Pony netters find success in Bozeman

The Havre High tennis teams have a habit of racking up hardware at the Central A Divisional tournament. And, the Blue Ponies did so again at the 2017 divisional tournament.

Played Thursday and Friday in Bozeman, the Ponies pushed six players through to this week's Class A state tourney, while the Havre boys claimed their ninth straight Central A championship. The Pony boys went 1-2 in doubles, and got fourth in singles on their way to 43 points and a victory over second-place Belgrade. The Havre girls got a second place in singles, while finishing third overall with 25 points.

"I'm ecstatic at how divisionals went," HHS head coach George Ferguson said. "Our kids just played amazing tennis. They left it all on the court in Bozeman, and they represented our program and Havre High exactly how we want them to. So I couldn't be more proud of all 20 of them. It was a great tournament."

Ferguson's boys won their 14th team title in the last 15 years and Havre's 23rd in the last 24 seasons at the divisional level. And they did it behind the power of their top two doubles teams. Seniors Jake Sedahl and Nate Korb defeated junior teammates Trey Murphy and Kennedy McKay in the championship match. With the win, Sedahl became a repeat Central A doubles champion, while Murphy and McKay gave Havre's team title hopes a huge lift with a semifinal victory over Belgrade's top duo of Trey Layman and Aiden Hamilton. Havre also got points from Tommy Brown and Brady Ophus in the doubles draw.

"Nate and Jake and Trey and Kennedy just played awesome," Ferguson said. "They were dominant, and that win by Trey and Kennedy in the semifinals, that was just huge. They really stepped up because at that point, we were in a really close race with Belgrade. So that win was just huge, and I'm super proud of those two. And when you have an all Havre High final like we did in doubles, as a coach, it doesn't get any better. Those two doubles team, led by the leadership of Nate and Jake, those guys have been on a roll all season long, and I'm really happy to see them keep it going the way they did in Bozeman."

The Ponies got a big boost from senior Trey Hanson in singles, as well, as he finished fourth. Hanson's run to this week's state tournament included three straight wins Friday, but it also didn't come easy because he had to defeat teammates Bobby Personett and top-seeded senior Dustin Haas along the way. Haas had reached the semifinals, but was upset by Belgrade's Jeff Fourneir Friday morning in a three-set heartbreaker.

"Trey Hanson had a great tournament," Ferguson said. "Can't say enough about the way he played. He works very hard at tennis, he's really dedicated, and I'm very happy for him because everything really clicked at divisionals. He just played great tennis.

"And him having to play Bobby and Dustin, yeah, that's tough," he added. "Those guys are all seniors, and someone's high school career was going to end in those matches. That's the hard part of the divisional tournament. It can't go perfectly all the time, and it's especially heartbreaking for Dustin, because he had really high goals this season. But all three of those guys, they handled a really tough situation with class and dignity. I was very proud of all of them for what they did this weekend. You wish it didn't have to unfold like that, but that's tournament tennis, and all of those guys gave all they had. I'm just really proud of them."

And Ferguson could be especially proud of his boys team because the Ponies faced adversity and a stern push from Belgrade along the way. But in the end, Havre was still the one holding the Central A trophy.

"The boys, collectively, have had a great season," Ferguson said. "And this divisional title did not come easy. We had some major bumps in the road this weekend. But that speaks to those kids' character, and it also shows just how good of tennis players they are because they overcame a lot in order to stay on top. So I'm really proud of those guys, and happy for them."

The Havre girls didn't bring home a trophy from Bozeman, but the Ponies, without a senior on the roster, still made their presence felt and, in the process, announced just how bright the future is.

For starters, Paige Nelson rolled her way to the singles championship match, before falling to Lewistown's Taylor Woods. Nelson also punched her ticket to the state tournament for the second straight season. Havre also got an incredible run from sophomore Kadyn Acor, who came within one win of reaching the state tournament herself. And all told, every player on Havre's team scored points in the tournament.

"Our girls were just incredible," Ferguson said. "You could just see how far they've come. Paige played the best tennis of her season by a long, long way, and I was so happy for her. She showed she's one of the top players in Class A this weekend, and she's going to be a force in Kalispell. And all four of our singles girls were just great. They battled and battled. Kadyn Acor played her guts out in a bunch of long matches on Friday, and it was so impressive to watch. Our singles girls just did awesome."

As did Havre's young doubles teams. All three of the Pony doubles teams, playing together in their first divisional tourney, advanced to the quarterfinals, and all scored wins throughout the weekend. Katie and Alex Donaldson and Marcee Murphy and Devyn Solomon both lost tough consolation quarterfinal matches, while Baylee Miller and Megan Lindbloom lost a three-set thriller one round earlier.

"Those three doubles teams, they really came into their own this weekend," Ferguson said. "They played great, they played with heart and character, and they'll all be back next season. So it was a huge step for them, and they were just awesome.

