The Blue Ponies showed up

BILLINGS - For the first time in nearly a decade, the Havre Blue Ponies were not being viewed as one of the big boys of Class A when the 2020 state tournament got underway Friday morning inside First Interstate Bank Arena in Billings.

However, nobody told the Ponies they weren't a trophy contender, so Havre wrestled like one from start-to-finish.

In the end, the Ponies missed third place by three points, taking fourth with 142.5 points, which was just three shy of catching third-place Miles City. But given the fact Havre finished fifth at last weekend's Eastern A, second-year head coach Beau LaSalle was more than happy with the fight his 11 grapplers put up.

"It was a good tournament all the way around for us," LaSalle said. "A match or two goes different for us, and we are taking home a trophy. We were that close. Our kids competed hard. They wrestled hard and did everything we asked of them. So I'm very proud of them."

The Ponies were a very young team in 2020, and while they didn't dominate like in years past, they were a factor all the way to the end.

No one would ever catch Sidney, who crowned seven state champs and scored a new record 340 points. Frenchtown had too much firepower, as well, but led by state champions Connor Harris and Orion Thivierge, Havre fought to the bitter end.

After finishing third three straight years, Harris broke through with a state title at 152 pounds, capping a great four-year HHS career. Thivierge followed suit with a pin over Hamilton's Bridger Williams in the 160-pound title match, as he capped off a run in which he went unbeaten since the Rocky Mountain Classic back in early January.

"It's surreal, it hasn't sunk in yet," Thivierge said. "This season was just so much fun. The whole process to get here was fun, and this tournament was a blast."

Havre had three finalists Saturday night, with senior Cameron Pleninger losing a 7-4 decision to Sidney's Jordan Darby at 132. It was heartbreaking for Pleninger, who lost in the finals for the third time in four years, but it was also the culmination of an incredible career in which he placed no worse than third at state in four separate tries.

Pleninger, who topped Sidney's Everett Jensen in the semifinals, also saw his little brother Riley reach the semifinals, while coming back to place third with a :23 pin of Laurel's Jonothan Herr in the 120-pound consolation final.

"It hurt to lose in the semis," the younger Pleninger said. "I just knew I had to battle back and get third, and I'm proud of myself for doing that. I just wanted to make sure I could do whatever I could to help the team."

Pleninger's third-place points were big for the Ponies, who sent six of their 11 wrestlers to the podium, including junior Mick Chagnon, who placed fourth at 113 pounds, and earned All-State honors for the third straight year, as well as junior Brayden Stadel, who placed sixth at 182 pounds but was also forced to injury default his last match after suffering a knee injury in the consolation semifinals.

"I thought the guys competed really hard all tournament," LaSalle said. "We didn't have the depth like we're used to, but as far as how we wrestled, I couldn't have asked for more."

Havre started strong Friday, too, as the Ponies advanced 9-of-11 to the quarterfinals, and seven more to the semifinals, as well as winning all four of their second-round consolation matches Friday night. And while they landed six on the podium, Joey Bender (103), Dominic Perkins (132) and Kale VanCampen (145) also scored points for the HHS cause - which, in the end, came oh so close to keeping Havre's longtime trophy streak alive.

"One of the things we've always preached in our program is, when state comes, we wrestle our best," LaSalle said. "When we get to the Metra, our guys always show up. That's a product of all the hard work and the past successes of this program. And I thought this weekend, our guys did that again. They showed up. This atmosphere didn't bother them, it wasn't too big for them. They all stepped up.

"So I'm pleased," he continued. "It was a great tournament for us, and I couldn't ask for anything more."

Team scores

Sidney-Fairview 340, Frenchtown 156.5, Miles City 145.5, Havre 142.5, Laurel 141, Lewistown 134.5, Glendive73.5, Columbia Falls 72, Livingston-Big Timber 69, Corvallis 63, Hamilton-Darby 53.5, Hardin 50, Libby-Troy 50, Browning 46, Polson 43, Dillon-Twin Bridges-Sheridan 42.5, Billings Central-Joliet 23, Ronan 21, Stevensville-Victor 18, Whitefish 17, East Helena 3, Lockwood 3, Butte central 0.

