Pony netters fight the weather, tough Class A foes at Mayfair Invite

By Havre Dailky News Staff

The Havre High tennis teams have hit the final leg of their regular season, and the Blue Ponies played five big matches at this past weekend's Mayfair Invitational in Billings.

Over the two-day event, the Havre boys went 3-1-1, and the HHS girls won twice and lost three duals. But, it wasn't the final results that HHS head coach George Ferguson was looking at, or was most proud of.

"I thought we took key steps forward," Ferguson said. "I thought everybody we took down to Billings showed a ton of improvement, both with their games, but also mentally. We're trying to peak in two weeks, and I think, after what I saw in Billings, we're really getting there.

"I was also really proud of our kids' effort and toughness," Ferguson continued. "Friday is a long trip down and then it was a hot day, then Saturday, it got cold, windy, it rained, snowed and hailed on us. So our kids faced a lot of adversity, against tough competition, and they really shined. They really rose above it. I was as proud of them for that as I was for any match we won over the weekend."

And both teams won plenty.

The HHS boys opened the weekend with 5-1 win over Sheridan, Wyoming, and a 4-2 loss to rival Hardin. On Saturday, the Ponies blanked East Helena, split with Billings Central, 3-3, and took care of former Central A rival Livingston, 4-2.

Josh Warp and Trenton Maloughney led the way for the Ponies, going 4-1 at No. 1 doubles, while junior Josh Currie did the same at No. 1 singles battling some of the very best players in the field. Havre also got three wins from Caleb Spangler and Theron Peterson Saturday, while Jared Rosgaard was unbeaten in doubles, as well. And overall, every Havre player on the roster won at least one match for the Ponies.

"I was very pleased with our boys team," Ferguson said. "I saw a ton of improvement, just from Glendive to Billings. I think we are continuing to get better and better, and we've got another week coming up to improve even more. So it was a good tournament for us, and our guys did a great job of playing some quality tennis."

"Can't say enough about our veteran kids," Ferguson continued. "Josh and Trenton are really playing well, and so is Josh Currie. Those guys have to play the best of the best every time they go out there, and what they're doing is proving they're also the best of the best. So I'm really excited about what those guys are doing. They're playing at a high level, but also knowing they haven't hit their ceiling yet."

The young Blue Pony girls haven't peaked yet, either, but they're certainly improving by leaps and bounds. Havre did fall to Hardin and Sheridan Friday, but the Ponies rebounded to beat East Helena and Livingston Saturday, with a loss to Central in between.

Rayna Johnson and Kaylee Torgerson won big matches in singles for the ponies, while Kate Hemmer played well in both doubles and singles.

"I couldn't be more proud of our girls," Ferguson said. "They have had it pretty tough at times. They have to play really tough teams, and we're so young overall. But watching them this weekend, I saw so much improvement, and coaches who came to the Havre Invite were coming up to me and saying how impressed they were with where our girls are now compared to a month ago. So that's a big complement to our girls. They're working hard, they're getting so much better every meet, and it showed with how good they played in Billings."

And like Ferguson mentioned, Havre isn't done getting better. The Ponies close out the regular season with matches in Lewistown Friday and the miles City Invitational Saturday.

"Divisionals is less than two weeks away," Ferguson said. "Our kids are doing great, but we can't take any steps back. We've got to make sure we use this last week to really take our game to another level."

Mayfair Invitational

FRIDAY

BOYS

Havre 5, Sheridan 1

Singles

Josh Currie, H def. Luke Lawson, S, 6-4, 4-6, 10-5; Jarnt Hay, S def. Mick Chagnon, H, 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles

Warp/Maloughney, H def. Woodrow/Springsteen, S, 7-6 (10), 3-6, 12-10; Peterson/Miller, H won by FFT def. by Woodrow/Byjans, S, 6-3, 6-2; McKay/Rosgaard, H def. Sinclair/Bowder, S, 6-3, 4-6, 10-5; Spangler/Pleninger, H tony FFT def. by Byjans/Compton, S, 6-4, 6-4.

Hardin 4, Havre 2

Singles

Josh Currie, H def. Jace Guptil, HAR, 6-3, 6-4; Caiden Cummins, HAR def. Mick Chagnon, H, 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles

Noteboom/Swisse, HAR def. Warp/Maloughney, H, 6-3, 7-5; Mehling/Blakenship, HAR def. Spangler/Peterson, H, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 10-8; Boyer/Bowers, HAR def. Miller/McKay, HAV, 6-4, 6-4; Spangler/Rosgaard, H def. Reisig/Aiden, HAR, 5-7, 6-4, 10-8.

