual champions and 17 wrestlers in the top eight, Sidney won the combined Eastern A championship for the first time, with 328 points, compared to 244.5 for second-place Havre. Lewistown finished third with 231 points. In fourth place was Hardin, with 155.

“I was pleased with our kids,” HHS head coach Scott Filius said. “Our kids wrestled well. We just got beat. Hats off to Sidney, they did a great job. They look pretty solid.”

While the Ponies came up short in the team competition, it was still a successful day, as Havre crowned two individual champions and saw six other wrestlers finish as the runner-up. HHS placed a total of 14 wrestlers in the tournament, all of which will qualify for the Class A state tournament this weekend in Billings.

One of Havre’s individual titles came from junior Martin Wilkie, who won his third straight divisional championship at the Eastern A. This time around, he wrestled at 145 pounds and defeated Ben Stortz of Glendive in the final.

However, Wilkie was not alone at the top of the podium. Havre senior Tyler Schaub, who missed most of his junior season due to injury, continued his incredible comeback story by capturing a divisional title at 205 pounds. Schaub, who is a former individual state champion, earned first place by knocking off Sawyor Thorgerson of Sidney.

“He missed all year last year and got to divisionals last year and hurt his knee again,” Filius said. “So it was kind of fun to for him to get there and be healthy.”

Joining Wilkie and Schaub in the finals were Mick Chagnon (103), Cameron Pleninger (113), Ryan Stewart (120), Lane Paulson (132), Connor Harris (152) and Mason Dionne (170).

Yet, all six of those wrestlers fell short in their title matches. Chagnon fell to Kaiden Cline of Sidney, Pleninger dropped his title bout with Cooper Birdwell of Lewistown, Stewart was beaten by Damian Leidholt of Miles City, Paulson fell to John Mears of Belgrade, Harris was beaten by Bryce Roan of Hardin and Dionne lost to Alex Wickens of Lewistown at 170.

“Honestly, I was pleased with all of our kids,” Filius said. “We got great effort and we had some great matches. We are wrestling well. Quinn Reno had a great day. He wound up fourth, but just had some really good matches. Stewart had a couple of good matches, Connor Harris, Mason Dionne, all those guys had some really good wins.”

Havre had six other wrestlers find their way onto the podium, while at the same time, qualifying for the state tournament. Austin Ratliff, finished third for the Ponies, after falling to eventual champion Ryan Horner of Sidney, in the semifinals of the heavyweight class. Quinn Reno, an individual state champion a season ago, finished fourth after losing to Stewart in the semis at 120.

Marc Ramirez put forth a valiant effort for Havre, finishing sixth at 126 pounds. Ramirez almost didn’t compete in the tournament due to an injury, but was cleared in the days before divisionals and has now qualified for state. Joining him there is senior Jazz Schroeder, who was sixth at 170 pounds. Freshman Dylan Young also made his way to state by finishing sixth at 126 pounds, as did Taylor Gopher, who was eighth at 160 pounds.

Havre, the five-time defending Class A state champion will attempt to defend its title this weekend at the All-Class State wrestling meet in Billings at the Metra.

Eastern A

at Belgrade

Team Scores: Sidney 328, Havre 244.5, Lewistown 231, Hardin 155, Glendive 142, Belgrade 100, Miles City 88.5, Laurel 67.5, Billings Central 65, Livingston 40.

Individual Order of Finish

103: Kaiden Cline, Sidney; Mick Chagnon, Havre;, Wyatt Mager, Lewistown; Matt Foley, Belgrade; Kolby Hutzenbiler, Sidney; Levi Nunberg, Laurel; Colton Picco, Lewistown; Beau Black Eagle, Hardin.

113: Cooper Birdwell, Lewistown; Cameron Pleninger, Havre; Jordan Darby, Sidney; Braxton Scheeler, Miles City; Keith Pretty Weasel, Hardin; Dylan Young, Havre; Cael Nearhoof, Lewistown; Nate Rose, Belgrade.

120: Damian Leidholt, Miles City; Ryan Stewart, Havre; Kade Graves, Sidney; Quin Reno, Havre; Tanner Mannin, Lewistown; Aden Rogge, Livingston; Alex Derbyshire, Billings Central; Bryce Hirsch, Miles City.

126: Caleb Birdwell, Lewistown; Christian Dean, Sidney; Keagan Campbell, Laurel; Jared Rockwell, Belgrade; Everett Jensen, Sidney; Marc Ramirez, Havre; Brenan Hager, Miles City; Guillian Comstock, Glendive.

132: John Mears, Belgrade; Lane Paulson, Havre; Ethan Boyce, Billings Central; Waylon VanBuren, Sidney; Kolton Reid, Sidney; Hunter Popesaitke, Hardin; Jackson Dalton, Miles City; Jestin Molnar, Laurel.

138: Jace Winter, Sidney; Treyvn Nave, Lewistown; Keaton Potter, Lewistown; Jacob Morgan, Billings Central; Gage Meyer, Belgrade; Kaid Campbell, Miles City; Ronald Anderson, Hardin; Colten Reidel, Glendive.

145: Martin Wilkie, Havre; Ben Stortz, Glendive; Jace Johnson, Sidney; Duane Otto II, Lewistown; Victor Howieson, Livingston; Kayne Jonson, Laurel; Tyler Emineth, Laurel; Uriel May, Billings Central.

152: Bryce Roan, Hardin; Connor Harris, Havre; Riley Waters, Sidney; Branden Held, Glendive; Chase Farrar, Lewistown; Madon Fend, Laurel; Kon Speelmon, Miles City; Junior Cady, Lewistown.

160: Tyler Clapp, Glendive; Jett Jones, Sidney; Avery Gurney, Sidney; Conner Schwend, Hardin; Rob Gunderson, Billings Central; Landon Farrar, Lewistown; Sam Despain, Belgrade; Taylor Gopher, Havre.

170: Alex Wickens, Lewistown; Mason Dione, Havre; Brenden Roan, Hardin; Trevor Dean, Sidney; Cade Dockter, Glendive; Jazz Schroeder, Havre; Kevin Aiken, Belgrade; Colton Derenberger, Miles City.

182: Justin Zier, Hardin; Nelson Crisafulli, Glendive; Wyatt Blythe, Lewistown; Shane Gibson, Livingston; Gidion Herbel, Hardin; Ryan Wyman, Sidney; Thomas Cooper, Billings Central; Gavin Kewish, Belgrade.

205: Tyler Schaub, Havre; Sawyor Thorgerson, Sidney; Brady Boyce, Lewistown; Will Caprata, Hardin; BJ Hatcher, Laurel; Tyler Harms, Miles City; Bo Hakert, Billings Central; Brayan Amaya, Belgrade.

285: Ryan Horner, Sidney; Keegan Mires, Glendive; Austin Ratliff, Havre; Matt Fulton, Glendive; Archie Swift, Miles City; Jess Murdock, Hardin; Preston Bad Bear, Hardin; Enrique Ruiz, Belgrade.