Ponies battle hard at Class A state tennis

Tennis can often be a game of inches, of near misses and of heartbreaking close calls. And in some ways, that might best describe the Havre High experience at last weekend's Class A state tournament in Kalispell.

For example, the Blue Pony boys were every bit a part of the trophy race, including battling for a state championship throughout last Thursday-Friday in Kalispell. And yet, Havre came up just short of a fourth straight trophy, finishing third with 14 points.

But as close as the Ponies were to hardware, the senior doubles team of Jake Sedahl and Nate Korb came even closer to winning a state championship of their own. The tandem reached Friday's championship match, but in a three-set marathon came up a tiebreak-win short against Hardin's Darnell Lefthand and Michael Neeser.

And yet, even with all of Havre's close calls, longtime Blue Pony head coach George Ferguson left his 15th state tournament feeling nothing but pride - pride in his players, and his program.

"That's exactly what I feel, proud," Ferguson said. "So proud of our kids. They fought and fought, they played their hearts out, they gave themselves, their teammates, their school and this sport, everything they had in Kalispell. With kids like we have in our program, it's truly an honor to be their coach. I just love them all and am so proud of what they did this weekend."

Sedahl and Korb were the first HHS doubles team to reach a state championship match since Kyle Miller and Mason Sheppard captured the 2009 state title, which, ironically, was also in Kalispell. The tandem, who lost just four times all season, also made sure the Havre boys were in a title match for the fourth straight season.

The duo opened the tournament by beating teams from Dillon and Whitefish Thursday, then besting a duo from Miles City in Friday morning's semifinal. Sedahl and Korb had lost to the Cowboy squad earlier in the season, but they won 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals. That set up the anticipated showdown with Lefthand and Neeser, a senior squad which Sedahl and Korb had defeated back in April.

"It was the state championship match I think we all figured would happen," Ferguson said. "It was pretty apparent through most of the season that these were the two dominant teams in Class A. So it was fitting that they played each other for all the marbles."

And the match didn't disappoint. In a nearly three-hour battle in hot weather, the Ponies and Bulldogs traded the opening two sets, with Hardin taking the first, but Sedahl and Korb roaring back to win the second 6-3.

But that was just a prelude to an incredibly well-played and dramatic third set. The Ponies started quickly and led 2-0, but found themselves trailing 4-5 and down two match points. However, Sedahl held his serve and the match continued. Havre was again down 5-6, but Korb, who served big all day, held his serve, including key forehands down the line, and that forced a decisive tiebreak. Hardin jumped out to a 3-0 lead, and while Sedahl and Korb never gave in, the Bulldogs prevailed 7-5 in the breaker.

"It was an epic match," Ferguson said. "It was pretty reminiscent of our championship match in 2009, in Kalispell. It was two really good doubles teams playing at an incredibly high level. It was incredible to watch, and all four kids just came up with amazing shot after amazing shot. And congrats to Darnell and Mike and Hardin coach Mike Flamm, who is a very good friend of mine. They earned it. They are a great team and they played great.

"On our end, it's heartbreaking because really, Jake and Nate played more than good enough to be state champions," Ferguson continued. "They played incredible tennis. They gave it every single thing they had. Over and over, they battled, dug deep and showed so much heart. So as their coach, you're just so crushed for them. You really hurt for those two because they've worked so hard, they are such great players, great kids and great leaders, and it was their last high school tennis match ever. So I just really hurt for them."

However, as much as Ferguson felt for his two senior standouts, he also, and again, felt much pride.

"Jake and Nate handled everything so well," Ferguson said. "They are both just great examples of what sportsmanship and class is all about. That match really, both teams were just incredible with the sportsmanship, and that match represented everything good about high school tennis. So I'm proud our kids were a part of that.

"And they should be very proud of themselves, and all they accomplished, this weekend, and this season," Ferguson continued. "From start to finish, they were a great team, and they are one of the best doubles teams we've had in a long time. It was an incredible ride with those two this season, and I'm just blessed and honored that I got to coach them. I'm just so proud of what they did this season, and for this program over the last four years."

