George Ferguson Column: Merry Christmas to all; And a Happy New Year of sports

To say I love this time of year would be a gross understatement. I mean, I can’t even really express how much I love Christmas, and the holiday season in general.

Now, I may not love it quite as much as all of you kiddies out there who are happy to have a break from school, but nonetheless, I really do enjoy Christmas. I mean, I’ve already been by the Christmas house in Havre like five times and I’m not done yet.

Now, on the other hand, for local sports junkies like myself, the Christmas break is a down time. All of our local sports teams, high school and college are now on a bit of a break, and that means, in the coming days, the basketballs are put away, the wrestling mats are rolled up, and by-in-large, there isn’t a whole lot to see in the way of local sports.

But, that just means it will be very exciting when the sports do return. In a way, it’s actually like the buildup to Christmas itself. You think about what you want, day after day, and when Christmas Eve and Christmas morning comes, you’re bursting with excitement.

And that’s exactly how it will be when our local sports return in the new year. Because, in case you haven’t noticed, we’ve got a really exciting winter sport’s season ahead.

If really good wrestling is on your sports wish list, then you shall have it.

The Havre Blue Ponies look like a team that just won’t be stopped this season. Once again, the Ponies have a great mix of returning veterans, up-and-comers and some really, really good freshmen. In other words, legendary head coach Scott Filius’ team is absolutely loaded, and the next two months will be a coronation of Havre High’s wrestling prowess.

And don’t forget about the Chinook Sugarbeeters. They are loaded, too, and it will be shock if the Beeters don’t absolutely clean up at the state tournament come February.

Then there’s the Northern Lights. They too are loaded with wrestling talent, and they’ve already made a lot of noise this season. But, the best is yet to come. It won’t be long and the Lights will be wrestling the likes of arch rival UGF and, as a special gift to wrestling fans, the Iowa Hawkeyes. Like Christmas itself, I can’t wait for that dual to finally get here.

Of course, when Christmas break is over, basketball returns, too. And, if you love hoops, Havre and the Hi-Line is where you’ll want to be in the coming months.

The Havre High boys and girls teams are off to a terrific start this season, and the bulk of their schedule is still to come. Yes, if the few December games the Ponies played are any indication, then this winter is going to be an exciting one in the Blue Pony Corral.

The Hi-Line is stuffed full of good basketball teams — just like I hope my stocking is stuffed full of goodies come Christmas morning. Box Elder, Chester/J-I and Chinook all are looking like the beasts of the District 9C in boys this year, while the Box Elder girls, along with Chinook, Fort Benton and North Star look like they’ll be fighting it out when the 9C tournament comes back to Havre in late February.

If you’re a fan of MSU-Northern basketball, and I know many of you are, then you’re especially going to like the month of January. The Skylights and Lights are both nationally ranked, and after one road trip to close out December, they’re both going to play at home — a lot.

Between the Lights and Skylights, they will play 15 games at home next month, including six straight Frontier Conference games inside the Armory Gymnasium. To a Northern basketball fan, that’s like Christmas morning happening over and over again.

And the action doesn’t stop there either. There’s hockey of all ages at the Havre Ice Dome, there’s Havre High swimming, there’s middle school sports ongoing, and so much more. Yes, it truly is a ’tis the season when it comes to sports.

While I usually have a few days of post-Christmas depression once the big day is over, that depression won’t last long because, before I can even marvel at everything I got and gave for Christmas and before I realize how many pounds I’ve gained from all the great food and cookies and candy I’ve consumed over the holidays, the sports will be back, and once they’re back, they won’t stop — they’ll just get better, and more exciting with every passing day.

So, here’s me wishing all of you, my readers, my friends, my family and loved ones a very merry Christmas, and a happy New Year. And for all you Havre and Hi-Line sports fanatics, don’t worry, your sports wish list will be answered very, very soon.