Two at the Top

Winning a state title would be an achievement for any high school wrestler, but to do it for a second time makes it even more special. And that's what Havre wrestlers Mick Chagnon and Orion Thivierge did Saturday in Miles City.

Chagnon beat previously undefeated Frenchtown rival Eli Warner for the 120-pound Class A state championship with a 7-3 decision, giving the senior two for his career.

"It's an indescribable feeling even though it's my second time achieving it," Chagnon said. "It feels just as good as the last time."

The state title capped off a great senior season for Chagnon. He went undefeated wrestling in the 120-pound weight class and finished first in the Eastern A Divisional tournament. As Chagnon moves on from the program, Havre head coach Beau LaSalle will have a tough time replacing him.

"He's a four-time state placer, a two-time state champ. Those kinds of kids, they're hard to replace," LaSalle said. "He's a hard worker, was a good leader in that aspect. Led by example very well and we're going to miss him for sure."

Thivierge also won a state title for Havre Saturday as he wrestled at 170. In the title match, he defeated Keaton Potter of Lewistown with a fall 3:35 into the match. The title was Thivierge's second in row for the Ponies after the junior won at 160 last winter. He also avenged a loss to Potter in the divisional championship match two weeks ago.

"With all the hard work across the last year, it means a lot," Thivierge said. "It's really cool to do it with my team in my corner and my coaches."

As a team, the Blue Ponies finished sixth with 87 points. They finished behind first-place Sidney and other Eastern A schools such as Laurel, Lewistown and Miles City. Frenchtown from the Western A finished fourth ahead of Havre.

While LaSalle would have liked better results, he was proud of how his kids competed.

"I think we performed alright. I thought we would have a few more kids on the podium," LaSalle said. "It is what it is and they wrestled well."

Chagnon had a dominant run to the title match. In his first match, he won with a fall 0:24 into the match against Micah Craig of Polson. Chagnon then won by injury default over Kolby Hutzenbeiler of Sidney in the quarterfinal and then won by a fall 0:30 into the match against Jesse Anson of Hamilton in the semifinal.

"Mick just did what he's done all year and just dominated his way through the tournament," LaSalle said. "I'm really happy with the way he performed and how he's performed all year."

Thivierge started his title run with a win by fall over Bryan Osborne of Columbia Falls to open the tournament. He then won with another fall over Camren Ross of Whitefish and then won by injury default over Dylan Lutz of Sidney in the semifinal.

"Orion was just focused. He had the look in his eye and the right attitude," LaSalle said. "He wrestled really loose and mistake-free and just let it fly."

Kale VanCampen also placed for the Ponies as he took sixth at 160. VanCampen opened the tournament with a win by fall over Brennyn Running Crane of Browning. In the second round of the consolation bracket, he won by fall over Tommy Reske of Glendive. He then won by another fall over Jace DeShazer of Libby in the consolation bracket's third round.

While no other Pony wrestler placed in the tournament, they still won some matches. Wrestling at 145 pounds, Kendall Pleninger won his first match of the tournament with a fall over Jack Akey of Whitefish. In the consolation's second round, he won by fall over Dylan Janes from Stevensville.

Randy Tommerup wrestled at 182 for the Ponies. He won a match in the first round of consolation as he won by fall over Gus Wetstein of Billings Central. Tommerup then won with another fall over Quincy Eastman of Livingston in the second round of consolation.

Wrestling at 113, Carson Harris won a match in the first round of the consolation bracket when he won, 8-6, over Marley Erickson of Libby. At 138, Riley Pleninger won a match by a fall over Jakob Kominsky of Billings Central in the consolation bracket's first round.

Riley Pleninger also won his 138-pound consolation match rounding out the scoring for the Ponies.

As expected, Sidney dominated from start to finish, scoring 326.5 points for its fourth state title in a row. The Eagles also crowned six state champions and had 10 finalists. Also in the tournament, Lewsitown's Cooper Birdwell not only became the latest four-time state champion, but just the fourth in Montana history to go unbeaten in his prep career.

Now that Havre's season is over, LaSalle and his returning wrestlers begin to look forward to next season. After competing in the divisional and state tournaments the past two weekends, LaSalle hopes that his wrestlers have learned that regular season results don't matter when you get to the postseason.

"It doesn't matter who won earlier in the season or who lost, you have to be ready for every single match and be ready to go every time you step on the line," LaSalle said. "The kids figured that out a little bit and we're going to use that moving forward."

Class A

At Miles City

Team Scores

Sidney 326.5, Laurel 188, Lewistown 182.5, Frenchtown 162.5, Miles City 127, Havre 87, Columbia Falls 82.5, Glendive 82, Livingston-Big Timber 60, Browning 54.5, Libby 54, Corvallis 46, Polson 40, Hardin 39, Dillon 32, Whitefish 29, Lockwood 27, Ronan 26, Hamilton 24, Billings Central 8, Stevensville 7, East Helena 0.

