News you can use
News you can use
Havre advanced seven into the semifinals and 10 to the second day at the All-Class State Tournament
Tyler Schaub of Havre, won both of his matches Friday at the All-Class State Tournament in Billings. He is two wins away from his second career state title.
BILLINGS -- Over the past few years, the Havre High wrestling team has owned the first day at the All-Class State Tournament. But this time around, inside the Rimrock Auto Arena at the Metra in Billings, the Blue Ponies had to fight just to stay within range of Sidney and Lewistown.
Sidney, which won the Eastern A Divisional last weekend in Belgrade, opened the Class A tournament as the prohibitive favorite, but after the opening day, the team competition is a tight race. Havre sent seven wrestlers to the semifinals and currently sits in third place with 99 points. Sidney is leading the way with 119.5. Lewistown is in second with 102.
"So far so good," HHS head coach Scott Filius said. "The kids are wrestling well. They all competed hard."
As far as the team competition is concerned, Filius said Havre still had a chance at first, especially with 10 wrestlers still in the hunt for the podium. But it will depend largely on what happens in the semifinals and wrestle backs Saturday morning.
"We will see tomorrow," Filius said. "We will find out where we are after the morning."
Cameron Pleninger was the first Pony to get into the semifinals at 113 pounds and he was joined soon after by senior Ryan Stewart. Both notched pins in each of their first two matches. Lane Paulson (132) got a pair of tech falls to reach the semis for the second straight year.
Martin Wilkie, who is gunning for a third consecutive individual state title, pinned both of his competittors, as he cruised into the semifinals at 145 pounds. Havre's other top-ranked wrestler, Tyler Schaub (205), an individual champion in 2017, also advanced with two quick pins.The other semifinalists are sophomores Connor Harris (152) and Mason Dionne (170).
While the Ponies got seven into the semifinals, they have a slew of other wrestlers that are still alive for the podium. Freshman Mick Chagnon is one of those, as he won two of three matches to get himself to Saturday. Quinn Reno, a 2016 state champion, will join him. Reno won his opening match, before losing in the quarterfinals. Yet, he rebounded in the second-round of consolation and is now one win away from placing for the second straight year. Fellow sophomore Marc Ramirez, who came up one win short of the podium in 2017, kept his hopes alive with two victories Friday.
Jazz Schroeder, Austin Ratliff and Taylor Gopher all won one match Friday before being eliminated. Freshman Dylan Young was also knocked out after consecutive losses in his state tournament debut.
Havre and Lewistown each have seven wrestlers in the semifinals, which is tied for the most in Class A, as well 10 wrestlers total still alive. Sidney, on the other hand, has six wrestlers in the semis and nine more in the wrestle backs for a total of 15.
The All-Class State Tournament will continue Saturday morning at 9:30. The action will start with the championship semifinals and the consolation quarterfinals.
Reader Comments(0)