In all, the state tournament was also a success story for the Ponies according to Ferguson. The junior duo of Trey Murphy and Kennedy McKay won a match in their first state tourney, and Ferguson expects that tandem to be one of the top teams in Class A next spring. Trey Hanson lost a three-set heartbreaker of his own in the loaded singles draw. Hanson, a senior, was also playing in his first state tournament. On the girls side, Havre junior Paige Nelson also lost a pair of close matches, but Ferguson said, like the others, Nelson played her best tennis of her season at the perfect time, in the postseason.

"All of the kids who went to state did exactly what you hope they would do," Ferguson said. "They played their best. They gave it their all. Our kids did that this weekend. I know some of them were disappointed in their results at times, but they all played great and showed they belonged on that stage. And they left it all on the court. As a coach, that's all you want them to do, and our Blue Ponies did that."

In the team races, Billings Central won its fifth straight boys title, while Hardin was second and Dillon edged Havre for third. On the girls side, Billings Central and Glendive shared the team title, while Dillon also finished third.

And with the 2017 season in the books, Ferguson said he's already excited for next spring, even if it's a full 10 months away. But before he lets himself look ahead to 2018, he was able to put into words just how much this season meant to him.

"It never gets old," Ferguson said. "I'm just so lucky to be able to do this, and it's because of the great kids we have here at Havre High. This season was such a blast, so much fun, and that's because we have such awesome kids in our program. I'm proud of every single one of them and am thankful to all of them for all they gave me, and our teams this season. It was an amazing year, and I'm just so thankful and proud of our tennis players at Havre High. We're going to miss all of our great seniors so much, but, because of them, and because of all the great kids we have coming back, and coming in, the future of our program is very bright, and I can't wait to see what next year holds for us."

Class A State

in Kalispell

BOYS

Team Scores - Billings Central 20, Hardin 17, Dillon 16, Havre 14, Polson 12, Glendive 11, Belgrade 7, Whitefish 6, Livingston 2, Lewistown 2, Butte Central 2.

Singles

First Round

Simon Marshall, Billings Central, def. Trey Hanson, Havre, 6-0, 6-2; Bradley Rakich, Dillon, def. Ethan Pothoff, Whitefish, 6-3, 6-1; Colin Kenney, Polson, def. Gabe DeLeo, Corvallis, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5; Jakim Ricketts, Livingston, def. Jonathan Noteboom, Hardin, 6-3, 7-5; Alex Raymond, Hamilton, def. Johnny Moore, Polson, 6-0, 6-0; Jory Opp, Glendive, def. Danyon Rice, Lewistown, 6-2, 6-2; Jeff Fournier, Belgrade, def. Michael Hopfauf, Glendive, 6-2, 6-2; Eric Holdhusen, Whitefish, def. Jonathan Leonardson, Dillon, 6-3, 6-0.

Quarterfinals

Marshall def. Rakich 6-1, 6-3; Kenney def. Ricketts 6-1, 6-4; Raymond def. Opp 6-2, 6-0; Fournier def. Holdhusen 6-1, 6-4.

Loser out

First Round

Pothoff def. Hanson 6-1, 5-7, 6-1; Noteboom def. DeLeo 3-6, 6-1, 6-3; Rice def. Moore 6-3, 6-0; Hopfauf def. Leonardson 6-1, 6-1.

Second Round

Holdhusen def. Pothoff 6-4, 7-6 (7-1); Opp def. Noteboom 6-3, 6-1; Rice def. Ricketts 3-6, 6-0, 6-2; Rakich def. Hopfauf 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

Semifinals

Simon Marshall, Billings Central, def. Colin Kenney, Polson, 6-2, 6-1; Alex Raymond, Hamilton, def. Jeff Fournier, Belgrade, 6-1, 6-4.

Championship

Marshall def. Raymond 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Loser out

Third Round

Jory Opp, Glendive, def. Eric Holdhusen, Whitefish, 7-5, 6-1; Bradley Rakich, Dillon, def. Danyon Rice, Lewistown, 6-3, 6-1.

Fourth Round

Opp def. Kenney 6-3, 6-4; Rakich def. Fournier 6-2, 6-3.

