News you can use
News you can use
Havre High's Kendall Pleninger, right, wrestles a Lewistown rival during a regular season dual in Havre last month. Pleninger and the Blue Ponies are competing at this weekend's Class A state tournament in Miles City. Normally, the state tournament is held in February as an All-Class event in Billings, but because of the coronavirus, state was split into three different sites with Miles City bidding on Class A.
It won't be the First Interstate Bank Arena. It won't even be in Billings. But the Class A state wrestling tournament will still be a barn-burner, and eight Havre Blue Ponies are excited to be a part of it.
The eight Ponies who qualified all have a chance to reach the podium this weekend in a tournament that will be wrestled in shifts, and in front of very limited fans in Miles City because of the COVID-19 crisis. It's also a tournament that will be dominated by Sidney, who is going for its fourth straight state championship.
Here's a breakdown of each Havre wrestler's state
tournament, which runs Friday and Saturday in Miles City.
113 - Carson Harris (8-15)
Harris makes his first trip to the state tournament after finishing sixth at the Eastern A. The Blue Pony sophomore is on the same side of the draw as Western A champion Nathan Sproul of Whitefish, while Dillon's Hunter Barnes and Sidney's Owen Lonski are considered the favorites. Harris, meanwhile, opens his first state tourney against Columbia Falls' Tyler Gilfry.
120 - Mick Chagnon (21-0)
Chagnon, a former state champ, has had a dominant season, going undefeated with 17 pins. And after cruising to the Eastern A title, it all comes down to him and Frenchtown's Eli Warner. The two have been on a collision course all season long, and they should finally meet in the 120-pound title match. Chagnon starts his final state tourney against Micah Craig of Polson, while Kolby Hutzenbiler of Sidney, and Jesse Anson of Hamilton are other contenders in the draw.
126 - Dominic Perkins (8-3)
Perkins has had some injury issues including at last week's divisional tournament, but when healthy, he's been really tough to beat. Of course, the 126-pound bracket will be tough with a returning state champ in Sidney's Zander Dean, and undefeated Justin Windauer of Columbia Falls. Still, Perkins has a great shot at the podium, and will start things off against Maysn Cowell of Polson.
138 - Riley Pleninger (15-7)
It's been a breakout season for Pleninger, who finished fourth at the Eastern A. He's certainly a podium contender in a wide-open draw that does include favorite Jordan Darby of Sidney. From there, though, the bracket is anybody's guess, and Pleninger certainly can be a factor. He'll face Libby's Xander Spady in the first round.
145 - Kendall Pleninger (13-7)
Kendall Pleninger is pumped to be at state, but he will also be a contender to make a run at the podium. The 145-pound draw is loaded, though, with retiring state champ Damian Leidholt of Miles City and Sidney's Zander Burnison, the big guns. Pleninger, meanwhile, has a good draw that starts off with Jack Akey of Whitefish.
160 - Kale VanCampen (15-5)
VanCampen has had a really good season, though he wanted to finish higher at divisionals. Still, he'll be a factor this week though his draw likely has him wrestling returning state champ Kade Graves of Sidney in the quarterfinals, while Columbia Falls' Lucas Thacker is also tough. But, VanCampen, who opens against Browning's Brennyn Running Crane, will also be a tough opponent for anyone he faces this weekend.
170 - Orion Thivierge (16-3)
Thivierge is a returning state champ, and part of a trio of Eastern A stalwarts that make the 170-pound bracket one of the most intriguing of the tournament. He, Sidney's Dylan Lutz and Lewistown's Keaton Potter all have a rivalry with each other, while Frenchtown's Noah Rausch is the top seed form the west. Still, as tough as it is, Thivierge has the firepower to come out on top just as he did last year in Billings. He begins his quest to repeat as a state champion against Bryce Osborne of Columbia Falls.
182 - Randy Tommerup (15-6)
Going between 182 and 205, Tommerup has had an outstanding junior season for the Ponies. And he could be a real threat in this weekend's 182-pound draw. He's got Frenchtown's Canyon Shope on his side of the draw, while Sidney's Easton Hopes and Columbia Falls' Josh Bertram are standouts, as well. But with how well he's wrestling, don't be surprised to see Tommerup make a deep run at the 182-pound podium this weekend. He begins that run against Stevensville's Sahkaia Wehr.
Reader Comments(0)