Ponies off and wrestling

It takes a strong effort to knock off the Havre High wrestling team at its own meet and a strong effort is exactly what the Great Falls Bison gave as they took home the team title this past Saturday at the HHS gymnasium.

While the Blue Ponies did come up short overall with 182.5 points compared to 218.5 for Great Falls High, Havre was missing a few wrestlers from its normal lineup and on top of that, HHS still crowned six champions and placed a total of 12.

"I thought that things went pretty well overall," first year Havre High wrestling coach Beau LaSalle said. "We definitely have some things that we need to work on, but overall, the kids competed hard. I was impressed with the freshmen. It was their first time in a Blue Pony singlet and they all did what they were supposed to do."

Havre senior Martin Wilkie knows what it's like to do well at the Havre Invitational as a freshman, considering he won an individual title in that first tournament. Three years later, Wilkie capped off a perfect record at the tournament, winning his fourth consecutive title after beating Kai Stewart of CMR in the 145-pound final.

Wilkie was one of six individual champions but was one of just two seniors to take home first place. The other was Austin Ratliff. While Wilkie was chasing his fourth Havre Invitational title, Ratliff came into Saturday searching for his first and he wrestled like it.

After getting a bye into the semifinals, Ratliff battled Brett Monroe of Valier and after beating Monroe by way of a decision Friday, Ratliff turned around and pinned him at the 6:00 mark to reach the championship match.

"I beat him in a close match (Friday)," Ratliff said. "It was only 3-1 and I just flipped the switch, so I went ahead and took care of business."

Ratliff then went head-to-head with Kain Schwartz-Dohert of CMR and even though he didn't win by fall, he did earn a 10-0 major decision, giving him his first ever title at the Havre Invite.

"It feels great," Ratliff said. "I have been putting a lot of work in. It was a tough match. All respect to him. He is a great wrestler."

"It was good," LaSalle said. "I know that was one of his goals and I think that will give him a lot of confidence that he can build on because this is not the end goal."

At 103 pounds, sophomore Mick Chagnon won his title by posting a 3-0 record against the others in his weight class. Up at 120 pounds, Cameron Pleninger pinned Austin Phattavong of Great Falls to win his championship, while Lane Paulson at 138 pounds and Connor Harris at 152 also finished first in their respective weight classes.

Other wrestlers who placed for Havre included Riley Pleninger, who was fourth at 103 pounds, Dominic Perkins, who was sixth at 126 pounds, Randy Tommerup, who was fifth at 132 pounds and Orion Thiverge, who finished fourth at 152 pounds. Braden Stadell also took third for Havre at 182 pounds and Josh Jackson was sixth for HHS in the heavyweight division.

It was the Havre Invitational but the Ponies weren't the only local team in action. Chinook finished ninth at the meet with 36.5 points. The Sugarbeeters had a number of individuals place including Garrett Pruttis (5th, 138 pounds), Ethan Liddle (6th, 138 pounds), Ross Reed (5th, 152 pounds) and J.T. Hauer, who was the highest placer for Chinook, finishing third at 160 pounds.

Chester-Joplin-Inverness also had three wrestlers place at the meet led by Reubin Swenson, who finished as the runner-up in the heavyweight class. Gunnar Wickam was fourth among the heavyweights and at 205 pounds, Ryker Elverud finished fifth for the Hawks, who totaled 21 points.

Havre will be back in action this week as the Ponies will head to Butte for the Butte Central Mixer Thursday and for the Mining City Duals Friday and Saturday.

Havre Invitational

Team scores: Great Falls High 218.5, Havre 182.5, Great Falls CMR 164, Cut Bank 101, Lewistown 95.5, Simms 70.5, Valier 54, Malta 37, Chinook 36.5, Chester-Joplin-Inverness 21, Butte Central 11.

Order of finish

103: Mick Chagon, Havre; Colton Martello, CMR; Dre Coles, GF; Riley Pleninger, Hav

113: Easton Shupe, GF; Steven Schubarth, Sim, Colton Picco, Lew, Nate Preston, CMR; William Schneiderhan, CMR; Caleb Simpson, CB

120: Cameron Pleninger, Hav; Austin Phattavong, GF; Calvin Carroll, CMR, Michael Leach, Sim; Kierran Rooney, CB; Kason Olson, Lew

126: Cooper Birdwell, Lew; Mason Hunber, GF; Matt Connelly, Val; Jarrett LeMaster, CMR; Dominic Perkins, Hav; Matthew Larson, CB

132: Andrew Paradise, CMR, Ty Curry, Val; Keaton Jarrett, CMR; Trevin Smith, GF; Randy Tommerup, Hav; Shane Soul, Mal

138: Lane Paulson, Hav; Carter Carroll, CMR; Braedon Lomas, GF, Kolter Schipman, Malta; Garrett Pruttis, Chin; Ethan Liddle, Chin

