Havre High sports on the horizon

It's only early July, but the start of another new fall sports season is just around the corner. In fact, it's now just over a month away.

The Havre High golf teams will begin practicing Aug. 13, while football, volleyball and cross country begin Aug. 14.

From that point, the real games and meets are not far away. And all of the Blue Pony fall sports teams have some exciting schedules this coming season.

The Havre High football team, under the direction of new head coach Mark Samson, opens its season with back-to-back home games, and the Ponies play three of their first four games inside Blue Pony Stadium. On Aug. 29, Havre hosts Whitefish in the annual BNSF Trophy game, while the Ponies will be at home Sept. 4 to host the Hardin Bulldogs. Havre made a scheduling change this season with Glendive moving off the Ponies' schedule, while adding the Eastern A Bulldogs. After a road trip to Miles City Sept. 7, the Ponies are right back at home to host the Sidney Eagles Sept. 18.

Havre closes out September with its Central A opener at Browning, before coming home to face Livingston in its Homecoming game Oct. 2. The Ponies finish up conference play with a road game at Belgrade Oct. 9 and a senior night home game with Lewistown Oct. 16. The regular season ends for HHS with a trip to Polson Oct. 23.

But long before the Blue Pony football team takes the field against Whitefish, the HHS golf teams will start their season. Havre travels to the season-opening Great Falls Invitational Aug. 17-18 before playing one of two home meets this fall. Havre hosts the Prairie Farms Invitational Aug. 20, and will be home for the Havre Invitational Sept. 12 at Beaver Creek Golf Course. The Blue Ponies also have two meets at Browning, as well as one in Lewistown and a trip to Billings and Laurel before heading to the Central A Divisional Sept. 26 in Lewistown. The Class A state meet is slated for Oct. 2-3 in Sidney.

The season-opener for the Blue Pony volleyball team will be a trip to Belgrade and Livingston Sept. 4-5. The Blue Ponies, under new head coach Tamecia Jarvis, don't play their first home match until Sept. 25 against rival Lewistown. The Ponies also have home dates against Browning, Conrad, Choteau, Livingston and Belgrade all in the month of October. The Central A Divisional is set for Nov. 6-7 in Livingston, while the Class A state tournament is the following week in Bozeman.

And finally, the Havre High cross country teams have a new coach as well in Josh Holt, and the Ponies will begin their season Sept. 5 in Cut Bank. The 2015 Havre Invitational will take place Oct. 3, while the Ponies will travel to Browning for the Central A Divisional Oct. 17 and the Class A state meet in Great Falls Oct. 24.

As a reminder to all student-athletes wishing to participate in Havre High athletics, they must have a sports physical completed before the start date of their season.

2015-16 Dates and Sites of Class A state events

Oct. 2-3 Class A state golf in Sidney

Oct. 24 State X-Country in Great Falls

Nov. 12-14 State Volleyball in Bozeman

Nov. 21 State Football Championships

Jan. 29-30 State Speech and Drama in Belgrade

Feb. 12-13 Class A State Wrestling in Billings

Feb. 12-13 State Swimming in Great Falls

March 3-5 Class A Boys Basketball State Tournament in Missoula

March 10-12 Class A State Girls Basketball Tournament in Belgrade

May 26-7 Class A State Tennis Tournament in Bozeman

May 26-28 Class A State Softball Tournament in Belgrade

May 27-28 Class A State Track Meet in Bozeman