State Wrestling 2020: Ponies crown two state champs, finish fourth

BILLINGS - The Havre High wrestling team didn't have the numbers of a Sidney or a Frenchtown this weekend. But, the Blue Ponies put a great fight regardless.

Saturday insise the Metra, Havre nearly came back to earn a trophy, but uiltimately settled for fourth place with 142.5 points. Sidney easily won another state title, while Frenchtown was a distant second. Miles City just edged out Havre by three points for third.

"I'm very pleased with how it all went," Havre head coach Beau LaSalle said. "We were right there. A match or two goes our way, you always can say what-if. But our kids showed up. They wrestled hard and did everything we asked out of them."

Havre capped a strong state tourney with Connor Harris winning the 152-pound state championship, followed by a 160-pound state title for sophomore Orion Thivierge. Cameron Pleninger also placed second for the Blue Ponies, while Riley Pleninger took third and Mick Chagnon was fourth.

IN the B-C ranks Fort Benton/Big Sandy was second in the Class C trophy race, and was led by All-State performers Trevor O'Hara and Hayden Axtmen. Chinook got an All-State from Wyatt Dunbar, as did CJI from Reubin Swenson.

For full coverage, see Monday's HDN.

BILLINGS - With five wrestlers in the semifinals and nine with a chance to get on the podium, the Havre High wrestling team is happy after day one of the Class A state tournament. But, the Ponies also have work to do.l

Friday at the First Interstate Bank Arena, the Ponies scored 69.5 points, and advanced Mick Chagnon (113), Riley Pleninger (120), Cameron Pleninger (132), Connor Harris (152) and Orion Thivierge (160) to the semifinals, mostly through pins and bonus points. But, Havre still sits in just sixth place, behind Lewistown, and Laurel for third, Miles City and Frenchtown, who are tied for second, and Sidney, which has all but locked up the state championship again.

"I thought it went well," Havre head coach Beau LaSalle said. "There weren't a ton of surprises. Everybody did about what we thought they would do. Those bonus points were big. Anytime you can score those extra points in wins, it's big."

Havre did come up big with seven Ponies winning by bonus points in the first round. Joey Bender (103) and Kale VanCampen (145) were the only HHS grapplers to fall in the quarterfinals, but, both came back and won in the consolation round Friday night, while Dominick Perkins (132) and Brayden Stadel (182) won back-to-back matches in the loser-out draw to have a chance to place as well.

And placing is what the Blue Ponies will be after Saturday.

"That's semifinal round is big for us, we've got five winnable matches," LaSalle said. "If we can punch all five guys into the finals, that will put us in a really good spot."

On the Class B-C side Friday, Fort Benton/Big Sandy led the way among Hi-Line teams with 30 points, which puts them in third place in the Class C trophy race. Chinook scored 12, CJI had 11 and Harlem had three. The Longhorn's Trevor O'Hara is in the 103-pound semifinals, while CJI's Reubin Swenson is in the semis at heavyweight.