Pony duo end the year on top

BILLINGS - Over the years, the Havre High wrestling team has owned finals night at the All-Class State Wrestling Tournament. Last year, seven of the 26 Class A finalists were Blue Ponies. However, this time around, HHS sent just two to the biggest stage in Montana wrestling.

While Havre advanced junior Martin Wilkie and senior Tyler Schaub to finals night Saturday in the Rimrock Auto Arena in Billings, another major difference between 2018 and previous tournaments, was that by the time the finals rolled around, Havre had no hope of winning the Class A team championship.

After an impressive first day and a dominating performance in the wrestle backs, Sidney had the team title wrapped up heading into the final round. The only drama that remained was whether Schaub and Wilkie could complete their state championship runs and whether or not the Ponies could hang on to place second.

When the second day of the state tournament began, the Ponies found themselves in third. But after some key wins in the consolation rounds, Havre had pulled ahead of Lewistown, 180-177. Yet, the Ponies had just two wrestlers in the finals, compared to five for the Eagles.

That meant if Havre was going to hold onto second place, it would need wins by Schaub and Wilkie. There was no room for error. More importantly though, Wilkie was attempting to become a three-time state champion, while Schaub was hoping to end his career on the high note of winning a state championship.

After the random draw started the championship matches at 120 pounds, Wilkie, who wrestled in the 145-pound weight class, was the first Pony to take the stage. Leading up to the finals, Wilkie toyed with his competition. He won his first three matches by fall and not a single one of them lasted past the first period. Yet, the championship match with Ben Stortz of Glendive proved to be much more difficult.

In the first period, Wilkie scored a takedown to go up 2-0 and eventually pushed his lead to 4-0 before Stortz scored two points of his own, trimming Wilkie's advantage in half, 4-2. The Havre junior added two more points in the second period and was awarded another takedown early in the third period, to go ahead 8-2. Stortz didn't make it easy and ultimately, he didn't allow himself to be pinned, but it was still enough for Wilkie to win.

"The match didn't really go the way I wanted it to," Wilkie said. "I should have been going more on my feet. I feel like I relaxed too much. So I was just not really pleased with my performance."

Wilkie might not be thrilled with how he got there, but the end result is clear. He's now one of the few Havre wrestlers to win three Class A state championships and next season, he will have the chance to join Parker Filius and Jase Stokes, as the only four-time state champions in Havre High history.

"I am not thinking about it too much right now," Wilkie said. "I am just focused on getting back to work and to start lifting again and getting ready for some national tournaments."

Following the win by Wilkie, Schaub took the mat, with the Ponies still leading narrowly over Lewistown for second place, 184-181. The team race for second mattered, but more importantly, Schaub was attempting to close out his storied career with a second state title.

Schaub won a state championship as a sophomore, but missed the state tournament due to injury as a junior, which made his last match even more important. Like Wilkie, Schaub pinned his way into the finals, beating Jacob Woods of Stevensville, B.J. Hatcher of Laurel and Brady Boyce of Lewistown. Yet it wasn't always easy. Schaub had to rally from a 2-0 deficit in the third to beat Boyce and then in the championship match, against Will Caprata of Hardin, he found himself tied 2-2 with one minute left in the match.

With the clock ticking down and a state title on the line, Schaub went after a score. There was no room for error, as one mistake could lead to a loss, but in the end, the senior got the takedown he needed and won his second state championship, winning the 205-final 4-2.

"I just knew that I needed to get a takedown," Schaub said. "I had to get it."

Not only did Schaub reach the top of the podium for the second time, but his victory, coupled with three Lewistown defeats in the finals, allowed the Ponies to hold onto second place, denying their rivals a chance to surpass them in the team standings, which helped make a bittersweet finals night, just a little bit sweeter.

Finals night was also the culmination of great overall seasons for both Ponies. Wilkie lost just once all year, while Schaub suffered just four defeats in his senior season.