Havre wrestling takes sixth at Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic

The Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula this past weekend is unlike most tournaments for the Havre high wrestling team this season. Along with competing against other teams from across the state, the Blue Ponies also competed against schools from Idaho, Wyoming and Washington. Against such a diverse field of competition, the Ponies wrestled well as they finished sixth as a team.

"I thought we wrestled very well. We placed seven guys, that's one of the higher numbers we've placed at that tournament over the years," HHS head coach Beau LaSalle said. "To get that many guys on the podium is big at that tournament."

The Ponies scored 149.0 points as a team to tie for sixth with Helena Capital. Flathead took first in the tournament with 314.5 points. University High took second with 221.0 points and Coeur d'Alene finished third with 217.0 points.

HHS Senior Orion Thivierge had another strong tournament for the Ponies as he took first wrestling in the 170-pound weight class. He received byes in the first two rounds of his bracket before facing Gauge Bedow from Spokane in the quarterfinal. Thivierge won by pin 2:41 into the match to advance. In the semifinal, Thiverieg won by a 17-2 technical fall over Butte's Riley Downey.

In the championship match, Thivierge won, 11-3, for a major decision over Anders Thompson from Flathead. It was the second weekend in a row to start 2022 where Thivierge placed first in his bracket.

"Orion's having a really good season. Just got back-to-back weekend tournament wins. He's looking better and better as the season goes on," LaSalle said. "Coming out of the break. He's really stepped up his level a little bit as far as it comes to competition. He just looks like he's on the trajectory to just keep getting better every week and that's what we shoot for."

Kale VanCampen wrestled well as he placed third as he wrestled at 182 pounds. He started the bracket with a win by pin 1:25 into his match against Helena's Kaleb Kirklin. After a loss, VanCampen started the consolation bracket with a pin 1:34 into the match against Louis McEvoy from Coeur d'Alene.

In his next two matches, VanCampen won, 5-1, over Powell's Stetson Davis and then won by a 15-0 technical fall over Naaman Deakins from Spokane. In the consolation semifinal, VanCampen won, 3-2, over Jace DeShazer from Libby, who had defeated VanCampen earlier in the bracket. In the third-place match, VanCampen won by pin 1:13 into the match against Gavin Millard from Bozeman.

"Kale's been very consistent this year. He's a consistent winner and wrestles hard," LaSalle said. "Every time he goes out there, he's just been a real consistent guy for us."

Matthew Lemer also placed as he took fourth at 113 pounds. He started his bracket with a pin 49 seconds into a match against Luke Nuttall from Corvallis. Lemer then won, 12-9, over Zach Macdonald from Lake City. In the quarterfinal, Lemer won by pin 1:15 into the match against Bryton Lenz from Missoula Sentinel. In a consolation match, Lemer won, 6-4, against Macdonald again.

Tristan Stygles placed sixth for the Ponies as he wrestled at 138 pounds. He won his first match with a pin 2:41 into the match against Michael Olsen from University High. He then went on a run in the consolation bracket with pins against Quenton Campos from Browning, Wyatt Matthews from Lake City and Cade Gardner from Flathead.

At 160 pounds, Kendall Pleninger placed sixth for the Ponies. He started strong with a pin 1:43 into the match against Carter Morgan from Hamilton. He also wrestled well in the consolation bracket with a 9-4 decision over Hunter Rowan from Belgrade and an 8-6 decision over Jonny Williams from Corvallis. Pleninger then won, 6-4, over Devin Pierce from Spokane.

Randy Tommerup placed sixth wrestling at 205 pounds. He first won by pin 1:02 into his match against Cody Vergeront from Glacier. In the consolation bracket, he won, 1-0, over Spokane's Orlando Morales and then won by pin 1:15 into the match against Chase Wash from Ferris. Tommerup also earned a 7-4 decision over Cadogan Wheat from Hamilton.

At 152 pounds, Riley Pleninger placed seventh. He started strong with a pin 36 seconds into the match against Colin Lerback from Missoula Sentinel. He started the consolation bracket with a pin 34 seconds into the match against Charlie Watson from Missoula Big Sky/Loyola Sacred Heart. He then won by pins over Butte's Kale Schonsberg and Helena Capital's Cole Graham. In the seventh-place match, Pleninger won by pin 1:52 into the match against Joey Wise from Libby.

The HHS girls wrestling team also competed last weekend with the Hellsgate Girls Tournament in Missoula. While the girls were not scored as teams, many individual Ponies wrestled well over the weekend.