Fifth Place

Fournier def. Kenney 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Third Place

Opp def. Rakich 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles

First Round

Darnell Lefthand/Michael Neeser, Hardin, def. Kabe Forman-Webster/Carson McDaniel, Polson, 6-1, 6-2; Cameron Johnson/Guido Ossello, Butte Central, def. Trey Murphy/Kennedy McKay, Havre, 6-2, 7-5; Trey Layman/Aidan Hamilton, Belgrade, def. Justin Catanach/Alec Sangster, Corvallis, 6-3, 6-1; Matt Sitter/Cadis Chowning, Polson, def. Jet Campbell/Andrew Nelson, Billings Central, 8-6, 6-4; Jake Sedahl/Nate Korb, Havre, def. Luke Peterson/Mark Southam, Dillon, 6-3, 6-4; Brenden Buls/Thomas Carloss, Whitefish, def. Cairo Morton/Jake Pankratz, Billings Central, 6-4, 5-7, 6-1; Devin Doughty/Christian Stradley, Miles City, def. Jaron Morgan/Kaiden Forman-Webster 6-2, 6-1; Todd Nordahl/Kyson Wilson, Dillon, def. Tanner Mannin/Nate Kindzerski, Lewistown, 6-1, 7-6 (7-0).

Quarterfinals

Lefthand/Neeser def. Johnson/Ossello 6-1, 6-3; Sitter/Chowning def. Layman/Hamilton 7-6 (7-2), 6-4; Sedahl/Korb def. Buls/Carloss 6-3, 6-2; Doughty/Stradley def. Nordahl/Wilson 6-0, 4-6, 7-5.

Loser out

First Round

Murphy/McKay def. Forman-Webster/McDaniel 6-2, 7-5; Campbell/Nelson def. Catanach/Sangster 5-7, 6-3, 6-4; Morton/Pankratz def. Peterson/Southam 6-1, 6-3; Morgan/Forman-Webster def. Mannin/Kindzerski 7-5, 6-2.

Second Round

Nordahl/Wilson def. Murphy/McKay 6-1, 6-4; Campbell/Nelson def. Buls/Carloss 6-2, 7-5; Morton/Pankratz def. Layman/Hamilton 6-0, 6-7 (7-4), 6-4; Morgan/Forman-Webster def. Johnson/Ossello 6-2, 6-4.

Semifinals

Darnell Lefthand/Michael Neeser, Hardin, def. Matt Sitter/Cadis Chowning, Polson, 6-3. 6-4; Jake Sedahl/Nate Korb, Havre, def. Deven Doughty/Christian Stradley, Miles City, 6-3, 6-4.

Championship

Lefthand/Neeser def. Sedahl/Korb 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).

Loser out

Third Round

Todd Nordahl/Kyson Wilson, Dillon, def. Jet Campbell/Andrew Nelson, Billings Central, 6-3, 6-1; Jaron Morgan/Kaiden Forman-Webster, Polson, def. Cairo Morton/Jake Pankratz, Billings Central, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

Fourth Round

Nordahl/Wilson def. Sitter/Chowning 7-5, 6-4; Doughty/Stradley def. Morgan/Forman-Webster 6-0, 6-1.

Fifth Place

Sitter/Chowning def. Morgan/Forman-Webster 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Third Place

Doughty/Stradley def. Nordahl/Wilson 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

GIRLS

Team Scores - Glendive 26, Billings Central 26, Dillon 20, Polson 18, Whitefish 15, Hardin 12, Corvallis 5, Belgrade 3, Butte Central 2, Columbia Falls 1, Lewistown 1, Stevensville 1.

Singles

First Round

Ceeara Staiger, Glendive, def. Grace Davis-Nicolson, Belgrade, 6-0, 6-0; Olivia Fehr, Corvallis, def. Hannah Madsen, Whitefish, 6-1, 7-5; Nicole Hritsco, Dillon, def. Molly Schmit, Columbia Falls, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2; Emma Putnam, Billings Central, def. Taylor Woods, Lewistown, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0; Paint Intasuk, Whitefish, def. Mariah McClure 7-5, 6-3; Madisan Chavez, Hardin, def. Lissy Southworth, Lewistown, 6-2, 6-0; Brittney Schaff, Hardin, def. Paige Nelson, Havre, 6-2, 6-3; Cassie Carlyle, Polson, def. Emma Pickett, Corvallis, 6-0, 6-1.