Placing Matches

103 - Championship: Landen Stewart, Frenchtown, p. Isaac Stewart, Frenchtown, 2:16; Third place: Gordon Knapp, Sidney, won by injury default over Caleb Smith, Miles City; Fifth place: Ryley Knutson, Polson, won by injury default over Chris Hall, Browning.

113 - Championship: Owen Lonski, Sidney, d. Austin Berry, Glendive, 7-0; Third place: Damen McCord, Lewistown, d. Isaac Beardsley, Miles City, 10-3; Fifth place: Nathan Sproul, Whitefish, d. Beau Contreraz, Lockwood, 4-3.

120 - Championship: Mick Chagnon, Havre, d. Eli Warner, Frenchtown, 7-3; Third place: Kolby Hutzenbiler, Sidney, d. Ashton Ulschak, Laurel, 4-3; Fifth place: Wyatt Mager, Lewistown, d. Jesse Anson, Hamilton, 4-2.

126 - Championship: Zander Dean, Sidney, d. Justin Windauer, Columbia Falls, 6-1; Third place: Noah Huffaker, Dillon, d. Kason Olson, Lewistown, 8-3; Fifth place: Maysn Cowell, Polson, d. Johnathan Herr, Laurel, 9-3.

132 - Championship: Cooper Birdwell, Lewistown, p. Kolton Reid, Sidney, 1:31; Third place: Currey Brown, Miles City, d. Colton Picco, Lewistown, 2-1; Fifth place: Quenton Campos, Browning, p. Kade Wersland, Laurel, 3:49.

138 - Championship: Danyk Jacobsen, Livingston-Big Timber, d. Jason Davis, Corvallis, 7-1; Third place: Hayden Azure, Glendive, won by forfeit over John Warner, Frenchtown; Fifth place: Jordan Darby, Sidney, md. Owen Younger, Laurel, 10-2.

145 - Championship: Damian Leidholt, Miles City, d. Zander Burnison, Sidney, 4-3; Third place: Aden Winder, Laurel, p. Zane Martin, Frenchtown, 2:24; Fifth place: Cody Harrington, Glendive, d. Wyatt Elam, Lewistown, 7-4.

152 - Championship: Aden Graves, Sidney, p. Tyler Emineth, Laurel, 3:13; Third place: Grady Nelson, Sidney, d. Kayden Howe, Hardin, 6-4; Fifth place: Espyn Hostetler, Glendive, won by forfeit over Cody Crace, Libby.

160 - Championship: Kade Graves, Sidney, p. Cade Gubler, Livingston-Big Timber, 1:16; Third place: Lucas Thacker, Columbia Falls, d. Camden Johnson, Laurel, 8-7; Fifth place: Gavin McLean, Frenchtown, d. Kale VanCampen, Havre, 4-0.

170 - Championship: Orion Thivierge, Havre, p. Keaton Potter, Lewistown, 3:33; Third place: Dylan Lutz, Sidney, d. Cole Younger, Laurel, 9-2; Fifth place: Noah Rausch, Frenchtown, d. Aidan Franklin, Glendive, 5-2.

182 - Championship: Landon Farrar, Lewistown, p. Easton Hopes, Sidney, 3:12; Third place: Josh Bertram, Columbia Falls, p. Tucker Masters, Libby, 4:28; Fifth place: Canyon Shope, Frenchtown, t.f. Jaiden Gibson, Miles City, 15-0.

205 - Championship: Riley Waters, Sidney, p. Connor Ulschak, Laurel, :51; Third place: Trey Schepens, Sidney, m.d. Brendyn Whiteman, Browning, 14-3; Fifth place: Dante Pallone, Hardin, d. Clay Barcus, Corvallis, 5-4.

285 - Championship: Brodey Skogen, Sidney, d. Gabe Walker, Miles City, 1-0; Third place: Dylan Morris, Lewistown, d. Gabe Hernandez, Laurel, 3-2; Fifth place: Aydan Williamson, Libby, p. Philip Herald, Frenchtown, 2:19.

Havre Individual Results

113 - Carson Harris

Champ. Round 1 - Tyler Gilfry (Columbia Falls) 13-5 won by forfeit over Carson Harris (Havre/Box Elder) 9-17 (For.); Cons. Round 1 - Carson Harris (Havre/Box Elder) 9-17 won by decision over Marley Erickson (Libby/Troy) 13-11 (Dec 8-6); Cons. Round 2 - Hunter Barnes (Beaverhead Co. (Dillon)/Twin Bridges) 26-3; won by decision over Carson Harris (Havre/Box Elder) 9-17 (Dec 7-0).

