Crunch time for Blue Pony netters

The Central A divisional tennis tournament isn't until next Thursday in Bozeman. But, for Havre head coach George Ferguson and his Havre Blue Ponies it really starts in Lewistown instead.

The Blue Pony tennis teams wrap up their regular season at Saturday's Lewistown Invitational, and Ferguson has always considered that the start of the divisional tournament for his teams.

"The Lewistown Invitational is very important and it really ties into the divisional tournament," Ferguson said. "First off, it's the last competitive matches you're going to play before the first round of divisionals, so you want to make sure you build that positive momentum and make sure you're playing your best. Secondly, that tournament has always been used as a criteria for seeding, so, those head-to-head matches can really come into play. Also, it's just always part of our overall goal. The regular season is for improving, peaking, getting better, and it's one more opportunity to do that before the divisional tournament. So Saturday is a big day for us."

In Lewistown, Havre will get three duals, including two against Central A rivals Livingston and Lewistown. But the Ponies will also play Dillon, and that one is one the Pony boys and girls are really looking forward to.

"Dillon is really strong this year," Ferguson said. "They are very deep on both sides. It will be a great measuring stick for us, and it's the perfect time to play them. That dual will be a lot of fun."

The boys dual between Havre and Dillon should be especially good. Both teams have three outstanding doubles teams, with Havre being led by Nate Korb and Jake Sedahl at No. 1, Kennedy McKay and Trey Murphy at No. 2 and Tommy Brown and Brady Ophus at No. 3. The three Pony teams have only lost a combined 11 matches all season long. Dustin Haas has also been a stalwart at No. 1 singles this season, while Dillon's Bradley Rakich is a top contender from the Southwest A. Havre will also send out veteran Trey Hanson at No. 2 singles, while senior Bobby Personett and freshman Tyrel Kjersm round out the Pony lineup.

"Our boys are playing really well right now," Ferguson said. "And the biggest thing we want to do this weekend is keep it that way. We can't afford to take a step back. We've built up so much momentum, so no matter what the results are, we really need to just go down to Lewistown and make sure we keep playing the way we have been playing."

Havre's girls also made big strides at last weekend's Helena Invitational, and now the Ponies want to peak for the divisional tournament. Havre's singles contingent of Paige Nelson, McKenzie Tommerup and Kadyn and Cassidy Acor are coming on strong, while the Pony doubles teams of Marcee Murphy and Devyn Solomon, Megan Lindbloom and Baylee Miller and Katie and Alex Donaldson have had their ups and downs this season, but are also playing their best tennis of the season at the right time, according to Ferguson. The Ponies will also have sophomore Bryn Nault in the lineup this weekend.

"In the win-loss department, it's been a tough season for our girls at times," Ferguson said. "A lot of that has to do with inexperience, and when you couple that with the schedule we play, it can be tough. But I thought we really turned a corner in Helena, and these girls are turning corners every day in practice. They are playing well, and they have never stopped working at it, never stopped improving, and it's going to pay off. And this weekend will be a great measuring stick for them. Playing Livingston a second time, and playing Dillon, that will show them how far they've really come."

And the Ponies have come a long way. They started March 13 and played their first tournament all the way back on March 25 in Cut Bank. Now, the regular season comes to a close in Lewistown, and Ferguson said his teams have made huge strides.

"All of our kids, varsity and JV, if they could see video of where they were back on March 25 to where they are now, they wouldn't believe it," Ferguson said. "They've all come so far. They've all done exactly what we've asked of them, to just work hard and improve as much as they can. Our entire program has done that this season. The entire group has just been awesome to coach and they've done an awesome job.

"And now, for our varsity teams, it's time for all of that hard work to pay off," Ferguson said. "All season, we just talk about getting better, no matter the results. Now, we've reached the point where, if they play their best, they're going to get the results they're after. So it's a really exciting time for our kids, and it starts with the three matches we'll play Saturday in Lewistown. It's going to be a big day for our kids and I can't wait to get down there and see them perform like I know they can."

Havre will play Livingston, Dillon and Lewistown at the Lewistown Invite Saturday. Then, it's off to the Central A Divisional next Thursday and Friday in Bozeman.