Area fall sports begin next week

It's hot it out, and there's still more than a month of summer left on the calendar. But, this coming week, summer will officially be over for area high school student-athletes.

Thursday marks the official first day of the fall sports season as Class A golfers, including the Havre Blue Ponies, take to the course. The following day, all of the other fall sports will get into full swing.

Football, volleyball and cross country can begin practicing on Aug. 16, and, coaches would like to remind all student-athletes that they must have a completed sports physical before they can participate. There will also be a fall sport parent meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at Havre High School.

The first two weeks of the season will be reserved for practices for most area sports, but, it won't be long until the real games begin either.

Things will start with the HHS golf team competing at the Great Falls Invitational Aug. 19-20, while the Ponies play their home invite Aug. 22 at Prairie Farms.

Havre High football opens on the road with a trip to Sidney Aug. 30, while the Ponies will be at home the following Friday night to take on Glendive.

The Havre High volleyball team opens its season at the Eastern A Tip-Off in Laurel Aug. 30-31, while the Ponies' first home match will take place Sept. 7 against Browning.

The HHS cross country teams will get the season started Sept. 6 at the Cut Bank Time Trials.

All area high schools, including Chinook, Harlem, North Star, Rocky Boy, Big Sandy, Box Elder, Chester-Joplin-Inverness and Fort Benton also begin their football and volleyball season either Aug. 30 or Aug. 31.