103

First place: Owen Lonski, Sid-F, dec. Landen Stewart, Fre, 5-4.; Third place: Damen McCord, Lew, dec. Kaden Wise, Sid-F, 7-5.; Fifth place: Andrew Carmody, Ham-D, p. Noah Michaelson, 1:36.

113

First place: Walker Dyer, Fre, dec. Zander Dean, Sid-F, 5-4.; Third place: Justin Windauer, CF, p. Mich Chagnon, Hav, 2:58; Fifth place: Braxton Scheeler, MC, tf. Ivan Lee, Lau, 18-3.

120

First place: Kaiden Cline, Sid-F, dec. Eli Warner, Fre, 8-2.Third place: Riley Pleninger, Hav, p. Johnathan Herr, Lau, 0:23.; Fifth place: Kanyon Stoker, Cor, dec. Kason Oolson, Lew, 10-5.

126

First place: Cooper Birdwell, Lew, md. Jake Bibler, Fre, 15-2; Third place: Currey Brown, MC, md. Xander Spady, Lib-T, 12-0.; Fifth place: Kedrick Baker, Pol, p. Sean Mehling, Har, 3:10.

132

First place: Jordan Darby, Sid-F, dec. Cameron Pleninger, Hav, 7-4.; Third place: Danyk Jacobsen, Liv, dec. Everett Jensen, Sid-F, 5-2.; Fifth place: Jason Davis, Cor, p. Zane Schroeder, Fre, 1:35.

138

First place: Damian Leidholt, MC, dec. Keagan Campbell, Lau, 3-2.; Third place: Kolton Reid, Sid-F, def. Zander Burnison, Sid-F, 7-3.; Fifth place: Espyn Hostetler, Gle, injury default Cade Gubler, Liv, 1:00.

145

First place: Aden Graves, Sid-F, p. Triston Davis, Cor, 1:38.; Third place: Keagan Thompson, Lau, dec. Kaid Campbell, MC, 4-3.Fifth place: Alex Kober, Liv, injury default Kolby Reum, Ron, 0:00.

152

First place: Connor Harris, Hav, p. Trey Thompson, L-T, 5:42.; Third place: Kade Graves, Sid-F, dec. Adin Gibson, Liv, 4-3.; Fifth place: Lucas Thatcher, CF, dec. Tyler Emineth, Lau, 12-5.

160

First place: Orion Thivierge, Hav, p. Bridger Williams, Ham-D, 4:28.; Third place: Dylan Lutz, Sid-F, dec. Duane Otto II, Lew, 3-2.; Fifth place: Daniel Collins, Ron, injury default Jacoby Mattern, Gle, 0:00.

170

First place: Cooper Hoffman, Dil, dec. Nelson Crisafulli, Gle, 8-5.; Third place: Conner Schwend, Har, p. Easton Hopes, Sid-F, 1:36.; Fifth place: Keaton Potter, Lew, p. Josh Bertram, CF, 1:53.

182

First place: Riley Waters, Sid-F, dec. Cameron Younger, Lau, 12-7.; Third place: Braydon Stone, CF, p. Sahkaia Wehr, Stev-V, 1:42.; Fifth place: Canyon Shope, Fre, injury default Brayden Stadell, Hav, 0:00

205

First place: Jett Jones, Sid-F, p. Tate Jones, Fre, 2:28.; Third place: Landon Farrar, Lew, p. Jayden Salios, Bro, 2:50; Fifth place: Connor Ulschak, Lau, p. Dante Pallone, Har, 2:02.

