Halverson leads talented Bravettes into state tourney

Hania Halverson’s arrival at Flathead High School her junior year could be called serendipitous in some ways.

It coincided with the inaugural season of girls wrestling at the high school level in Montana, and Halverson, originally from Oregon, had wrestled against boys for as long as she could remember. She jumped at the chance to be a part of Flathead’s storied wrestling program.

“I wrestled all through middle school and the beginning of high school,” Halverson said. “I was the only girl on my team in middle school.”

Flathead made history last year — both the boys and girls won state championships — and is poised to do it again.

Both teams are undefeated in duals and tournaments this season, and Halverson, a senior who wrestles at 120 pounds, is a contender for an individual title after placing fourth at state in 2021.

“Our team is undefeated right now, which is exciting, but I think it just shows that it's been a team effort this whole time,” Halverson said.

There are differences stylistically and physically between male and female wrestlers — men tend to be stronger in their upper bodies and legs while women have strong hips.

Halverson seems to have a blend of these styles by virtue of her background.

“You can see her physicality is a little higher at times,” Flathead co-head girls coach Sully Sullivan said. “Her technique has come a long way and that makes it a little easier to be more physical, when you are where you need to be when you need to be there.”

The only blemish on her 21-1 record was a loss in the 120 final at the Rollie Lane Tournament in early January.

That’s a significant turnaround from last year, where Halverson was limited to less than 10 matches because of a combination of injury and fewer girls programs in the state.

Covid also limited competition mostly to crosstown duals against Glacier.

This time around Halverson estimates she has had 25 matches, and she’s competed against wrestlers from across the state.

“We have had so much more diversity to our matches because we've been allowed to have more than just a dual,” she said.

Which should play in her favor in her bid to improve on her finish at the state tournament, which she said was her “least favorite part” of last season.

“She came in with the proper attitude, proper outlook, work ethic and has followed up on it,” Sullivan said. “She has pretty single-mindedly set her goals and is doing the work necessary to make that achievement possible. I have nothing but good things to say about the kid. She's just a good kid and she's been a definite contribution to this program.”

The MetraPark in Billings will be extra electric this week with both the boys and girls tournaments held concurrently.

Thursday is the start of the all-class girls tourney, with preliminary rounds for weight classes 103, 113, 120, 126, 132, 145 and 170 going all day to shave each bracket down to 16 competitors. After that, 138, 152, 205 and 285 begin Friday with the girls on three of the 12 mats in the Metra.

“Just being in the Metra alone is such an amazing experience and to be able to enjoy that with the entire team that you have been training with and working hard with all season long, that is what makes it even better,” Halverson said.

Halverson isn’t sure what lies ahead, and she said she’ll start thinking more seriously about her future after the outdoor track season this spring. She’s also a pole-vaulter and placed fifth in the event at the state tournament last year.

She’d like to pursue both sports at the college level.

“I think also being a senior and a leader on the team, it’s a different kind of experience this year,” Halverson said. “I’m sad that I'm leaving and stuff, but I feel as though when I'm gone, there are other juniors and sophomores and freshmen that are completely going to continue this team dynamic and hold it to the level it has been in the last two years.”