"Our whole girls team, it was just amazing what they achieved this weekend," he continued. "To take six girls to their first divisional tournament, and do as well as we did, we finished ahead of Livingston, it's just huge. It's such a great way to go into next season, and there's no doubt in my mind our girls team is going to be a real force come next spring."

Before Havre gets to next spring, six Blue Ponies will head to Kalispell for this weekend's Class A state tournament. And while Ferguson is looking forward to that, he's also extremely excited about what his team's accomplished in Bozeman.

"Pride, that's what I felt leaving Bozeman," Ferguson said. "It's always hard that the season comes to an end for some of the kids at divisionals, but it doesn't take away from what a great weekend our 20 kids had. They played great tennis, they played with heart and class, and as a coach, you can't ask for anything more. It was another great divisional tournament. I'm just really proud of my teams."

2017 Central A Tennis

In Bozeman

Boys

Team Scores

Havre 43, Belgrade 34, Livingston 25, Lewistown 22

Singles

Championship – Jakim Ricketts, LIV def. Jeff Fourneir, BEL, 6-3, 6-3; Condolation – Danyon Rice, LEW def. Trey Hanson, HAV, 6-2, 6-3; Semifinals – Fourneir, BEL def. Dustin Haas, HAV, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4; Ricketts, LIV def. Rice, LEW, 6-1, 6-0.

1st rd – Haas, HAV def. Skylar Pulse, BEL, 6-2, 6-0; Brendon Johnson, LIV def. Jayce Phillips, LEW, 6-2, 7-6 (5); Westen Church, LEW def. Paul Hayward, LIV, 6-0, 6-2; Fourneir, BEL def. Tyrel Kjersm, HAV, 6-0, 6-1; Ricketts, LIV def. Ben Kolar, LEW, 6-0, 6-1; Hanson, HAV def. Connor McCauley, BEL, 6-4, 6-1; Thomas O'Leary, BEL def. Bobby Personett, HAV, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2; Rice, LEW def. Cole Vondra, LIV, 6-1, 6-0. Quarters – Haas, HAV def. Johnson, LIV, 6-0, 6-2; Fourneir, BEL def. Church, LEW, 6-1, 6-0; Ricketts, LIV def. Hanson, HAV, 6-2, 6-1; Rice, LEW def. O'Leary, BEL, 6-0, 6-0. L/O – Phillips, LEW def. Pulse, BEL, 6-2, 6-2; Hayward, LIV def. Kjersm, HAV, 6-2, 6-2; McCauley, BEL def. Kolar, LEW, 7-5, 6-3; Personett, HAV def. Vondra, LIV, 6-2, 6-1; Phillips, LEW def. Church, LEW, 6-3, 6-3; Johnson, LIV def. Hayward, LIV, 6-2, 6-2; O'Leary, BEL def. McCauley, BEL, 6-4, 6-1, Hanson, HAV def. Personett, HAV, 6-2, 6-3; Johnson, LIV def. Phillips, LEW, 6-1, 7-5; Hanson, HAV def. O'Leary, BEL, 6-0, 6-1; Rice, LEW def. Johnson, LIV, 6-4, 6-2; Hanson, HAV def. Haas, HAV, 6-4, 0-6, 6-4.

Doubles

Championship – Jake Sedahl/Nate Korb, HAV def. Trey Murphy/Kennedy McKay, HAV, 6-2, 6-1; Consolation – Trey Layman/Aiden Hamilton, BEL def. Tanner Mannin/Nate Kinderzski, LEW, 6-2, 6-3; Semifinals – Sedahl/Korb, HAV def. Mannin/Kinderzski, LEW, 6-0, 6-3; Murphy/McKay, HAV def. Layman/Hamilton, BEL, 5-7, 6-0, 6-0.

1st rd – Bell/Chisolm, BEL def. Purkett/Lane, LIV, 6-4, 6-3; Koltz/Olsen, BEL def. Nashan/Rosberg, LIV, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2; Johnson/Clements, LIV def. Errecart/Comes, LEW, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2; Ophus/Brown, HAV def. Miller/McQuinn, LEW, 6-1, 6-2; Quarters – Sedahl/Korb, HAV def. Bell/Chisolm, BEL, 6-1, 6-1; Mannin/Kinderzski, LEW def. Koltz/Olsen, BEL, 7-6 (8), 6-1; Murphy/Mckay, HAV def. Johnson/Clements, LIV, 6-1, 6-1; Layman/Hamilton, BEL def. Ophus/Brown, HAV, 6-3, 6-1; L/O – KoltZ/Olsen, BEL def. Purkett/Lane, LIV, 7-6 (4), 6-1; Bell/Chisolm, BEL def. Nashan/Rosberg, LIV, 6-4, 6-4; Errecart/Comes, LEW def. Brown/Ophus, HAV, default; Johnson/Clements, LIV def. Miller/McQuinn, LEW, 7-5, 7-6 (1); Koltz/Olsen, BEL def. Bell/Chisolm, BEL, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; Johnson/Clements, LIV def. Errercart/Comes, LEW, 6-0, 7-5; Layman/Hamilton, BEL def. Koltz/Olsen, BEL, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; Mannin/Kinderzski, LEW def. Johnson/Clements, LIV, 6-0, 6-4.

