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When the Havre High wrestling team first started going to the Tri-State Wrestling Tournament in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the Blue Ponies took only a select few wrestlers hoping to get a chance at some elite competition.
But over the years, the Ponies have more than proved that they belong at the Tri-State Tournament and for the past few seasons, Havre has been taking its entire team.
And this season, Havre will be back to one of the top tournaments in the Northwest with a total of 15 wrestlers set to be in attendance, after HHS won the tournament in 2016 and finished fourth a season ago.
"We have placed high enough the past couple of years that we can take a full team," HHS head coach Beau LaSalle said. "So we can take 15 wrestlers, one for each weight and we can have a couple of extra."
Headlining the group Havre will take this year is none other than three-time state champion Martin Wilkie, who has placed at the Tri-State in each of his trips there, finishing fifth as a freshman, third as a sophomore and second last year to the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler, Alexander Cruz. Wilkie was tied up 6-6 in the finals last year until a late takedown did him in. Now, he is excited to go back and do one of the few things he hasn't in his high school career, which is win at Tri-State.
"It's something I want to accomplish in my high school career," Wilkie said. "I haven't done it yet, so now I think it's my time to go out there and win it."
Wilkie, who is committed to wrestle at the University of Minnesota, in the Big Ten Conference next season, said wrestling in tournaments like the Tri-State are a big reason why he was able to reach that level. Of course, he also gave credit to former head coach Scott Filius, who was instrumental in getting Havre to the Tri-State tournament.
"That helped me so much," Wilkie said of the Tri-State. "But I also have to thank both Scott (Filius) and Parker. They taught me a lot and they really helped me develop. They taught me how to put a lot of the extra time in and do all the things I needed to in the offseason."
Another senior who is hoping to make a name for himself this weekend is Lane Paulson, who will wrestle for Havre at 138 pounds, just one weight below Wilkie, who will man his usual spot at 145 pounds. Paulson hasn't placed at the Tri-State tournament but has been close and he said he has college wrestling aspirations, too, aspirations that might be helped with a strong showing in Coeur d'Alene.
"There are a lot of wrestlers out there that are already committed to wrestle in college," Paulson said. "I am not committed. I want to wrestle in college but it's fun to have a chance to knock some of those guys off. But the competition really is a step up. We don't always get that. We get to wrestle a lot of the Class AA schools, but we don't really see too much competition like this."
Additionally, Connor Harris, a junior who will wrestle in the 152-pound weight class this week, is another Pony who is looking to find the podium at the Tri-State after coming close in previous seasons. Harris, who is also eyeing a college career on the mat, said he was looking forward to the opportunity to take on some of the best wrestlers the Northwest has to offer.
"It's a lot tougher competition than most tournaments we go to," Harris said. "I just want to try to do well and wrestle tough to try and get my name out there a little bit. We have really been preparing ourselves for it and trying to peak because we know that it's going to be one of our toughest tournaments."
In addition to Wilkie, Harris and Paulson, the other wrestlers who will make the trip to Idaho are Riley Pleninger (103), Mick Chagnon (106), Cameron Pleninger (120), Dylan Young (120), Kendall Pleninger (126), Marc Ramirez (132), Randy Tommerup (132), Wyatt Hansen (138), Orion Thivierge (152), Taylor Gopher (170), Brayden Stadell (182) and Austin Ratliff (220). The status of Ramirez is up in the air due to an injury, but if he's cleared, he will compete.
Both Pleninger and Chagnon have placed previously at the Tri-State in the 98-pound weight class, with Pleninger getting fifth as a freshman in 2016 and Chagnon getting fourth as a freshman last season. However, the Ponies won't have anyone in that weight or in the heavyweight spot this season.
Regardless of their ability or experience, LaSalle said, each wrestler can gain a lot from wrestling in Coeur d'Alene.
"Anytime you get to see the level of competition we will get to see," LaSalle said. "It can give you some confidence that you can hang with some of these guys, even if you lose a couple matches. But if you win a couple matches or you place, especially with those brackets, because if you lose, you have to wrestle really well to try and get back, I think that experience is invaluable."
The Tri-State Tournament, which features some of the top teams from throughout the Northwest, will begin Friday morning and conclude Saturday.
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