145: Martin Wilkie, Hav; Kai Stewart, CMR; Donovan Mahoney, GF, Cache Hilliard, GF; Callan Mears, Mal, Hayden Hedges, CB

152: Connor Harris, Hav; Caden Hilliard, GF; Austin Vanek, CB; Orion Thriverge, Hav; Ross Reed, Chi; Quinton Spring, CMR

160: Duane Otto II, Lew; Liam Swanson, GF; JT Hauer, Chin; Mike Brien Jr., CMR; Hunter Decker, Sim

170: Keaton Potter, Lew; Tyson Krahe, GF; Quintin Greer, GF; Junior Cady, Lew; Dalton Estey, CB; Jayson Ingalls, CMR

182: JR Seewald, CB; Elijah Davis, GF; Brayden Stadell, Hav; Samuel Mishler, Sim; Try Aamold, Lew; Kaden LaBrie, Mal

205: Austin Ratliff, Hav; Kain Schwartz-Doherty, CMR; Brett Monroe, Val; Orion Macdonald, Sim; Ean Williams, BC; Ryker Elverud, CJI

285: Ethan Deroche, GF; Reubin Swenson, CJI; Dylan Sullivan, CB; Gunnar Wickum, CJI; Westley Omsberg, CB; Josh Johnson, Hav

Individual Havre High Results

103 - Mick Chagnon - Champion

Round 1 - won dec. Colton Martello, CMR, 8-2; Round 2 - won maj dec. Dre Coles, GFH, 8-0; Round 3 - pinned Riley Pleninger, Havre, 1:26.

103 - Riley Pleninger - 4th Place

Round 1 - lost dec. Dre Cotes, GFH, 4-2 - Round 2 - lost dec. Colton Martello, CMR, 13-7; Round 3 - pinned by Mick Chagnon, HAV, 1:26.

113 - Hunter Velk

Champ. Round 1 - won dec. Gunnar Yelenich, BC, 14-9; Quarterfinal - pinned by Easton Shupe, GFH, :53; Cons. Round 3 - pinned by Caleb Simpson, CB, 1:48.

120 - Cameron Pleninger - Champion

Semifinal - won tech fall over Michael Leach, Simms, 15-0; Final - pinned Austin Phattavong, GFH, :55.

126 - Kendall Pleninger

Champ Round 1 - pinned by Jarrett LeMaster, CMR, :39; Cons. Round 2 - pinned Caden McCord, LEW, :43; Cons. Round 3 - pinned by Matthew Larson, CB, 1:17.

126 - Dominic Perkins - 5th Place

Quarterfinal - pinned Caden McCord, LEW, 0:21; Semifinal - pinned by Cooper Birdwell, LEW, 1:34; Cons. Semifinal - pinned by Jarret LeMaster, CMR, 1:00; 5th-Place - won dec. Matthew Larson, CB, 7-0.

132 - Randy Tommerup - 5th Place

Quarterfinal - pinned by Andrew Paradise, CMR, 1:36; Cons. Round 1 - pinned Ryder Cole, CJI, 2:12; Cons. Semifinal - pinned by Trevin Smith, GFH. 3:37; 5th-Place - won by tech fall over Shane Soul, MAL, 16-0.

138 - Devin Nelson

Quarterfinal - pinned by Carter Carroll, CMR, 1:46; Cons. Round 2 - pinned by Lucas Kinkaid, SIMMS, 1:58.

145 - Martin Wilkie - Champion

Quarterfinal - pinned Zac Judd, MAL, 0:23; Semifinal - pinned Cache Hillard, GFH. 3:00; Championship - won dec. Kai Stewart, CMR, 6-3.

152 - Orion Thivierge - 4th Place

Quarterfinal - pinned Ross Reed, CHI, 3:30; Semifinal - lost dec. Caden Hillard, GFH, 9-5; Cons. Semifinal - won dec. Quinton Spring, CMR, 9-2; 3rd place - pinned by Austin Vanek, CB, 0:38.

152 - Connor Harris - Champion

Quarterfinal - pinned Quinton Spring, CMR, 1:02; Semifinal - pinned Austin Vanek, CB, 1:00; 1st Place - won tech fall over Caden Hillard, FGH, 17-0.

182 - Brayden Stadell - 3rd Place

Quarterfinal - pinned Kaden LaBrie, MAL, 0:29; Semifinal - pinned by JR Seewald, CB, 1:40; Cons. Semifinal - pinned Tryg Aamold, LEW, 1:59; 3rd Place - won dec. Samuel Mishler, Simms, 8-2.

205 - Austin Ratliff - Champion

Semifinal - pinned Brett Monroe, VAL, 1st Place - won maj dec. Kain Schwartz-Doherty, CMR, 10-0.

285 - Josh Johnson - 6th Place

Quarterfinal - pinned by Wesley Omsberg, 2:35; Cons. Semifinal - pinned by Dylan Sullivan, 0:34; 5th Place - pinned by Wesley Omsberg, 4:49.