Havre's Thivierge, Pleninger win wrestling scholarships

Press release

Havre High School wrestlers Orion Thivierge and Riley Pleninger have received wrestling scholarships awarded by Great Falls attorney Alexander "Zander" Blewett III

For 16 years, Blewett has offered three $1,000 scholarships, one to each of the top student wrestlers around the state of Montana for Classes AA, A and B/C, as well as four $500 scholarships for north-central Montana wrestlers.

This year's recipients of the $1,000 scholarships, including Thivierge, won a combined nine state championships and maintained impressive grade point averages, with one perfect 4.0. 

"It is inspiring to see these student-athletes excel both on the mats and in the classroom," Blewett said.

Thivierge was awarded the Class A $1,000 scholarship. He is a three-time state champion who earned a 4.0 GPA. He plans to attend either the United States Naval Academy or Montana State University-Northern, where he intends to wrestle and study operations research

Drake Rhodes of Billings West High School is the winner of the Class AA scholarship. Rhodes was a three-time state champion who was also a runner-up.  Rhodes earned a 3.48 GPA and plans to attend the University of Iowa where he intends to wrestle and study marketing.

Trae Thilmony of Thompson Falls High School is the Class B/C winner. Thilmony won three state championships, maintained a 3.8 GPA and obtained a 1400 SAT score. He recently placed 4th at the NHSCA Nationals. He will wrestle and study sports management at North Dakota State University.

Pleninger was awarded a $500 north-central Montana scholarship. He won two state championships and earned a 3.97 GPA. Pleninger will study engineering at some yet-to-be-determined four-year college.

  For more information regarding the Blewett Statewide Wrestling Scholarship and Blewett North-Central Montana Wrestling Scholarship, people can visit https://www.hoytblewett.com/community/blewett-statewide-wrestling-scholarships/ and visit https://www.hoytblewett.com/community/blewett-north-central-montana-wrestling-scholars/ .