285

First place: Brodey Skogen, Sid-F, dec. Tyler Harms, MC, 4-0.; Third place: Bo Hakert, BilC, dec. Gabe Walker, MC, 6-3, overtime.; Fifth place: Dylan Morris, Lew, dec. Kirby Basta, Gle, 8-5.

Havre Individual Results

103 - Joey Bender

Champ. Round 1 - Joey Bender (Havre/Box Elder) 5-4 won by fall over Cael Schwindt (Libby/Troy) 28-19 (Fall 1:56); Quarterfinal - Kaden Wise (Sidney/Fairview) 38-9 won by fall over Joey Bender (Havre/Box Elder) 5-4 (Fall 0:29); Cons. Round 2 - Joey Bender (Havre/Box Elder) 5-4 won by decision over Sheldon Rod (Dawson County) 23-18 (Dec 9-3); Cons. Round 3 - Damen McCord (Fergus (Lewistown)) 29-7 won by fall over Joey Bender (Havre/Box Elder) 5-5 (Fall 3:41).

113 - Mick Chagnon (4th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Mick Chagnon (Havre/Box Elder) 4-1 won by fall over Gavin Knutson (Polson) 21-16 (Fall 1:01); Quarterfinal - Mick Chagnon (Havre/Box Elder) 4-1 won by fall over Braxton Scheeler (Custer Co. (Miles City)) 43-13 (Fall 2:49); Semifinal - Walker Dyer (Frenchtown) 26-1 won by fall over Mick Chagnon (Havre/Box Elder) 5-3 (Fall 2:23); Cons. Semi - Mick Chagnon (Havre/Box Elder) 5-3 won by fall over Ivan Lee (Laurel) 35-22 (Fall 1:56); 3rd Place Match - Justin Windauer (Columbia Falls) 45-12 won by fall over Mick Chagnon (Havre/Box Elder) 5-3 (Fall 2:58)

120 - Riley Pleninger (3rd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Riley Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 5-1 won by major decision over Kanyon Stoker (Corvallis) 28-13 (MD 9-0); Quarterfinal - Riley Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 5-1 won by fall over Nicholai Blanchard (Frenchtown) 20-12 (Fall 3:21); Semifinal - Eli Warner (Frenchtown) 47-7 won by decision over Riley Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 7-2 (Dec 11-5); Cons. Semi - Riley Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 7-2 won by fall over Kanyon Stoker (Corvallis) 30-14 (Fall 0:53); 3rd Place Match - Riley Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 7-2 won by fall over Johnathan Herr; (Laurel) 23-23 (Fall 0:23).

132 - Cameron Pleninger (2nd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Cameron Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 4-1 won by fall over Deegan Martin (Hamilton/Darby) 16-23 (Fall 0:49); Quarterfinal - Cameron Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 4-1 won by major decision over James Wissenbach (Corvallis) 33-12 (MD 14-4); Semifinal - Cameron Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 5-2 won by fall over Everett Jensen (Sidney/Fairview) 32-17 (Fall 5:13); 1st Place Match - Jordan Darby (Sidney/Fairview) 49-6 won by decision over Cameron Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 5-2 (Dec 7-4).

132 - Dominick Perkins

Champ. Round 1 - James Wissenbach (Corvallis) 33-12 won by fall over Dominick Perkins (Havre/Box Elder) 5-4 (Fall 3:16; Cons. Round 1 - Dominick Perkins (Havre/Box Elder) 5-4 won by fall over Deegan Martin (Hamilton/Darby) 16-23 (Fall 0:41); Cons. Round 2 - Dominick Perkins (Havre/Box Elder) 5-4 won by fall over Quentin Campos (Browning) 29-15 (Fall 0:36); Cons. Round 3 - Jason Davis (Corvallis) 27-20 won by fall over Dominick Perkins (Havre/Box Elder) 5-5 (Fall 2:03).

