Blue Pony netters hit the court

When it comes to success in the spring, it’s hard for anyone to match the run the Havre High tennis teams have been on for nearly two decades now. And, with a new season about to begin, there’s no reason to think that run is going to end anytime soon.

The Blue Ponies, under the direction of George Ferguson, now in his 14th season at the helm of both the boys and girls programs, start their season Saturday at the annual Cut Bank Invitational, and, while he has coached for many, many years, he says he’s just as excited to start this year as he is every year.

“We have an awesome group of kids out for tennis,” Ferguson said. “They are a lot of fun to coach and they’ve already been working really hard. So I’m really looking forward to this season, and can’t wait to see how it all turns out. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Awesome would certainly describe the Havre High boys. The Ponies have clinched a trophy at the state tournament the past two years, and many consider Havre the team to beat this spring. The Ponies have also won an astonishing 22 of the last 23 Central A team titles, and that reign isn’t likely to end this season, considering all of the talent the HHS boys have.

And that talent starts with senior Jeff Miller, who was the Class A singles champion in 2014 and the runner-up a season ago. Miller is also a three-time Central A champion. Havre also returns senior Jerod Boles, who teamed with Noah Landgraf last year to win the Central A doubles crown. This season, Boles will team with Jake Sedahl, who headlines a stellar junior class which also includes Nate Korb, who went to state a year ago in doubles, as well as Dustin Haas and Trey Hanson. Senior Patrick Leeds rounds out Havre’s group of upper classmen.

“We have a strong group of boys back, and those boys have been at this a long time now,” Ferguson said. “Jeff obviously is one of the best players in all of Montana tennis, at any level. But he’s got some really good teammates around him. Jerod Boles is another outstanding player and we’re going to really count on him to lead us in doubles this year. We’re really solid with upper classmen, and that’s good because those guys are also really good leaders.”

Havre has some strong younger players too, including the sophomore duo of Kennedy McKay and Trey Murphy, who came within one match of making the state tournament a year ago. Fellow sophomores Brady Ophus, Kendall Holden and Vander Swensen will also look to have an impact on the varsity level this season, while freshmen Tommy Brown, Josiah Harrison and Jack Johnsrud round out the HHS roster.

“Our sophomore class has a lot of potential,” Ferguson said. “Those guys learned a lot last season, and we’ll need them to contribute even more this year. We didn’t get the freshmen numbers we were hoping for, and that’s a little disappointing, but the three we have out all have a lot of potential. Tommy Brown came in with some tennis background already, and the other two are picking it up really quickly. So, every boy on our roster is going to contribute this season, and that’s good for the future of our program too.”

As for the season itself, Havre’s tough schedule, which now includes a trip to Glendive for the prestigious Elks Invitational, will certainly prepare the Ponies for the run they’re looking for in the postseason. But, no matter the potential with the Pony boys, who will likely have to battle Billings Central, Whitefish and Glendive for Class A supremacy, Ferguson says the season is a step-by-step process, and he’s not interested in looking too far ahead.

“This boys team can do great things this season,” Ferguson said. “Exactly what those things will be, we don’t know. And that’s not what we’re worried about right now. We don’t talk much about winning and losing, let alone trophies. That stuff will come through hard work, a lot of repetition in practice and taking the season day-by-day, match-by-match. I’ve always liked to think of the season as three parts, and right now, we’re barely into part one. So, all the boys are concerned about is working hard, improving every day and focusing on what’s right in front of them. That’s what we’ve always done, and it’s worked well. And with the talent this team has, if they follow that plan, they’re going to be successful in May.”

The Havre High girls are also looking to do great things in May. And the Ponies are certainly capable. Last season, Havre was a relatively inexperienced team, qualifying only graduating senior Tatiana Ralph for the state tournament. But, one year later, Havre is a senior-heavy, experienced tennis team.

“Our senior girls have been working on this for a long time,” Ferguson said. “All of them have been very dedicated to tennis, and many of them have had to kind of wait their turn. And I appreciate their dedication so much, and I’m really excited for them this season. They are such a great group, and they are also very good tennis players, and the sky is the limit for them this season.”

The sky is the limit for the Ponies, especially in doubles, where Havre essentially has two No. 1 teams in seniors Madison Huebsch and Rainey Stoner and Alara Vogel and Reggie Bernard. Those two tandems, combined with fellow seniors Meggan Smith and Ashley Hoffland, are the foundation of a strong Blue Pony girls team.

But, to be a completely strong team, and a team that will look to dethrone defending state and Central A champion Livingston, Havre needs depth, and the Ponies have that too. Paige Nelson and the doubles tandem of Alex Donaldson and Megan Lindbloom also scored points for the Ponies last season, and with the return of fellow sophomores Marca Herron and Baylee Miller, Havre’s varsity lineup is strong and deep.

“Those five sophomores make us a very good team,” Ferguson said. “And, they’re also the backbone of the future of this program. All five of them are going to be instrumental in our girls team being as good as it can possibly be. They’re already showing so much improvement, and they are going to be a very good group, this season, and in the future.”

Of course, Ferguson is excited about the future, too, as his girls team is flush with newcomers, including senior exchange student Mariaii Makarova, sophomore Katie Donaldson, and a huge group of freshmen, including Mallory Schaub, Kadyn Acor, Tiffany Ralph, Marcee Murphy, Teagan Fee, Caprice Gobin, Ally Padgett, Mckenzie Tommerup, Devyn Solomon and Holly Strobel.

“So exciting,” Ferguson said of the newcomer turnout. “That’s a great group of girls and there’s a lot of potential there. And because we have so much experience above them, they not only get to learn from a great group of seniors, but they also get to spend a season with no pressure on them. They can take this year to just learn the game, and get acquainted with high school tennis. So I’m really excited about that group. They can definitely be the future of our girls program, but they’re also going to get plenty of chances to play this season, all of them.”

Of course, the future is now for the Pony girls as well, and, like the boys team, the HHS girls have their sights set on big things. The Central A will be tough with Livingston and Lewistown, while state contenders include the Rangers, Polson and Billings Central. But, also like the boys, the HHS girls aren’t looking too far ahead.

“This can be a great girls team, and it can be a great season for them,” Ferguson said. “So, I’m really excited for them. But, at the same time, right now, the only thing we’re trying to do is get the winter rust off, get our form back and work our way into the season. It’s a long season, and we’re just at the very beginning. But, there’s no doubt, I’m really looking forward to seeing what this group of girls can do. They are a great group.”

Havre starts off the season with a trip to Cut Bank Saturday. The Ponies will also host the Havre Invite April 9, and travel to tough tournaments like the Class A Duals in Cut Bank, the Central A Preview Meet in Lewistown, the Elks Invite in Glendive and the Helena Invite. The postseason starts with the Central A Divisional May 19-20 in Lewistown, while the Class A state tournament will be held the following week in Bozeman and Livingston.

“It’s going to be a fun year,” Ferguson said. “These kids are already so much fun to coach. We also have coach (Kendall) Griggs back and that’s big for our program. It’s an exciting time for Blue Pony tennis and we’re going to have a great spring.”