Maleigha Fuzesy placed second as she wrestled at 132 points. After a bye to start the bracket, Fuzesy won by pin 2:44 into her match against Meadow Smith from Flathead High School. She then won the semifinal with a pin 3:56 into the match against Jessalyn Hewitt from Glacier.

At 205 pounds, Aliyah Stiffarm took third for the Ponies. She won the third-place match with a pin 49 seconds into the match against Alisa Leimkuehler from Flathead. Brooklyn Nelson took fourth at 120 pounds. In the consolation bracket, she won by pin 1:39 into the match against Dakota Keller from Flathead. She then won, 5-0, against Alainna Willhite from Missoula Big Sky.

With the postseason beginning less than a month away, LaSalle hopes that the Ponies' performance this past weekend will demonstrate what they are capable of achieving once state rolls around.

"They can leave there with some confidence that they can place in a big tournament," LaSalle said. "If we can place here, we can place at state. We've got a real shot at making some noise at the end of the year so we just need these guys to take that confidence with them and keep the consistency throughout the rest of the year."

The Ponies are scheduled to next wrestle in a dual against Great Falls and CMR this Tuesday night in Great Falls.

Team Scores

Flathead 314.5, University High 221.0, Couer d'Alene 217.0, Butte 206.0, Belgrade 151.5, Havre 149.0, Helena Capital 149.0, Glacier 122.0, Ronan 109.5, Columbia Falls 99.0, Lake City 83.0, Gallatin 79.0, Ferris 77.5, Powell 77.0, Bozeman 75.5, Missoula Sentinel 65.0, Corvallis 55.5, Libby 53.0, Spokane 46.5, Hamilton 45.0, Superior 42.0, Missoula Big Sky/Loyola Sacred Heart 40.0, Browning 33.0, Missoula Hellgate 20.0,Polson 17.0, Whitefish 14.0, Helena 12.0,

Havre Individual Results

113 - Mathew Lemer (4th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Matthew Lemer (Havre) 4-2 won by fall over Luke Nuttall (Corvallis) 3-2 (Fall 0:49); Champ. Round 2 - Matthew Lemer (Havre) 4-2 won by decision over Zach Macdonald (Lake City) 21-4 (Dec 12-9); Quarterfinal - Matthew Lemer (Havre) 4-2 won by fall over Bryton Lenz (Missoula Sentinel) 9-7 (Fall 1:15); Semifinal - Ridge Cote (Ronan) 24-1 won by fall over Matthew Lemer (Havre) 4-2 (Fall 3:16); Cons. Semi - Matthew Lemer (Havre) 4-2 won by decision over Zach Macdonald (Lake City) 21-4 (Dec 6-4); 3rd Place Match - Trey Whitlock (Butte) 24-6 won by decision over Matthew Lemer (Havre) 4-2 (Dec 7-4).

120 - Carson Harris

Champ. Round 1 - Landree Aurund (Whitefish) 3-3 won by decision over Carson Harris (Havre) 3-2 (Dec 6-0); Cons. Round 1 - Carson Harris (Havre) 3-2 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 2 - Carson Harris (Havre) 3-2 won by fall over Steven Yargo (Helena) 2-14 (Fall 2:58); Cons. Round 3 - Carson Harris (Havre) 3-2 won by fall over Dustin Campbell (Helena Capital) 0-2 (Fall 2:14); Cons. Round 4 - Fabian Torres (Ferris) 22-9 won by decision over Carson Harris (Havre) 3-2 (Dec 7-3).

126 - Colter Soloman

Champ. Round 1 - Koy McAllister (Ronan) 6-6 won by fall over Colter Soloman (Havre) 0-2 (Fall 3:40); Cons. Round 1 - Colter Soloman (Havre) 0-2 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 2 - Alyssa Randles (Coeur d Alene) 15-6 won by fall over Colter Soloman (Havre) 0-2 (Fall 2:51).

132 - Jacob Kunz

Champ. Round 1 - Anthony Martin (East Valley (Spokane)) 8-6 won by tech fall over Jacob Kunz (Havre) 0-2 (TF-1.5 4:45 (15-0); Cons. Round 1 - Jacob Kunz (Havre) 0-2 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 2 - Zekiah Meyers (Libby) 2-2 won by fall over Jacob Kunz (Havre) 0-2 (Fall 3:44).

