State A Wrestling: Ponies crown two champions, finish second to Sidney

BILLINGS -- The Havre High wrestling team started the second day at the All-Class State Wrestling Tournament knowing it had work to do in order to catch Sidney and Lewistown in the Class A team race.

With seven wrestlers in the semifinals, the Blue Ponies had a chance to close the gap, but in the end, it wasn't meant to be. Havre sent just two to the finals and even though it eventually surpassed Lewistown for second place, Sidney left the Rimrock Auto Arena at the Metra as the 2018 Class A state champions. Sidney was victorious with 250 points. Havre was second with 188 and Lewistown was third with 185.

"We left some points out there," HHS head coach Scott Filius said. "So we aren't particularly happy with ourselves, but all we can do is learn from it and go back to work."

The Ponies did come up short in their quest for a sixth consecutive Class A state title, but there was still plenty for Havre fans to be excited about, as Martin Wilkie (145) and Tyler Schaub won individual state championships.

Wilkie, a junior, stayed on pace to become just the third four-time state champion in the history of Havre wrestling. The 145-pounder clinched his title with an 8-2 decision over Ben Stortz of Glendive.

"I am glad I won," Wilkie said. "But I wasn't happy with the way I performed."

A few matches after Wilkie won his championship, Schaub brought home his second state title, but he needed some third-period heroics in order to do it. In the semifinals, Schaub trailed 2-0 before pinning Brady Boyce of Lewistown. Then, in the 205-pound championship, Schaub scored a late takedown to win 4-2. The victory was especially meaningful for the senior, who missed the state tournament as a junior due to a knee injury.

"It feels great," Schaub said. "I am glad that it's done and I was able to come back and do it."

Wilkie and Schaub both took care of business Saturday, but they were the only ones to win in the semifinals. Cameron Pleninger, Ryan Stewart, Lane Paulson, Connor Harris and Mason Dionne all lost in that round. At that point, the team title was Sidney's to lose and after a dominant performance by the Eagles in the consolation rounds, the team title was wrapped up well before the finals started.

Yet, on its way to a second-place finish, Havre placed 10 wrestlers. Paulson and Harris both finished third, Stewart and Pleninger finished fourth, Mick Chagnon and Dionne were fifth, followed by Marc Ramirez and Quinn Reno, who both wound up sixth.

Going into the consolation semifinals, Havre trailed Lewistown for second by 27 points, 167-140, but closed strong to make up the deficit. HHS then led by three points as the finals started and managed to hang onto second place thanks to Wilkie and Schaub. Havre failed to finish first for the first time since 2012. On the other hand, Sidney won its first state title since 2006.

For full coverage of the All-Class State Tournament, see Monday's edition of the Havre Daily News.