Blue Pony wrestling takes first place in Malta Invite
With only one last tournament in the regular season, the Havre High wrestling team was looking to return after the season on a positive note. The Blue Ponies not only fought well at the Malta Invitational last Saturday, but also took first place in the process. HHS head coach Beau LaSalle was even more impressed by his team’s performance as his younger wrestlers led.
“I thought it got good,” LaSalle said. “We left some children at home but the children we took, I was happy with the way they responded and increased. They competed very well. “
The Ponies scored 247 points to take first place in the tournament. Cut Bank took second with 188 points and Billings Central took third with 165 points. Several wrestlers placed to lead the Ponies to their first place.
Carson Harris had the best finish for the Ponies as he took his first wrestling class in the 120-pound class. After a bye to open his bracket, Harris won by 2:55 in the semifinals against Kellan Cassidy of Cut Bank. In the first-place match, Harris won, 16-1, for a technical fall over teammate Colter Soloman.
“Carson had a good day. It’s just him in control and he’s been dominant all day, “said LaSalle. “Putting two children in the final in 120 was great for them. A boost of confidence in the divisional. “
With a loss in the first place match, Solomon finished second in his weight class. Like his partner, Solomon opened the bracket with a bye. In the semifinals, he won, 5-4, for a decision at Tyrus Hall by Billings Central.
Jacob Kunz finished second for the Ponies as he fought for 132 pounds. After bye, Kunz won, 12-4, for a big decision on Jakob Kominsky from Billings Central. In the semifinals, Kunz pinned teammate Jack Gillen 1:38 in the match.
Reinhard Bold also finished second for 145 pounds. He opened the tournament by bringing Harley’s Stanley Spangelo 33 seconds into the game. In the quarterfinals, he won, 6-4, against Devon O’Neill from Billings Central. In the semi-finals, Bold won by 1:14 in the match against Michael King of Glasgow.
At 113 pounds, Matthew Lemer finished third for the Ponies. In the quarter-finals, he pinned Ted See of Glasgow to advance in the bracket. In a consolation match, Lemer won with a forfeit against Izzy Baker of Harlem. In the third place match, Lemer shot See again.
Landon Caplette wrestled well at 152 pounds as he took third in his bracket. After a bye, Caplette pinned Gus Wetstein 13 seconds into the game. In a consolation game, he won with a 30-second pin in the game against Harlem’s Marty Snow. In the third place match, Caplette won by 1:34 in the match against Colton Honey from Malta.
Pierce Caplette took the third wrestling for 205 pounds on Saturday. After a loss to open the bracket, Caplette won three straight games to take the third. He first won with a 2:46 pin in his game against Ron Grant of Cut Bank. He then pinned Chance Smith from Wolf Point 2:30 in the match. In the third-place match, Caplette won, 22-7, for a technical fall on Sebastien Mansfield from Chester-Joplin-Inverness.
Justin Awtrey fought well for the Ponies as he took fourth place with 138 pounds. He opened the tournament with a 1:44 pin in his game against Jeremy Varilek from Billings Central. In a consolation match, Awtrey pinned Harlem’s Trent King 2:12 in the match. He then won with a 2:54 pin in a consolation match against Ted Tryan of Glasgow. In the consolation semifinals, Awtrey won by a landslide against teammate Tristan Stygles.
At 170 pounds, Mason Wilting took fourth for the Ponies. After losing to open the tournament, Wilting won a consolation match with a pin against Sam Cooper from Billings Central. He then won with a 2:12 pin in his game against Ashton Cassidy from Cut Bank.
While not every pony put up a Saturday, they all won games. At 132 pounds, Gillen won by a 1:59 drop in his game against Gage Wetstein from Billings Central. With 138 pounds, Stygles won, 21-19, against Cody Hofer from Billings Central.
Several Ponies did not compete in the tournament – Orion Thivierge, Randy Tommerup, Kale VanCampen, Riley Pleninger and Kendall Pleninger. With the younger wrestlers having a chance to compete for the last time in the regular season, LaSalle believes they have finished the year on a strong note to the Eastern Division A.
“Whenever you end the regular season with a collective win as a team, it only gives you a little extra confidence to get into the postseason,” LaSalle said.
The Ponies will start the postseason this Saturday with the Eastern A Divisionals in Laurel.
Team Scores
Havre 247, Glasgow 213, Cut Bank 188, Billings Central 165, Malta / Whitewater 124, Fort Benton 112, Harlem 48, Wolf Point 45, Chester-Joplin-Inverness 39, Fort Benton / Big Sandy 7.
Havre Individual Results
113 – Matthew Lemer (3rd Place)
Quarterfinals – Matthew Lemer (Havre) 3-1 win with a fall over Ted See (Glasgow) 25-19 (Fall 0:00); Semi-final – Trevor O`Hara (Fort Benton) 27-13 won by decision over Matthew Lemer (Havre) 3-1 (Dec 13-6); Cons. Semi – Matthew Lemer (Havre) 3-1 won with a forfeit over Izzy Baker (Harlem) 0-2 (For.); Game in 3rd place – Matthew Lemer (Havre) 3-1 won by a fall over Ted See (Glasgow) 25-19 (Fall 2:50).
120 – Carson Harris (1st Place)
Quarterfinals – Carson Harris (Havre) 2-0 received bye (Bye); Semifinals – Carson Harris (Havre) won 2-0 with a fall over Kellan Cassidy (Cut Bank) 1-2 (Fall 2:55); Game in 1st Place – Carson Harris (Havre) 2-0 won by tech fall on Colter Soloman (Havre) 1-1 (TF-1.5 3:04 (16-1).
