Five things to watch in local high school wrestling

The high school wrestling season is here. And it's going to look a lot different this time around.

Last year, the MHSA opted to not allow tournaments to be held, so the season was an all-dual event, up until the postseason, which was also changed due to the pandemic, with no all-class state tournament for starters.

The pandemic restrictions definitely affected wrestling on the Hi-Line as key tournaments weren't allowed to be held, among other issues. Now though, things have returned to normalcy in the world of high school wrestling, and it figures to be a fun, fun season of wrestling in our area.

Here's five things to watch when it comes to high school wrestling this year.

1. Back to Billings

Perhaps the biggest storyline is, wrestling will return to the Metra in February. The state tournaments were held last year at different sites for only the second time since the All-Class State Tournament was started, but that is over with now, and Hi-Line fans will headed back to Billings for what figures to be a huge state tournament weekend, Feb. 11-12.

2. Three-peat Quest

Havre High senior Orion Thivierge will be looking for a third straight state championship, after he repeated last winter. Thivierge is one of the most highly-touted senior wrestlers in Montana, and certainly one of the best in all of Class A, regardless of weight class. And after a such a huge season a year ago, it will be fun to watch Thivierge dominate this season.

3. Class C Contenders?

Chinook has had plenty of hardware in Class B-C wrestling, and this season, the Sugarbeeters have the wrestlers to contend for a Class C trophy. But they'll be joined by Fort Benton. The Longhorns, who are not co-oping with Big Sandy this year, return an outstanding group, and for the first time since they were a Class B school, have a chance to bring wrestling hardware back to Fort Benton.

4. Havre Girls are Strong

Girls wrestling as its own sport is still pretty new, and the inaugural season was somewhat altered because of the pandemic. But, the Blue Pony girls were very tough in year one, and they should be again this winter. Plus, not only is Havre strong, it will be fun to watch the Ponies compete in the Metra as girls wrestling joins the boys as part of the All-Class State Tournament this year, after being at its own venue last season.

5. Pony Comeback

The Blue Ponies were once a powerful wrestling dynasty, but they have slid back some in recent years. But with Thivierge back for his senior season, as well as stalwarts like Randy Tommerup, Kale VanCampen, and Riley and Kendall Pleninger, returning as veterans, Havre head coach Beau Lasalle expects his team to contend for a top-three finish in Billings in February. To do that, Havre's youth will have to step up this season, and the roster has grapplers who are plenty capable.