2022 Havre High State Tournament Bracket Breakdown

What a difference a year makes. One year ago, COVID-19 separated the All-Class State Wrestling Tournament for just the second time in its existence, while the girls held their first-ever state tourney.

Now though, everyone will all be back together in the Metra this weekend, and for the Havre Blue Ponies, that will be very exciting, as both the HHS boys, and girls, of head coach Beau LaSalle, chase medals and trophies.

The Pony girls, in their first trip to the Metra, should do quite well in the all-girls tournament, which starts tonight and runs through Saturday night. Meanwhile, the HHS boys are coming off a third-place finish at the Eastern A last week, but, are still a definite trophy contender this weekend in the Metra.

So here's a bracket breakdown of each HHS wrestler as they embark on the All-Class State Tournament tonight through Saturday.

GIRLS

120 - Brooklyn Nelson (9-8)

Nelson has had a strong season for the Ponies, but she's in perhaps the biggest bracket of the entire tournament, and she's on the same side of the draw as Flathead's Hania Halverson and Dakota Keller, so her road to the podium won't be an easy one. Still, Nelson, who wrestles Lewistown's Salome Legast in the first round, will be a tough opponent in her draw.

132 - Maleigha Fuzesy (12-5)

Making her second trip to state, Fuzesy is definitely a medal contender for the Ponies. But, she too is in a big weight class, though it is wide open. Fuzesy has a bye in the first round.

152 - Angelina Caplette (3-8)

Caplette is in her first state tournament for the Ponies, where Class AA powers from Billings and Flathead should be favored. Still, the draw is also smaller, so there could be ample opportunity to reach the podium. Caplette wrestles Chi Gushi in the first round.

205 - Clara Laird (7-5), Aliyah Stiffarm (9-3).

Two stalwarts from last year's first-ever Blue Pony team, both Laird and Stiffarm are medal contenders, though they are on the same half of the draw. Laird has a bye in the first round and will face favorite Kasidee Savaria of Billings in the second round, while Stiffarm Belgfrade's Ashlee Wilcox in the opener.

BOYS

113 - Matthew Lemer (29-16)

Havre doesn't have a 103-pounder, but Lemer has been steady for the Ponies at 113, finishing fourth at the Eastern A. The 113-pound draw is pretty open with a ton of newcomers, but the favorites are likely Sidney's Reece Graves and Ronan's Ridge Cole, who is a whopping 48-1. Lemer wrestles Browning's Prestin Connelly in the opening round.

120 - Carson Harris (30-14)

In his second state tourney, Harris is looking to do some real damage in a bracket that's wide open. Columbia Falls' Tyler Gilfrey and Miles City's Isaac Beardsley are the divisional champs in the draw, but the bracket is really there for the taking. Harris faces Corvallis' Sean Davis in the first round.

120 - Colter Soloman (14-26)

On of three freshmen to reach state, Solomon is in Harris' bracket, and will have a tough go of it. He faces a big match right out of the gate when he takes on Frenchtown's Gavin Bauman.

138 - Tristan Stygles (32-15)

Stygles has really come on strong for the Ponies in his second season. And while he's in a bracket that features a former state champ in Columbia Falls' Justin Windauer, as well as Corvallis' Davis brothers and Miles City's Currey Brown, Stygles has the potential to go deep into the draw. He wrestles Browning's Quentin Campos in the first round.

145 - Reinhardt Bold (21-6)

Part of a strong sophomore class at Havre High, Bold has had an outstanding season. His bracket does include Sidney's Zander Dean, a former state champion, but, this is a field that Bold could make a run at. Ronan's Landon Bishop and Livingston's Danyk Jacobsen. Another returning state champ, are tough as well. After taking third at the Eastern A, Bold opens the tourney against Columbia Falls' Rowdy Crump.

152 - Riley Pleninger (34-7)

It's been a big season for Pleninger, and now he's ready to cap it off with a deep run in Billings. He worked his way to an outstanding second-place finish last week in Laurel, though that does put him in the same half of the draw as Frenchtown's Gavin McLean, while Sindey star Zander Burnison is on the other half of the draw. Still, this is the moment Pleninger has been building toward, and he will be a force all weekend. He takes on Libby's Joey Wise in the first round.

152 - Landon Caplette (8-8)

In his first state tourney, Caplette must face McLean, who is 39-1 in the first round. Still, he's capable of scoring points in the draw, and, as part of this strong HHS sophomore class, this state tournery will be a great experience.

160 - Kendall Pleninger (29-17)

Like his twin brother, Pleninger has been gearing up for a strong senior season, and he's having one. Of course, his bracket does include Sidney's Aden Graves, who is going for his fourth straight state championship, but beyond that, the draw is pretty open, and Pleninger should take advantage. His half does include Western A champ Smokey Stoker of Frenchtown, while he takes on Columbia Falls' Trey Torpen in the opener.

170 - Orion Thivierge (31-1)

Simply one of the best high school wrestlers in all of Montana, Thivierge is now on his final mission. He's absolutely dominated the competition all season long, and while a state championship is never easy, the likes of Western A champion Tristan Fisher of Ronan, Sidney's Grady Nelson or anyone else will have trouble standings in Thivierge's way off a coveted third straight title. His quest begins with Hamilton's Noah Gulsinger in the first round.

182 - Kale VanCampen (32-10)

VanCampen is definitely a contender to reach finals night. His junior season has been a good one where he's been ranked second to Livingston's Cade Gubler for much of the season. Meanwhile, VanCampen is on the same half of the draw as Western A champion Jace DeShazer of Libby, but if he wrestles well, he's certainly favored to perhaps have a rematch with Gubler or perhaps see Frenchtown's Noah Rausch Saturday night. VanCampen has a bye in the first round.

205 - Randy Tommerup (31-9)

It's been a great rise for Tommerup from his freshman season to now. And where he is now is a true medal contender in his final year as a Blue Pony. And the 205 draw is there for the taking as Tommerup has competed well with everyone in the field, including Eastern A champion Dante Pallone of Hardin, and Western A champion Brandyn Whitman from Browning. So, there's no reason why Tommerup won't have a big, big weekend. He wrestles Hamilton's Trevor Lewis in the opener.

205 - Pierce Caplette (21-9)

It's been a huge freshman campaign for Caplette, who is capable of making noise at 205 after finishing sixth at the Eastern A. He faces Hamilton's Cadogan Wheat in the opener.

285 - Zale Thomas (7-15)

In his second year as Havre's starting heavyweight, Thomas has made strides. And now he'll look to make more at state. Eastern A champion Gabe Walker is the favorite, but the heavyweight bracket is pretty wide open. Thomas wrestles Western A champion Phillip Herald of Frenchtown in his opening match.