GIRLS

Sheridan 5, Havre 1

Singles

ia Kutz, S def. Rayna Johnson, H, 6-2, 6-2; Ella Laro, S def. Kaylee Torgerson, H, 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles

Jensen/Katschke, S def. Crantz/Ralph, H, 3-6, 6-4, 10-4; Bricker/Burchard, H won by FFT def. by Mitzel/Katchske, S, 6-3, 6-2; Quartermain/Hoopes, S def. Torgerson/JOhnson, H, 6-2, 6-4; Lanson/Schrotch, S def. Kaftan/Shennum, H, 6-3, 6-2.

Hardin 6, Havre 0

Singles

Jonna Lind, HAR def. Rayna Johnson, H, 6-2, 6-2; LaFaye Russell, HAR def. Kaylee Torgerson, H, 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles

Green/Flamm, HAR def. Ralph/Hemmer, H, 4-6, 6-4, 10-4; Noteboom/Reisig, HAR def. Bricker/Burchard, H, 6-2, 6-3; Siemen/Black Eagle, HAR def. Kaftan/Shennum, H, 4-6, 7-6, 10-4; Green/Ramos, HAR def. Torgerson/Johnson, H, 6-2, 6-4.

SATURDAY

BOYS

Havre 6, East Helena 0

Singles

Josh Currie, H def. Connor Brown, EH, 6-2, 6-2; Mick Chagnon, H def. Justin Brown, EH, 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Doubles

Warp/Maloughney, H def. Higgins/Cozina, EH, 6-4, 6-2; Spangler/Peterson, H def. Murganthaler/Mitchell, EH,. 6-2, 6-2; Miller/McKay, H won by FFT def. Brown/Champaign, EH, 6-4, 6-3; Spangler/Rosgaard, H def. Danz/Resgow, EH, 6-2, 6-2.

Havre 3, Billings Central 3

Singles

Matt Newbury, BC def. Josh Currie, H, 6-5, 4-6, 10-6; Hank Jaydeolzinksi, BC def. Mick Chagnon, H, 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles

Warp/Maloughney, H def. Petermann/Schreiber, BC, 6-4, 6-3; Spangler/Peterson, H def. Schmitt/Platt, BC, 6-3, 6-3; Berry/Hanser, BC def. McKay/Miller, H 3-6, 6-4, 10-8; Rosgaard/Pleninger, H def. Coleman/McCalla, BC, 6-4, 5-7, 10-4.

Havre 4, Livingston 2

Singles

Josh Currie, H def. Antonio Valerpeir, L, 6-2, 6-3; Eli Durgan, L def. Mick Chagnon, H, 6-3, 5-7 10-7.

Doubles

Warp/Maloughney, H def. Sarisky/Jergenson, L, 6-2, 6-2; Spangler/Peterson, H def. Stropp/Dunn, L< 6-2, 6-2; Welin/Beitel, L def. Miller/Spangler, H, 6-4, 7-5; McKay/Pleninger, H won by FFT lost to Jergenson/Favet, L, 6-2, 6-2.

GIRLS

Billings Central 6, Havre 0

Singles

Evelyn Nelson, C def. Rayna Johnson, H, 6-4, 6-3; Zionna Martin, C def. Kaylee Torgerson, H, 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles

Petermann/Smith C def. Crantz/Ralph, H, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 10-7; Reck/Jennings, C def. Bricker/Burchard, H, 6-2, 6-2; Reck.Valstad, C def. Kaftan/Shennum, H, 6-2, 6-3; Macintyre/Shaak, C def. Johnson/Hemmer, H, 6-3, 7-5.

Havre 5, East Helena 1

Singles

Amber Straman, EH def. Rayna Johnson, H, 7-6 (2), 4-6, 12-10; Kaylee Torgerson, H def. Mackenzie Bailey, EH, 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles

Ralph/Crantz, H def. Schweyen/Bergum, EH, 6-3, 6-2; Bricker/Burchard, H def. Steiner/Auun, EH, 4-6, 6-3, 10-2; Hemmer/Johnson, H def. Schweyen/Bailey, EH, 6-2, 6-2; Shennum/Kaftan, H won by FFT lost to Bergum/Auun, EH, 6-4, 6-2.

Havre 5, Livingston 1

Singles

Rayna Johnson, H def. Elsa Cature, L, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 11-9; Kaylee Torgerson, H def. Hayley Tucillo, L, 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles

Chaburg/Cocutus, L def. Ralph/Crantz, H, 6-4, 6-3; Bricker/Shennum, H won by FFT lost to Cocutus/Tucillo, L, 6-3, 6-4; Torgerson/Hemmer, H def. Kinnick/Gonzalaez, L, 6-4, 6-2; Kaftan/Burchard, H def. Kinnick/Gonzalaez, L, 6-2, 6-2.