Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Zach Hellegaard, Havre High Tennis

Havre High's Zach Hellegaard is a key member of the Blue Pony tennis team, and so much more

There is still time for Zach Hellegaard to leave his mark on Havre Blue Pony tennis. And by the looks of what he has been able to accomplish in the Havre High classroom, Hellegaard should have no problem having another successful season as a senior Blue Pony singles player.

Hellegaard is a four-year varsity singles player for the Ponies and head coach George Ferguson. He even tried his hand at doubles for a very short stretch as a sophomore but has settled in as the teams’ No. 2 singles player for his senior season. While he has yet to earn that coveted chance to compete at the Class A state level, that is a main goal for the 2014 season.

Hellegaard has been key in the Ponies’ last three Central A divisional team titles, as he has been able to earn crucial points each season with his standout play.

But Hellegaard is more than just a tennis player.

He also is a standout student in the classroom, as well as a standout musician and singer. Hellegaard has been involved in the HHS band, jazz band and choir for the last four years. He also earned a spot in the Top Band as a sophomore and Top Choir as a junior. He has held a spot in the Top Jazz Band for the last three years as well. In the classroom, Hellegaard is as good as they come. Earlier this year he won the MCM math contest, which included college scholarship money. He was also a Junior Chemistry Olympiad finalist, which was a statewide competition that took just two kids per school and pitted them head-to-head.

To top it all off, Hellegaard is also preparing to take his knowledge to college, planning to earn a degree in engineering at Montana Tech after graduating from Havre High.

Hellegaard sat down with the Havre Daily News to answer five questions before this weekend’s Havre Invitational.

HDN: How has your game changed the most from your freshman season, compared to this season?

Hellegaard: “I have improved a lot on technique. I have also hustled, but my technical game has really improved, I think, and it think it is my overall game. My serve really improved through my sophomore and junior seasons, but overall, I think I improved everywhere.”

HDN: What got you interested in pursuing a career in engineering?

Hellegaard: “I never really liked English classes that much, I am more of a match and science guy. I have an uncle who is also really into math and science and he became an engineer, and that is really the first time I had even thought about, or heard about it. After I talked to my uncle about it, it was something I really wanted to do.”

HDN: You have dedicated a lot time and effort to tennis and school, but what else takes up your time?

Hellegaard: “Actually, I like to go paintballing a lot. But I also love water sports like wakeboarding, tubing and water skiing. I also go downhill skiing in the winter. I just love anything active.”

HDN: How do you stay focused on the court when out there by yourself, and with no teammates surrounding you?

Hellegaard: “I have never had a problem staying focused on the court. I just make sure I am focusing on my stroke, and getting done what I need to get done. If I know my opponent is weak on his backhand side, I will try to hit it to his backhand side more. I just really try to limit all distractions and keep focused on what I am doing and who I am playing.”

HDN: What do you have to do well to compete for a state title this year?

Hellegaard: “Get as consistent as I was last year. I am still a little rusty, but I also need to improve the speed of my game because playing second singles is a little bit faster than what I am used to. I need to adjust to the speed of the game.”