Blue Pony netters hit in Conrad

The Havre High boys and girls tennis teams got their first taste of competition at last weekend’s Cut Bank Invitational. Now, the Blue Ponies are ready for an even busier weekend.

With the Ponies back at full strength after HHS’s prom last Saturday, they will head to this Saturday’s Conrad Invitational, where head coach George Ferguson expects to see some stiff competition in three duals.

Havre will battle Conrad, Cut Bank and Lewistown in duals Saturday. Varsity duals consist of four singles matches and three doubles matches.

“I think this weekend will be a good measuring stick for us,” Ferguson said. “Our objectives aren’t going to change. All we are worrying about is improving, learning and continuing to get back into form. Those are the three most important things. But the fact that we have most of our kids who are on varsity right now going, and with the same being true for the other teams there, we should come out of this weekend with a much better idea of what we need to work on and where we’re at, both individually and as a team.”

The Ponies will have more of its varsity lineup for all three duals this weekend.

On the boys side, HHS is led by top singles player Jeff Miller, and the doubles teams of Noah Landgraf and Jerod Boles and Wyatt Lindbloom and Nate Korb. Senior Jamie Lieberg and sophomores Jake Sedahl and Dustin Haas round out the singles lineup, while Jeffrey Ralph, Trey Hanson and freshman Trey Murphy will all see doubles action Saturday.

On the girls side, senior Tatiana Ralph and the junior doubles team of Rainey Stoner and Madison Huebsch lead the Pony lineup. Freshmen Paige Nelson will also play singles, as will juniors Reggie Bernard and Alara Vogel. Juniors Ashley Hoffland and Megan Smith will see doubles action, as will freshmen Megan Lindbloom and Alex Donaldson.

“These duals will be good experience for all of our kids,” Ferguson said. “Our veteran kids will be able to continue to get back into match form, and we’re taking some more first-timers, and match play is the best way for them to learn the ropes. The competition will be good, so it should be a really good day for our kids.”

And Ferguson noted with the weather becoming a bit more unstable now, every bit of time his players can spend on the court is imperative, as HHS’s schedule ramps up in the coming weeks.

“We usually look at the Havre Invitational as kind of the end of the first part of our season,” Ferguson said. “And that’s next week. So we need these matches this weekend to continue the process we’re going through right now. The wins and losses don’t mean a whole lot right now, it’s more about how we’re playing, how we’re swinging the racket and how much we’re leaning and improving. That’s the goal, so we’re excited to get another opportunity to do that this weekend.”

Havre will dual three times in Conrad Saturday. Then, the Ponies will return home to host the Havre Invite April 4 and a dual against the Chinook girls April 7.