120 – Colter Soloman (Second Place)
Quarterfinals – Colter Soloman (Havre) 1-1 received bye (Bye); Semifinals – Colter Soloman (Havre) 1-1 won by decision at Tyrus Hall (Billings Central) 22-21 (Dec 5-4); Game in 1st Place – Carson Harris (Havre) 2-0 won by tech fall on Colter Soloman (Havre) 1-1 (TF-1.5 3:04 (16-1).
132 – Jack Gillen
Champ. Round 1 – Jack Gillen (Havre) 1-2 received bye (Bye); Quarterfinals – Jack Gillen (Havre) 1-2 win with a fall over Gage Wetstein (Billings Central) 0-20 (Fall 1:59); Semifinals – Jacob Kunz (Havre) 2-1 won with a fall over Jack Gillen (Havre) 1-2 (Fall 1:38); Cons. Semi – Landen Gray (Harlem) 2-2 won by decision over Jack Gillen (Havre) 1-2 (Dec 9-6).
132 – Jacob Kunz (2nd Place)
Champ. Round 1 – Jacob Kunz (Havre) 2-1 received bye (Bye); Quarterfinals – Jacob Kunz (Havre) 2-1 won by a big decision over Jakob Kominsky (Billings Central) 21-17 (MD 12-4); Semifinals – Jacob Kunz (Havre) 2-1 won with a fall over Jack Gillen (Havre) 1-2 (Fall 1:38); 1st place game – Tristan Sydenstricker (Cut Bank) won 3-0 with a 2-1 win over Jacob Kunz (Havre) (Fall 1:07).
138 – Tristan Stygles
Champ. Round 1 – Tristan Stygles (Havre) 1-2 received bye (Bye); Quarterfinals – Tristan Stygles (Havre) 1-2 win by decision over Cody Hofer (Billings Central) 26-20 (December 21-19); Semifinals – Jack Cornwell (Glasgow) 21-16 won by medical pass on Tristan Stygles (Havre) 1-2 (M. For.); Cons. Semi – Justin Awtrey (Havre) 4-2 won with a medical pass over Tristan Stygles (Havre) 1-2 (M. For.).
138 – Justin Awtrey (4th Place)
Champ. Round 1 – Justin Awtrey (Havre) 4-2 won by a fall over Jeremy Varilek (Billings Central) 3-20 (Fall 1:44); Quarterfinals – Canon Branch (Cut Bank) 3-0 win over Justin Awtrey (Havre) 4-2 (Fall 2:44); Cons. Round 2 – Justin Awtrey (Havre) won 4-2 with a fall to Trent King (Harlem) 0-2 (Fall 2:12); Cons. Round 3 – Justin Awtrey (Havre) won 4-2 with a fall over Ted Tryan (Glasgow) 16-21 (Fall 2:54); Cons. Semi – Justin Awtrey (Havre) 4-2 won with a medical pass on Tristan Stygles (Havre) 1-2 (M. For.); Game in 3rd Place – Ryder Cole (Chester-Joplin-Inverness) 3-1 won by decision over Justin Awtrey (Havre) 4-2 (Dec 9-5).
145 – Reinhard Bold (Second Place)
Champ. Round 1 – Reinhardt Bold (Havre) won 3-1 over Stanley Spangelo (Harlem) 0-2 (Fall 0:33); Quarter-finals – Reinhardt Bold (Havre) 3-1 win by decision over Devon O’Neill (Billings Central) 34-12 (Dec 6-4); Semifinals – Reinhardt Bold (Havre) 3-1 won with a fall over Michael King (Glasgow) 21-20 (Fall 1:14); 1st place match – Mathew Larson (Cut Bank) 3-0 won by decision over Reinhardt Bold (Havre) 3-1 (Dec 5-3).
152 – Landon Caplette (3rd Place)
Champ. Round 1 – Landon Caplette (Havre) 3-1 received bye (Bye); Quarterfinals – Landon Caplette (Havre) 3-1 win over Gus Wetstein (Billings Central) 1-22 (Fall 0:13); Semifinals – Mason Donaldson (Glasgow) 20-13 won with a fall over Landon Caplette (Havre) 3-1 (Fall 1:44); Cons. Semi – Landon Caplette (Havre) 3-1 won with a fall over Marty Snow (Harlem) 1-2 (Fall 0:30); 3rd Place – Landon Caplette (Havre) 3-1 win over Colton Honey (Malta / Whitewater) 10-25 (Fall 1:34).
170 – Mason Dbiel (4 Post)
Quarterfinals – Spencer Gibbs (Malta / Whitewater) 27-16 won by a 2-2 loss to Mason Wilting (Havre) (Fall 1:28); Cons. Round 1 – Mason Wilting (Havre) 2-2 won with a fall over Sam Cooper (Billings Central) 3-23 (Fall 2:00); Cons. Semi – Mason Wilting (Havre) 2-2 won with a fall to Ashton Cassidy (Cut Bank) 1-2 (Fall 2:12); Game in 3rd Place – Ethan Sullivan (Cut Bank) 3-1 won by a fall over Mason Wilting (Havre) 2-2 (Fall 0:18).
205 – Pierce Caplette (3rd Place)
Quarterfinals – Mason Garfield (Wolf Point) 27-6 won with a fall over Pierce Caplette (Havre) 3-1 (Fall 5:40); Cons. Round 1 – Pierce Caplette (Havre) 3-1 won with a fall over Ron Grant (Cut Bank) 0-2 (Fall 2:46); Cons. Semi – Pierce Caplette (Havre) 3-1 won with a fall over Chance Smith (Wolf Point) 15-12 (Fall 2:30); Game in 3rd place – Pierce Caplette (Havre) 3-1 won by tech fall over Sebastien Mansfield (Chester-Joplin-Inverness) 1-2 (TF-1.5 5:16 (22-7).