Havre's very own mat...BROTHERS

Family is something that is a constant in sports. Whether it is the team coming together or a last name making a legacy, family is one of the aspects that not only makes sports exciting to watch, but also creates stories for many to remember as time passes.

In the case of Havre High wrestling, one last name has been, and continues to be a staple among the Blue Ponies.

Many in Havre have heard the name Pleninger throughout the years, especially on the wrestling mat. Over the years, Havre wrestling fans have watched four Pleninger brothers compete for the Ponies, with Logan having graduated from HHS three years ago.

Now, though, his younger brothers Cameron, Kendall and Riley are following in each other's footsteps to keep the Pleninger legacy alive, while their mother, Carol Pleninger, and father, Robert Pleninger, have been cheering them on for years.

Interestingly enough, wrestling was something that was not present in the Pleninger's routine, but Carol Pleninger soon saw the sport becoming a part of their lives thanks to a certain club in Havre.

So, what has it been like for the family with wrestling in their lives since then?

"Crazy," Carol Pleninger, a teacher at HHS, said. "It actually is a lot of fun. It's something that neither my husband and I grew up with. Neither of us were in families that had wrestlers. So, it's something that we came into with our boys. They grew up in the wrestling club here in Havre from the age of about 5 and it just became a family event. We traveled on the weekends together, took the boys to tournaments, and it just became something our family did together. It made for some long weekends, but it really has been a big bonding experience for all of us."

And with the wrestling club influencing the young Pleninger boys from an early age, it is no surprise to see them tearing up the mat in high school.

Logan made a big name for himself and brought a lot of inspiration to his brothers as they moved forward in their wrestling careers. And even if he is not part of the Havre High wrestling team anymore, his passion has passed on to his younger brothers.

Then came current senior, Cameron Pleninger. Cameron has been a force throughout his time as a Blue Pony, with a fiery personality that compliments his style, racking up records like fastest pin or driving through the competition every year to become one of the notable matmen for Havre.

Now in his final season, Cameron looks to bring about his biggest year yet. On top of that, Cameron has been working to make his brothers proud on and off the mat.

"Logan taught me the ways growing up," Cameron Pleninger said. "He's taught me what to do, what not to do and to get your goal to win a state championship. I want Riley and Kendall to know to give it their all and never stop."

The twins, Kendall and Riley, make up the last part of the Pleninger legacy and have been making big strides already for the Blue Ponies. With Logan, Cameron and each other as mentors, the two know what to expect when it comes to making some noise on the mat every chance they get.

Riley and Kendall are a duo that push themselves to their limits each and every moment when it comes to wrestling. The young grapplers have been a big part of Havre's success this season and will look to continue their great moments in the future.

And as always, there comes the sibling rivalry, especially as twins. The competition between the two is fierce, but it really helps them get better, too. Every sibling butts heads at times, but what makes the rivalry between Kendall and Riley special is how it is applied to their wrestling career. On top of that, their older brother Cameron is another sage with experience for them, as well.

For Kendall, that rings very true.

"Cameron has been all over through his career when it comes to competition," Kendall said. "He's been wrestling Cooper Birdwell - a really good kid - and I think he's 116-0. I wrestle Cameron during practice as a partner and he has a different style of wrestling. He's been a good partner and helped me get better throughout the year. There's a lot of competition between me and Riley. In practice when we always wrestle we're like who's the better twin, so it's brought us closer."

At the same time, Riley is glad to have Cameron and Kendall helping him improve.

"Cameron has always just been a guy that says you just got to wrestle tough," Riley said. "It all started out with Logan and it's just kept on going down when we wrestle. It's been in the family. When we do live wrestling in the room, we all just push each other really hard, we don't give up anything and always scramble through all the positions."

At the end of the day, it is safe to say that not only has the sport of wrestlng brought the Pleninger family closer together but it has given them a gateway to succeed. As Carol and Robert have watched their boys grow up and get better on the mat, Logan, Cameron, Riley and Kendall have all been pushing to keep the Pleninger name strong at Havre High. Whether it is on or off the mat, you can bet the Pleninger family will be a shining example of the tradition of excellence expected throughout Havre sports and academics.

And this weekend will be no different as the Pleninger's head to Billings for yet another state wrestling tournament. For Cameron, it will be his last, but the twins will have two more years of keeping the Pleininger family a household name in Havre wrestling, while their parents cheer them on all the way.