120 - Mick Chagnon (State Champion)

Champ. Round 1 - Mick Chagnon (Havre/Box Elder) 23-0 won by fall over Micah Craig (Polson) 12-15 (Fall 0:24); Quarterfinal - Mick Chagnon (Havre/Box Elder); 23-0 won by injury default over Kolby Hutzenbiler (Sidney/Fairview) 33-7 (Inj. 0:00); Semifinal - Mick Chagnon (Havre/Box Elder) 24-0 won by fall over Jesse Anson (Hamilton) 18-7 (Fall 0:30); 1st Place Match - Mick Chagnon (Havre/Box Elder) 25-0 won by decision over Eli Warner (Frenchtown) 21-1 (Dec 7-3).

126 - Dominic Perkins

Champ. Round 1 - Maysn Cowell (Polson) 14-4 won by fall over Dominick Perkins (Havre/Box Elder) 8-5 (Fall 3:20); Cons. Round 1 - Kason Olson (Fergus (Lewistown)) 32-7 won by fall over Dominick Perkins (Havre/Box Elder) 8-5; (Fall 1:49).

138 - Riley Pleninger

Champ. Round 1 - Xander Spady (Libby/Troy) 20-10 won by fall over Riley Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 16-9 (Fall 2:46); Cons. Round 1 - Riley Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 16-9 won by fall over Jakob Kominsky (Billings Central/Joliet) 11-17 (Fall 1:44); Cons. Round 2 - Owen Younger (Laurel) 19-8 won by fall over Riley Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 16-9 (Fall 4:47).

145 - Kendall Pleninger

Champ. Round 1 - Kendall Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 15-8 won by fall over Jack Akey (Whitefish) 15-14 (Fall 0:43); Quarterfinal - Zane Martin (Frenchtown) 23-8 won by major decision over Kendall Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 15-8 (MD 12-0); Cons. Round 2 - Kendall Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 15-8 won by fall over Dylan Janes (Stevensville/Victor) 9-12 (Fall 2:10); Cons. Round 3 - Aden Winder (Laurel) 14-14 won by fall over Kendall Pleninger (Havre/Box Elder) 15-9 (Fall 2:55).

160 - Kale VanCampen (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Kale VanCampen (Havre/Box Elder) 17-6 won by fall over Brennyn Running Crane (Browning) 14-10 (Fall 1:27); Quarterfinal - Kade Graves (Sidney/Fairview) 34-1 won by major decision over Kale VanCampen (Havre/Box Elder) 17-6 (MD 8-0); Cons. Round 2 - Kale VanCampen (Havre/Box Elder) 17-6 won by fall over Tommy Reske (Dawson Co. (Glendive)) 5-4 (Fall 2:20); Cons. Round 3 - Kale VanCampen (Havre/Box Elder) 18-6 won by fall over Jace DeShazer (Libby/Troy) 26-7 (Fall 2:41); Cons. Semi - Lucas Thacker (Columbia Falls) 19-5 won by decision over Kale VanCampen (Havre/Box Elder) 18-8 (Dec 3-0); 5th Place Match - Gavin McLean (Frenchtown) 33-5 won by decision over Kale VanCampen (Havre/Box Elder) 18-8 (Dec 4-0).

170 - Orion Thivierge (State Champion)

Champ. Round 1 - Orion Thivierge (Havre/Box Elder) 18-3 won by fall over Bryan Osborne (Columbia Falls) 6-8 (Fall 1:05); Quarterfinal - Orion Thivierge (Havre/Box Elder) 18-3 won by fall over Camren Ross (Whitefish) 25-5 (Fall 2:49); Semifinal - Orion Thivierge (Havre/Box Elder) 19-3 won by injury default over Dylan Lutz (Sidney/Fairview) 23-3 (Inj. 5:07); 1st Place Match - Orion Thivierge (Havre/Box Elder) 20-3 won by fall over Keaton Potter (Fergus (Lewistown)) 34-7 (Fall 3:35).

182 - Randy Tommerup

Champ. Round 1 - Sahkaia Wehr (Stevensville/Victor) 11-5 won by fall over Randy Tommerup (Havre/Box Elder) 17-7 (Fall 5:55); Cons. Round 1 - Randy Tommerup (Havre/Box Elder) 17-7 won by fall over Gus Wetstein (Billings Central/Joliet) 3-16 (Fall 0:18); Cons. Round 2 - Randy Tommerup (Havre/Box Elder) 17-7 won by fall over Quincy Eastman (Park (Livingston)/ Sweet Grass County (Big Timber)) 8-14 (Fall 4:05); Cons. Round 3 - Josh Bertram (Columbia Falls) 17-2 won by fall over Randy Tommerup (Havre/Box Elder) 17-8 (Fall 2:38).