145 - Kale VanCampen

Champ. Round 1 - Kale VanCampen (Havre/Box Elder) 4-3 won by decision over Aaron Wells (Browning) 22-19 (Dec 13-10); Quarterfinal - Aden Graves (Sidney/Fairview) 50-4 won by fall over Kale VanCampen (Havre/Box Elder) 4-3 (Fall 3:11); Cons. Round 2 - Kale VanCampen (Havre/Box Elder) 4-3 won by decision over Peyton Hicks (Frenchtown) 22-25 (Dec 1-0); Cons. Round 3 - Kolby Reum (Ronan) 31-16 won by decision over Kale VanCampen (Havre/Box Elder) 4-4 (Dec 8-4).

152 - Connor Harris (State Champion)

Champ. Round 1 - Connor Harris (Havre/Box Elder) 5-0 won by fall over Dylan Janes (Stevensville/Victor) 5-17 (Fall 0:14); Quarterfinal - Connor Harris (Havre/Box Elder) 5-0 won by tech fall over Tyler Emineth (Laurel) 39-18 (TF-1.5 3:03 (17-1); Semifinal - Connor Harris (Havre/Box Elder) 7-0 won by fall over Lucas Thacker (Columbia Falls) 43-13 (Fall 0:48)

1st Place Match - Connor Harris (Havre/Box Elder) 7-0 won by fall over Trey Thompson (Libby/Troy) 44-7 (Fall 5:42).

152 - Randy Tommerup

Champ. Round 1 - Trey Thompson (Libby/Troy) 43-6 won by fall over Randy Tommerup (Havre/Box Elder) 1-5 (Fall 3:45); Cons. Round 1 - Rylee Creasey (Whitefish) 23-23 won by decision over Randy Tommerup (Havre/Box Elder) 1-5 (Dec 7-1)

160 - Orion Thivierge (State Champion)

Champ. Round 1 - Orion Thivierge (Havre/Box Elder) 5-0 won by tech fall over Noah Rausch (Frenchtown) 30-23 (TF-1.5 2:22 (15-0)); Quarterfinal - Orion Thivierge (Havre/Box Elder) 5-0 won by tech fall over Chance Kittson (Browning) 10-9 (TF-1.5 3:25 (15-0); Semifinal - Orion Thivierge (Havre/Box Elder) 7-0 won by decision over Duane Otto II (Fergus (Lewistown)) 27-6 (Dec 14-11); 1st Place Match - Orion Thivierge (Havre/Box Elder) 7-0 won by fall over Bridger Williams (Hamilton/Darby) 46-6 (Fall 4:28).

160 - Wyatt Hanson

Champ. Round 1 - Bridger Williams (Hamilton/Darby) 45-5 won by fall over Wyatt Hansen (Havre/Box Elder) 1-5 (Fall 1:59); Cons. Round 1 - Camren Ross (Whitefish) 35-18 won by fall over Wyatt Hansen (Havre/Box Elder) 1-5 (Fall 2:24).

182 - Brayden Stadell (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Sahkaia Wehr (Stevensville/Victor) 12-8 won by fall over Brayden Stadell (Havre/Box Elder) 4-3 (Fall 4:32); Cons. Round 1 - Brayden Stadell (Havre/Box Elder) 4-3 won by fall over Holter Reisinger (Lockwood (Billings)) 5-14 (Fall 2:37); Cons. Round 2 - Brayden Stadell (Havre/Box Elder) 4-3 won by decision over Jaiden Gibson (Custer Co. (Miles City)) 27-28 (Dec 11-4); Cons. Round 3 - Brayden Stadell (Havre/Box Elder) 5-5 won by fall over Hunter Pittsley (Polson) 17-16 (Fall 1:37); Cons. Semi - Sahkaia Wehr (Stevensville/Victor) 13-10 won by fall over Brayden Stadell (Havre/Box Elder) 5-5 (Fall 2:56)l 5th Place Match - Canyon Shope (Frenchtown) 38-14 won by injury default over Brayden Stadell (Havre/Box Elder) 5-5 (Inj. 0:00).