Quarterfinals

Staiger def. Fehr 6-0, 6-0; Putnam def. Hritsco 7-6 (7-2), 6-0; Intasuk def. Chavez 6-0, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5); Carlyle def. Schaff 6-2, 6-1.

Loser out

First Round

Madsen def. Davis-Nicolson 7-5, 6-2; Schmit def. Woods 7-6, 6-4; McClure def. Southworth n/a; Pickett def. Nelson 7-6, 7-4, 6-1.

Second Round

Madsen def. Schaff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; McClure def. Hritsco 6-2, 6-3; Fehr def. Pickett 6-3, 6-3.

Semifinals

Ceeara Staiger, Glendive, def. Emma Putnam, Billings Central, 6-0, 6-0; Cassie Carlyle, Polson, def. Paint Intasuk, Whitefish, 7-5, 6-4.

Championship

Staiger def. Carlyle 6-2, 6-4.

Loser out

Third Round

Madisan Chavez, Hardin, def. Hannah Madsen, Whitefish, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1; Olivia Fehr, Corvallis, def. Mariah McClure, Dillon, 6-2, 6-1.

Fourth Round

Chavez def. Putnam 6-4, 6-3; Intasuk def. Fehr 6-0, 6-2.

Fifth Place

Putnam def. Fehr 6-4, 6-2.

Third Place

Intasuk def. Chavez 6-3, 6-2

Doubles

First Round

Hailey Keller/Molly Putnam, Billings Central, def. Shelby Spokas/Jackie Westman, Stevensville, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4; Abigail Wierda/Paige Stokke, Belgrade, def. Claire Pickett/Connie Watt, Corvallis, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4; Emily St. John/Tricia Joyce, Butte Central, def. Lilly Reddick/Hallie Maisch, Belgrade, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; Olivia Hewston/Kyler Lundeen, Polson, def. Lisa Cai/Maddie Flamm, Hardin, 6-1, 6-1; Stormy Knerr/Katherine Kant, Livingston, def. Emilie Thomas/Kristen Saturday, Corvallis, 6-4, 6-2; Kenna Adolph/Blayne Meyer, Billings Central, def. Paige Sproul/Cailyn Ross, Whitefish, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2; Katrielle Carney/Abby Hill, Glendive, def. Holly Hileman/Melissa Pollard, Whitefish, 6-1, 6-2; Tessa Sawyer/Adrianne Southam, Dillon, def. Abigail Gatz/Alexia Arndt, Lewistown, 6-1, 6-2.

Quarterfinals

Keller/Putnam def. Wierda/Tokke 6-1, 6-0; Hewston/Lundeen def. St. John/Joyce 6-2, 6-2; Adolph/Meyer def. Knerr/Kant 7-5, 6-2; Sawyer/Southam def. Carney/Hill 6-3, 6-4.

Loser out

First Round

Spokas/Westman def. Pickett/Watt 6-4, 6-4; Cai/Flamm def. Reddick/Maish 6-4, 6-4; Sproul/Ross def. Thomas/Saturday 6-4, 5-7, 6-1; Gatz/Arndt def. Hileman/Pollard n/a.

Semifinals

Hailey Keller/Molly Putnam, Billings Central, def. Olivia Hewston/Kyler Lundeen, Polson, 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-6 (8-6); Tessa Sawyer/Adrianne Southam, Dillon, def. Kenna Adolph/Blayne Meyer, Billings Central, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

Championship

Sawyer/Southam def. Keller/Putnam 6-3, 6-4.

Loser out

Third Round

Katrielle Carney/Abby Hill, Glendive, def. Lisa Cai/Maddie Flamm, Hardin, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3; Paige Sproul/Cailyn Ross, Whitefish, def. Abigail Wierda/Paige Stokke, Belgrade, 6-3, 6-3.

Fourth Round

Adolph/Meyer def. Sproul/Ross 2-6, 6-4, 6-4; Carney/Hill def. Hewston/Lundeen 6-4, 6-3.

Fifth Place

Hewston/Lundeen def. Sproul/Ross 6-0, 6-4.

Third Place

Carney/Hill def. Adolph/Meyer 6-4, 7-5.