Blue Ponies beat Scotties, turn focus to Rocky Mountain Classic

The Havre High wrestling team will head to Missoula this weekend to take part in the annual Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the Treasure State.

But before the Blue Ponies travel to Missoula for the two-day tournament featuring some of Montana's best grapplers Friday, they traveled to Glasgow Tuesday night to take on one of the tougher teams in Class B right now in the Scotties. Giving up two weights, the Ponies put together a solid performance in the dual and notched five pins and eight total victories in a 41-30 win over Glasgow.

Havre dominated in the lightweights as Riley Pleninger (103), Mick Chagnon (113) and Cameron Pleninger (120) all notched pins in 1:16 or less as Havre built an 18-0 lead. Glasgow answered with pins at 126 and 132 pounds, however, the Ponies got back on track with an 8-2 win by Lane Paulson (138) and an 18-2 technical fall won by Orion Thivierge (145).

Martin Wilkie bumped up to 152 pounds and wrestled against Kyler Hallock, whom he pinned in 4:40 to score even more bonus points for HHS. Then, Connor Harris also notched a pin for Havre at 160 pounds and finally, HHS got a win from Austin Ratliff at 205 pounds, as he earned a 9-4 decision. The Ponies gave up six points each with forfeits at 170 and 285 pounds. Glasgow also won the match at 182 pounds by fall.

Following the win over Glasgow, the Ponies will turn their attention to the stacked field in Missoula in what will be the toughest test Havre will face until it reaches the Class A state tournament next month in Billings.

"I think that it's one of the toughest tournaments in the state," HHS head coach Beau LaSalle said. "I think it's the closest thing that we have to the Tri-State because you get those teams from Washington and Idaho. It's probably one of the deeper tournaments and it's just a fun tournament to compete in."

While Havre won the Jug Beck championship a couple of years ago, Havre continued its history of success at the meet last year by finishing second. The Ponies put eight wrestlers on the podium at the 2018 Jug Beck and that group includes Wilkie, who captured the individual title at 138 pounds.

Now, Wilkie will try to do the same this season in the 145-pound weight class. However, he won't be the only Havre wrestler looking to find the podium again as Paulson and Harris each finished fourth at the tournament. The others who performed well last season for Havre were Chagnon and Cameron Pleninger, who each finished fifth, as well as Ratliff, who didn't place but did win multiple matches and should contend for a podium spot this time around at 205 pounds.

Others who will be in action for the Ponies in Missoula this weekend include Brayden Stadell, Riley Pleninger, Dominic Perkins, Thivierge and Kendall Pleninger.

"We will get to see a lot of really good competition," LaSalle said of the Jug Beck. "And one of the exciting things is that we will get to see some of the teams from the West and get a chance to see how we match up against some of them and that's exciting. It gives us a chance to see if the stuff that we have been doing with the kids is working."

The Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Invitational will get under Friday in Missoula and it will conclude Saturday, with the final set to take place Saturday afternoon.

Havre 41, Glasgow 30

103 - Riley Pleninger, HAV, pinned Jake Kuka, GLA, :50; 113 - Mick Chagnon, HAV, pinnd Alex Ost, GLA, :30; 120 - Cameron Pleninger, HAV, pinned Jak Meiers, GLA, 1:16; 126 - Colten Fast, GLA, pinned Kenndall Pleninger, HAV, 1:16; 132 - Oren Hallock, GLA, pinned Dominic Perkins, HAV, :49; 138 - Lane Paulson, HAV, dec. Kaden Zimmerman, GLA, 8-2; 145 - Orion Thivierge, HAV. tech fall John Cremer, GLA, 18-2; 152 - Martin Wilkie, HAV, pinned Kyler Hollock, 3:40; 160 - Connor Harris, HAV, pinned Tel Aune, GLA .,5:02; 171 - Ty Kittleson wins by forfeit; 182 - Dylan Nickens pinned Brayden Stadell, HAV, 1:53; 205 - Austin Ralitt, HAV, dec. Cooper Larson, GLA, 9-4; 285- Mayson Phipps, GLA, won by forfeit.