Happy to have spring sports back

The COVID-19 pandemic shut the sports world down back in March of 2020. While professional sports such as the NBA, NHL and MLB eventually got to return or start their season later, college and high school spring sports did not get that opportunity.

As spring returns in 2021, so do the spring sports in Havre and across the Hi-Line after nearly two years without play.

"I don't even know if I can describe it. Last year was such a gut punch," said HHS softball head coach Tony Vigliotti. "It's just been exciting to be back out there."

Along with softball, Havre sees the return of tennis and track and field. Not having tennis left a void in HHS head coach George Ferguson's life last year and he is more than happy to have it back.

"Coaching tennis in the spring is part of my everyday life, it's part of my family's everyday life and I missed it so much," Ferguson said. "I'm just so happy to have it back, to see these great Blue Pony kids out on the tennis courts every day. It means the world to me."

Spring sports will also return to other schools across the Hi-Line. North Star track and field head coach Brian Campbell also expressed excitement at the return.

"It has been a blessing to be back on the track," Campbell said. "Our athletes have enjoyed being able to compete."

Coaches aren't the only ones to be happy to return as student-athletes will now get the chance to compete after missing a year of competition. Even with the pandemic still going on, Havre's seniors are happy to get a chance to end their careers on their own terms.

"The girls are just ecstatic," Vigliotti said. "They get to be out there their senior year and the rest of them, you miss a whole season and a lot of them for softball, that's their thing and so they're glad to be back."

The HHS softball team has played six games this season and have a 3-2-1 record. While they have gotten to play games, there will likely be issues along the way.

Campbell's athletes were also excited to get back on the track after missing last year. Not only did they miss competing, but they missed spending time with their friends.

"All activities are such a big part of our student's lives, so it has meant a great deal to them," Campbell said. "It is a way for them to get out and see their friends while being active in something that they enjoy."

During the hiatus, coaches and players had to figure out how to keep in touch and stay in shape. Vigliotti kept in contact with his players starting early in the pandemic and got the chance to train with them over the summer and winter to get them ready for this season.

"Once things opened up a little bit, we were able to do some things last summer," Vigliotti said. "We were able to do some things this winter to work on some of our skills so that helped a little, but there's nothing like being out there and competing."

Campbell also kept in contact with his athletes during the break. They even did some workouts early on but they eventually had to shut it down once the season was canceled for good.

Of course there are some changes that coaches and players have to deal with. Along with preventative measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, they have to deal with the ever-present threat of an event getting canceled. Not all changes are bad, however, as Ferguson believes missing sports for a season has made him appreciate them more.

"Everybody's perspective has changed through all of this. All of us were certainly guilty of taking having the sports we love for granted sometimes. I think we just never knew any different," Ferguson said. "It makes all of us appreciate what we're doing even more. So while I have always cherished my time coaching tennis, I know I'm relishing it even more now than I ever had before.

"I've always loved coaching," he continued. "I've always appreciated the opportunity and have always had a blast coaching tennis at Havre High, but, I think I can speak for all spring coaches right now, after losing our season last year, and with everything that has happened since, now that we're back out here, we all love it all even a little bit more."