Blue Pony wrestling set for Eastern A Divisionals

The postseason has finally come for the Havre High wrestling team. Over the past couple of months, the Blue Ponies have been working to get themselves ready through tough competition.

With the Eastern A Divisionals in Laurel this weekend, the Ponies finally begin their quest for their ultimate goal.

"I'm feeling pretty good. Basically, the big thing this weekend is just getting the kids qualified for state by getting them to finish in the top eight," HHS head coach Beau LaSalle said. "The kids look good this week and I'm just feeling like they're ready to go."

This weekend, the Ponies will compete against familiar Eastern A opponents as schools such as Lewistown, Billings Central, Hardin, Livingston and Lockwood will compete. But LaSalle believes the toughest competition this weekend will come from Sidney, Miles City, Glendive and Laurel.

"The East is usually tough all the way through but those are probably the top teams," LaSalle said.

The Ponies have their lineup set for this weekend. Matthew Lemer will wrestle for the Ponies this weekend in the 113-pound weight class. This season, Lemer has taken first in 120 pounds at the Havre Invitational and he took third at 113 pounds at the Malta Invite this past weekend.

Carson Harris will wrestle in the 120-pound bracket at divisionals. He is coming off a first-place finish at the Malta Invite and earlier this season, he placed third in the Havre Invitational. Colter Soloman will also wrestle at 120 pounds this weekend. He took second at the Malta Invite and third at the Havre Invitational. Jacob Kunz will wrestle at 132 pounds after he took second at the Malta Invite.

Tristan Stygles will wrestle for the Ponies at 138 pounds. His best finish this season came at the Havre Invitational where he took first wrestling at 145 pounds. Reinhard Bold will wrestle at 145 pounds after he took second at the Malta Invite this past weekend.

At 152 pounds, Riley Pleninger will look to make some noise on the mats this weekend. This season, he took first at the Havre Invitational at the beginning of the season and he took second at the Cut Bank Invitational. Landon Caplette will also wrestle at 152 pounds this weekend as he comes off a third-place finish at the Malta Invite.

Kendall Pleninger will wrestle at 160 pounds. Earlier this season, he took second in the Cut Bank Invitational and he finished third in the Havre Invitational. Mason Wilting will wrestle for the Ponies at 170 pounds this weekend. His best finish came at the Malta Invite where he took fourth.

Senior Orion Thivierge will look to end his high school career on a strong note. At 170 pounds, he is looking to win his third straight state title and continue his strong season. This year, Thivierge has taken first at the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic, the Cut Bank Invitational and the Havre Invitational.

Kale VanCampen will also look to continue his strong season at 182 pounds. This season, he finished second at the Havre Invitational and he took third at the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic, Cut Bank Invitational and the CMR Holiday Classic.

The Ponies will have Pierce Caplette and senior Randy Tommerup wrestle at 205 pounds this weekend. Caplette is coming off a third-place finish at the Malta Invite and Tommerup has taken first at the Cut Bank Invitational and the Havre Invitational this season. The Ponies' divisional lineup will be rounded out by Zale Thomas who will wrestle at 285 pounds.

Everything that the Ponies have been working for all season comes down to this. The goal this weekend is to place in the top eight in order to qualify for state, but if they are going to do that, the wrestlers just need to let loose.

"We just need the kids to compete hard, wrestle loose and have fun," LaSalle said. "Just lay it out on the line for the postseason so anything can happen."

The Ponies will begin the Eastern A Divisionals this Saturday in Laurel. Sidney is the defending Eastern A and Class A champions. The top eight from each weight class will advance to next weekend's state tournament in Billings.