138 - Tristan Stygles (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Tristan Stygles (Havre) 5-3 won by fall over Michael Olsen (University High) 12-9 (Fall 2:41); Champ. Round 2 - Justin Windauer (Columbia Falls) 30-3 won by fall over Tristan Stygles (Havre) 5-3 (Fall 5:02); Cons. Round 2 - Tristan Stygles (Havre) 5-3 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 3 - Tristan Stygles (Havre) 5-3 won by fall over Quenton Campos (Browning) 2-2 (Fall 4:44); Cons. Round 4 - Tristan Stygles (Havre) 5-3 won by fall over Wyatt Matthews (Lake City) 11-8 (Fall 1:44); Cons. Round 5 - Tristan Stygles (Havre) 5-3 won by fall over Cade Gardner (Flathead) 19-6 (Fall 1:40); Cons. Semi - Kaleb Shine (Glacier) 4-2 won by decision over Tristan Stygles (Havre) 5-3 (Dec 9-4); 5th Place Match - Mason Keough (Coeur d Alene) 18-8 won by decision over Tristan Stygles (Havre) 5-3 (Dec 10-3).

145 - Justin Awtrey

Champ. Round 1 - Kaiden Cooke (Missoula Hellgate) 1-2 won by fall over Justin Awtrey (Havre) 0-2 (Fall 3:04); Cons. Round 1 - Justin Awtrey (Havre) 0-2 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 2 - Oden Currier (Belgrade) 10-7 won by tech fall over Justin Awtrey (Havre) 0-2 (TF-1.5 3:52 (18-1).

152 - Riley Pleninger (7th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Riley Pleninger (Havre) 5-2 won by fall over Colin Lerback (Missoula Sentinel) 3-11 (Fall 0:36); Champ. Round 2 - Avery Allen (Bozeman) 17-0 won by fall over Riley Pleninger (Havre) 5-2 (Fall 1:03); Cons. Round 2 - Riley Pleninger (Havre) 5-2 won by fall over Charlie Watson (Missoula Big Sky/Loyola Sacred Heart) 0-2 (Fall 0:34); Cons. Round 3 - Riley Pleninger (Havre) 5-2 won by fall over Kale Schonsberg (Butte) 6-4 (Fall 2:03); Cons. Round 4 - Riley Pleninger (Havre) 5-2 won by fall over Cole Graham (Helena Capital) 2-2 (Fall 4:02); Cons. Round 5 - Logan Linn (Belgrade) 17-8 won by decision over Riley Pleninger (Havre) 5-2 (Dec 7-6); 7th Place Match - Riley Pleninger (Havre) 5-2 won by fall over Joey Wise (Libby) 3-3 (Fall 1:52).

160 - Kendall Pleninger (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Kendall Pleninger (Havre) 5-3 won by fall over Carter Morgan (Hamilton) 0-5 (Fall 1:43); Champ. Round 2 - Gabe Lake (Flathead) 24-2 won by fall over Kendall Pleninger (Havre) 5-3 (Fall 2:30); Cons. Round 2 - Kendall Pleninger (Havre) 5-3 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 3 - Kendall Pleninger (Havre) 5-3 won by decision over Hunter Rowan (Belgrade) 6-9 (Dec 9-4); Cons. Round 4 - Kendall Pleninger (Havre) 5-3 won by decision over Jonny Williams (Corvallis) 5-4 (Dec 8-6); Cons. Round 5 - Kendall Pleninger (Havre) 5-3 won by decision over Devin Pierce (East Valley (Spokane)) 11-12 (Dec 6-4); Cons. Semi - Trevor Tucker (Missoula Sentinel) 15-7 won by fall over Kendall Pleninger (Havre) 5-3 (Fall 0:48); 5th Place Match - Carsen Speelman (Coeur d Alene) 17-8 won by decision over Kendall Pleninger (Havre) 5-3 (Dec 4-0).

170 - Orion Thivierge (1st Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Orion Thivierge (Havre) 5-0 received a bye (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Orion Thivierge (Havre) 5-0 received a bye (Bye); Quarterfinal - Orion Thivierge (Havre) 5-0 won by fall over Gauge Bedow (East Valley (Spokane)) 11-11 (Fall 2:41); Semifinal - Orion Thivierge (Havre) 5-0 won by tech fall over Riley Downey (Butte) 19-9 (TF-1.5 3:13 (17-2); 1st Place Match - Orion Thivierge (Havre) 5-0 won by major decision over Anders Thompson (Flathead) 23-4 (MD 11-3).