Girls

Team Scores

Belgrade 38, Lewistown 36, Havre 25, Livingston 22

Singles

Championship – Taylor Woods, LEW def. Paige Nelson, HAV, 7-5, 6-3; Consolation – Lissy Southworth, LEW def. Grace Davis-Nicholson, BEL, 6-3, 6-1; Semifinals – Nelson, HAV def. Davis-Nicholson, BEL, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4; Woods, LEW def. Reagan Smith, LIV, 6-2, 7-5.

1st rd – Taylor Walker, LIV def. Cassidy Acor, HAV, 6-3, 6-2; Davis-Nicholson, BEL def. Tessa Gatz, LEW, 6-1, 6-1; Southworth, LEW def. Eliza McLaughlin, BEL, 6-0, 6-3; Nelson, HAV def. Lilly Eaton, LIV, 6-1, 6-3; Woods, LEW def. Lauren Adams, BEL, 7-5, 6-4; McKenzie Tommerup, HAV def. Nacoya Madden, LIV, 6-4, 6-2; Smith, LIV def. Kadyn Acor, HAV, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5; Kiah Hohenstein, BEL def. Sydney Kelsey, LEW, 6-0, 6-0; Quarters – Davis-Nicholson, BEL def. Walker, LIV; Nelson, HAV def. Southworth, LEW, 6-1, 6-0; Woods, LEW def. Tommerup, HAV, 6-1, 6-0; Smith, LIV def. Hohenstein, BEL; L/O – C. Acor, HAV def. Gatz, LEW, 6-0, 6-4; Eaton, LIV def. McLaughlin, BEL, 6-3, 6-2; Adams, BEL def. Madden, LIV, 6-4, 6-3; K. Acor, HAV def. Kelsey, LEW, 6-0, 6-1; Southworth, LEW def. C. Acor, 6-0, 6-2; Walker, LIV def. Eaton, LIV, 6-3, 6-2; Hohenstein, BEL def. Adams, BEL, 6-1, 6-2; K. Acor, HAV def. Tommerup, HAV, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4; Southworth, LEW def. Walker, LIV, 0-6, 6-3, 6-3; K. Acor, HAV def. Hohenstein, BEL, 6-4, 6-1; Southworth, LEW def. Smith, LIV, 6-4, 6-4; Davis-Nicholson, BEL, def. K. Acor, HAV, 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles

Championship – Knerr/Kant, LIV def. Weirda/Stokke, BEL, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2; Consolation – Reddick/Maisch, BEL def. Gatz/Arndt, LEW, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3; Semifinals – Weirda/Stokke, BEL def. Gatz/Arndt, LEW; Knerr/Kant, LIV def. Gilbertson/Stout, BEL, 6-1, 6-4.

1st rd – Reddick/Maisch, BEL def. Roy/Reddington, LIV, 6-1, 6-1; Weirda/Stokke, BEL def. Schoenen/Haines, LIV, 6-4, 6-4; Donaldson/Donaldson, HAV def. Elmore/Fry, LEW, 7-5, 6-4; Miller/Lindbloom, HAV def. Franz/Church, LEW, 6-2, 6-4; Quarters – Gatz/Arndt, LEW def. Reddick/Maisch, BEL, 6-3, 6-0; Weirda/Stokke, BEL def. Murphy/Solomon, HAV, 7-5, 6-4; Gilbertson/Stout, BEL def. Donaldson/Donaldson, HAV, 6-3, 6-1; Knerr/Kant, LIV def. Miller/Lindbloom, HAV, 6-1, 6-1; L/O – Muprhy/Solomon, HAV def. Roy/Reddington, LIV, 6-2, 6-0; Reddick/Maisch, BEL def. Schoenen/Haines, LIV, 6-4, 7-6(0); Elmore/Fry, LEW def. Miller/Lindbloom, HAV, 6-4, 6-7 (8); 7-6 (8); Donaldson/Donaldson, HAV def. Franz/Church, LEW, 6-0, 6-1; Reddick/Maisch, BEL def. Murphy/Solomon, HAV, 6-4, 6-1; Elmore/Fry, LEW def. Donaldson/Donaldson, HAV, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8); Reddick/Maisch, BEL def. Gilbertson/Stout, BEL, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Gatz/Arndt, LEW def. Elmore/Fry, LEW, 6-4, 6-3.