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2014 CLASS A
STATE WRESTLING CHAMPS
February 2014
www.havredailynews.com
13
2014 CLASS A
February 2014
STATE WRESTLING CHAMPS
www.havredailynews.com
Pony grapplers ready to tackle the Rockies Ponies ready to add to Central A dynasty Havre High hitting stride in time for prestigious Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic Daniel Horton Havre Daily News sports writer
A week after getting back into the groove of things with a nearly 100 percent lineup, the Havre High wrestling team now heads into another daunting weekend in Missoula. Missoula’s annual Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic brings in talent from all over the state of Montana, as well as surrounding areas. Last year, the Ponies took in a less-than-healthy lineup and finished as the No. 10 team. But with a full head of steam, Friday and Saturday the Ponies will look to finish a little higher in the team standings. Teams expected to be in attendance include Great Falls High, University High, Missoula Sentinel, Lewistown, Bozeman, Mead, Coeur d’Alene, Central Valley, Belgrade, Missoula Big Sky, Kalispell Glacier, Kalispell Flathead, Ronan, Frenchtown, CMR, Butte, Bonners Ferry, Polson, Corvallis, Helena High, Clarkston, Columbia Falls, Ferris, Libby, Lake City, Missoula Hellgate, Hamilton, Superior and Helena Capital. “We are wrestling as well as we have all year,” Havre High head coach Scott Filius said. “I think this and state are our toughest weekends, so we are pretty excited to get down there.”
If the Ponies continue to wrestle at a high level they could challenge for the top spot. But with Great Falls High also back to near 100 percent after being down the last couple of weeks, it will be a dogfight to the very end. And the Ponies are planning on going all out this weekend. The Class A duals take place next weekend in Lewistown, but Missoula takes center stage. The competition is through the roof, and there is a state-tournament-like atmosphere. HHS will wrestle with a sense of urgency the next couple of days and maybe even use next weekend to gain some
much-needed rest. “We are going to go into this like it is the state tournament, and we are looking for everybody to contribute,” Filius said. “We will probably even dial back a little next week because it is a step down from where we have been. “But we are really gelling and getting everybody to get on the same page at the same time,” Filius added. “We have a nice team concept going and the kids care about each other and that sure makes a difference.”
And, technique-wise, the Ponies aren’t doing much wrong. Last weekend, Filius really liked how aggressive his kids came out, and mentioned how well they wrestled on the edge. Look for that to be the case again this weekend, especially from Keegan Kennelly (106) as he attempts to reclaim an individual title. But Tate Munyan (98), Logan Pleninger (113), Grayson Brenna (120), Dylan Stewart (126), Thomas Gruber (132), Parker Filius (138), Kody Pribyl (145), Gunnar Aageson (145), Jase Stokes (152), Jayson Kohler (160), Jordan Schroeder (160), Jake Williams (170), Dustin Odegard (182), Tyler Adams (220), Jace Billy (195) and Travis Adams (285) will also look to continue to wrestle well. Brenna took fourth last year in Missoula, while Tyler Adams finished fifth, Stewart finished sixth, and Williams finished eighth. As a team, the Ponies have yet to win this tournament under the guidance of coach Filius, but they have that chance this year. They know it won’t be easy, though. GFH took it all the last two seasons, and even with all of the pins the Ponies got last weekend to run away with a Cut Bank title, it won’t be quite as easy this time around. “It is going to be a high level of competition, so we probably won’t pick up all the bonus points and easy matches that we got right off the bat last weekend,” coach Filius said. “But the effort will still be there.” Friday and Saturday the Ponies will be in Missoula. HHS then heads to the Class A Duals next Friday and Saturday in Lewistown.
Dynasty: Ponies have found great success as individuals and as a team ■ From Page 13 while some may look at losses as a negative thing, knowing all of his wrestlers have suffered at least one loss this season lets coach Filius know his grapplers are battle-tested. “Everybody we’ve got has been tagged with a loss this season.” Filius said. “But that is good for them. If you go undefeated then I don’t think you have found a tough enough schedule. That is the reason we wrestle those
Great Falls schools and go to all of those tough tournaments, for that reason, and we feel like we are prepared for the post season.” Havre will look to add another Central A banner to its dynasty Saturday in Browning. The top four wrestlers in each weight class will move on to the Class A state tournament next Friday and Saturday in Billings.
Havre grapplers heavy favorites at Saturday's Central A Divisional in Browning Daniel Horton Havre Daily News sports writer
Havre Daily News/Lindsay Brown Havre High heavyweight Travis Adams, right, battles a Great Falls High rival at the annual Havre Invitational last month. The Blue Ponies and Bison will be among the favorites at this weekend's Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula.
It has been some time since the Havre High wrestling team has been challenged by another program in the Central A, regular season or at the divisional wrestling tournament. Last season, the Central A Blue Ponies were crowned divisional champions, followed by another Class A state title. The Ponies will look to take the first step in repeating last year’s feat at Saturday’s Central A Divisional in Browning. And as the No. 1-ranked
Class A team in the state, the Ponies are the clear favorites this weekend and beyond. It will take some Pony letups and some pretty impressive matches by Belgrade, Lewistown, Livingston and Browning to take down the Central A power. The Belgrade Panthers will most likely clinch that coveted No. 2 team spot, but if it comes down to the Panthers and Ponies, the Ponies should run away comfortably, just like HHS has done so many times in the past. Under head coach Scott Filius, the Ponies have only been unseated one time in the Central A. “We have kids wrestling well right now and we have been together for a long time,” Filius said. “This group of kids, we have been packing all over the place for years, and so have their parents. We just have a lot of experience and a long background with this group of wrestlers.” But as confident as coach Filius is with this group of wrestlers that has been together for a number of years now, young and old, he isn’t
taking this weekend lightly. Havre has to wrestle well across the board and in every match. The Panthers are the No. 3-ranked team in the Class A and bring in a lot talent, including 98-pounder Sawyer Degan, Jarrett Degan (132), Noah Criner (152), Keevan Pickle (160) and Bryce Blumenschein (220). The Ponies will send in Keegan Kennelly (106), Logan Pleninger (113), Grayson Brenna (120), Dylan Stewart (126), Dane Flammond (126), Thomas Gruber (132), Parker Filius (138), Gunnar Aageson (138), Kody Pribyl (145), Jase Stokes (152), Jered Laux (160), Jake Williams (170), Dustin Odegard (182), Jace Billy (195), John Chinadle (195), Tyler Adams (220) and Travis Adams (HWT), but will remain open at 98-pounds for the remainder of their season. And bringing in 17 wrestlers, the Ponies think they have a realistic chance to place all, or close to all, 17 individuals for the state tournament. “It’s about getting as many kids into the state tourna-
ment,” Filius said. “And we are looking to place at divisionals as high as we can to help pave the way. And I would think all of our guys have the ability to place this weekend. We have 17 kids, but I am very pleased with the potential we have in those 17.” Coach Filius is also comfortable heading into the weekend because of the success the Ponies have found through a difficult regular season schedule. Right out of the gate with the Havre Invitational, through the Mining City Duals and CMR Holiday Classic, the Ponies have found great success as individuals and as a team. And
■ See Dynasty Page 20 Havre Daily News/Daniel Horton Havre High's Jace Billy, left, competes in the 2013 Havre Invitational wrestling tournament back in December. Billy and the top-ranked Blue Ponies will look to win yet another Central A title Saturday in Browning.