182 - Kale VanCampen (3rd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Kale VanCampen (Havre) 7-1 won by fall over Kaleb Kirklin (Helena) 8-10 (Fall 1:25); Champ. Round 2 - Jace DeShazer (Libby) 4-2 won by fall over Kale VanCampen (Havre) 7-1 (Fall 3:29); Cons. Round 2 - Kale VanCampen (Havre) 7-1 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 3 - Kale VanCampen (Havre) 7-1 won by fall over Louis McEvoy (Coeur d Alene) 7-11 (Fall 1:34); Cons. Round 4 - Kale VanCampen (Havre) 7-1 won by decision over Stetson Davis (Powell) 21-7 (Dec 5-1); Cons. Round 5 - Kale VanCampen (Havre) 7-1 won by tech fall over Naaman Deakins (East Valley (Spokane)) 11-8 (TF-1.5 4:48 (15-0); Cons. Semi - Kale VanCampen (Havre) 7-1 won by decision over Jace DeShazer (Libby) 4-2 (Dec 3-2); 3rd Place Match - Kale VanCampen (Havre) 7-1 won by fall over Gavin Millard (Bozeman) 12-6 (Fall 1:13).

205 - Randy Tommerup (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Randy Tommerup (Havre) 5-3 won by fall over Cody Vergeront (Glacier) 3-2 (Fall 1:02); Champ. Round 2 - Chase Youso (Flathead) 23-2 won by fall over Randy Tommerup (Havre) 5-3 (Fall 0:49); Cons. Round 2 - Randy Tommerup (Havre) 5-3 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 3 - Randy Tommerup (Havre) 5-3 won by decision over Orlando Morales (East Valley (Spokane)) 6-7 (Dec 1-0); Cons. Round 4 - Randy Tommerup (Havre) 5-3 won by fall over Chase Wash (Ferris) 14-11 (Fall 1:15); Cons. Round 5 - Randy Tommerup (Havre) 5-3 won by decision over Cadogan Wheat (Hamilton) 13-7 (Dec 7-4); Cons. Semi - Xaden Cunningham (Belgrade) 16-6 won by decision over Randy Tommerup (Havre) 5-3 (Dec 5-2); 5th Place Match - Jimmy Dees (Powell) 18-9 won by fall over Randy Tommerup (Havre) 5-3 (Fall 4:38).

285 - Zale Thomas

Champ. Round 1 - Raiden Krespin (Belgrade) 6-9 won by fall over Zale Thomas (Havre) 0-2 (Fall 4:32); Cons. Round 1 - Zale Thomas (Havre) 0-2 received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 2 - Kade Schleeman (Butte) 18-14 won by fall over Zale Thomas (Havre) 0-2 (Fall 3:56).

120 - Brooklyn Nelson (4th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Brooklyn Nelson (Havre High School) received a bye (Bye); Quarterfinal - Hania Halverson (Flathead High School) won by fall over Brooklyn Nelson (Havre High School) (Fall 0:26); Cons. Round 1 - Brooklyn Nelson (Havre High School) received a bye (Bye); Cons. Round 2 - Brooklyn Nelson (Havre High School) won by fall over Dakota Keller (Flathead High School) (Fall 1:39); Cons. Semi - Brooklyn Nelson (Havre High School) won by decision over Alainna Willhite (Missoula Big Sky High School) (Dec 5-0); 3rd Place Match - Hannah Hurst (Hamilton High School) won by fall over Brooklyn Nelson (Havre High School) (Fall 2:37).

132 - Maleigha Fuzesy (2nd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Maleigha Fuzesy (Havre High School) received a bye (Bye); Quarterfinal - Maleigha Fuzesy (Havre High School) won by fall over Meadow Smith (Flathead High School) (Fall 2:44); Semifinal - Maleigha Fuzesy (Havre High School) won by fall over Jessalyn Hewitt (Glacier High School) (Fall 3:56); 1st Place Match - Yasmine Tatsey-McKay (Browning High School) won by fall over Maleigha Fuzesy (Havre High School) (Fall 3:36).

152 - Angelina Caplette (3rd Place)

Round 2 - McKenna McCarthy (Flathead High School) won by fall over Angelina Caplette (Havre High School) (Fall 0:26); Round 3 - Olivia Keller-Pulse (Flathead High School) won by decision over Angelina Caplette (Havre High School) (Dec 6-0).

205 - Aliyah Stiffarm (3rd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Aliyah Stiffarm (Havre High School) received a bye (Bye); Quarterfinal - Aliyah Stiffarm (Havre High School) received a bye (Bye); Semifinal - Lucille Libby (Flathead High School) won by fall over Aliyah Stiffarm (Havre High School) (Fall 3:40); Cons. Semi - Aliyah Stiffarm (Havre High School) received a bye (Bye); 3rd Place Match - Aliyah Stiffarm (Havre High School) won by fall over Alisa Leimkuehler (Flathead High School) (Fall 0:49).