Blue Ponies showcase their skills at home duals

For the lone time this season, the Havre High tennis teams competed at home over weekend. At the Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts, the Blue Ponies competed in three duals against Glendive Friday and then competed in a dual against Cut Bank Saturday. In their only home competition of the season, HHS head coach Jeff Miller believes the Ponies did well.

"Overall, I thought everyone played well. We took a lot of steps forward but still have lots to work on," Miller said. "With the weather starting to get better, we really need to take advantage and get to work on the things we've missed out on over the first four weeks."

In between their duals Friday, the Ponies held their senior day ceremony to honor their seniors. On the boys team, Conner McKay and Gavin Hall were honored for their contributions to the program. Meanwhile, the girls team had many seniors such as Rayna Johnson, Amaya Bliwernitz, Courtney Burchard, Cat Kaftan, Emerald Tinsley, Kate Hemmer, Addison Golie, Mackenzie Kuhn and Willow Riggin.

"They mean pretty much everything to the program," Miller said about this senior class. "They've been around since the COVID year so they do mean a lot to us."

With it being their senior day and last time competing at home, the Ponies went through the emotions Friday.

"I'm happy. I was a little bummed out that I lost my freshman year but other than that, I'm glad I got to play my senior year," Hall said. "I get to play with my best friend Conner and my teammates and everything so it's just awesome."

"I was kind of emotional. I also do cheerleading so I was looking forward to having another senior night for tennis," Johnson said. "It was just sentimental so I was glad that it happened and we got some pretty good gifts, too, so that was nice."

In Friday's duals against Glendive, many Ponies played well. Johnson went 3-0 in her matches against Glendive. In her first match, she won 5-2 because of an injury, She then won, 8-1, and 6-0, in her final two matches of the day.

Chloe Bricker also went 3-0 against Glendive Friday. She started the day with an 8-1 victory in her first match. Then in her next two matches, she won 8-0 and 6-1. Hemmer and Bliwernitz both went 1-1 in their matches Friday.

On the doubles side, Burchard and Kaftan went 2-0 in their matches Friday. They started the day with an 8-0 victory before winning, 8-0, later in the day. The doubles team of Heather Herring and Alera Chandler went 2-0 Friday with an 8-3 win in their first match and then an 8-3 win in their next match.

The doubles team of Addison Golie and Lindsey Leinwand went 2-0 Friday. They won, 8-0, in their first match before winning, 8-2, later in the day. The doubles team of Tinsley and Mylee Shennum went 1-1 Friday.

In boys singles, Carter Spangler had a strong start to the weekend going 3-0 in his matches. He first won, 8-2, and then later won, 8-0. He then ended the day with a 6-1 victory. In their lone singles matches of the day, both McKay and Hall won. Callen Stoner went 1-1 in his matches on Friday.

In doubles, the team of McKay and Hall went 2-0 Friday. They won their first match, 8-1, and then won, 8-2, later in the day. The doubles team of Daniel Tilleman and Ronin Olsen also went 2-0 Friday with an 8-3 win in their first match and then an 8-5 win in their second match. The doubles team of Max Spangler and Jackson Headdress went 1-1 in their matches Friday.

The Ponies continued to play well in their dual against Cut Bank Saturday. Johnson defeated Stella Overstreet 6-4, 6-2. Bricker won, 6-2, 6-4, against Lauren Yttredahl and Hemmer won, 6-2, 6-2, against Autumn Wells. Bliwernitz ended the weekend with a 6-4, 6-3, win over Anna Trafton.

In girls doubles, Burchard and Kaftan won, 6-4, 6-3, against Ytrredahl and Kellyn Dunaway. Herring and Chandler won, 6-2, 6-5 (7-3) against Wells and Ava Shook from Cut Bank. Gollie and Leinwand ended the weekend with a 6-2, 6-2, victory in their match against Trafton and Grace Poulton.

In boys singles, the Ponies played well against Cut Bank. Carter defeated Peyton St. Goddard, 6-4, 6-3. Stoner won, 6-3, 6-1, in his match against Alex Wahl and Mason Kinsella won, 6-2, 6-3, against Jed Winkowitsch. Carter Chagnon ended the weekend with a 6-3, 6-2, win over Ken Winkowitsch.

The boys team also played well in doubles against Cut Bank. Spangler and Headdress won, 6-5 (7-4), 6-3 against Wahl and Jackson Black. Tilleman and Olsen won, 2-6, 6-2, 10-6, against Kaidyn Cole and Ken Winkowitsch. McKay and Hall ended the weekend with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Ethan Marshall and Jed Winkowitsch.

With the completion of their duals this past weekend, the Ponies will now spend the rest of the season on the road. While it is unfortunate that they only got to play at home once this season, the Ponies made the most of their time here.

"I was really glad we got to play at home," Johnson said. "Getting to play here, have my family here and some other people like my neighbors coming to watch me was nice."

The HHS tennis teams will next play in the Cut Bank 'A' Invite this Friday and Saturday.

Havre Girls

Rayna Johnson, H, def. Milia, G, 5-2 (inj.); Kate Hemmer, H, def. Sage, G, 8-6; Chloe Bricker, H, def. Bri, G, 8-1; Amaya Bliwernitz, H, def. Bridgette, G, 8-3; Courtney Burchard/Cat Kaftan, H, def. Piper/Keisha, G, 8-0; Emerald Tinsley/Mylee Shennum, H, def. Connley/Olivia, G, 8-0; Heather Herring/Alera Chandler, H, def. Olivia T-S/Tessa, G, 8-3; Addison Golie/Lindsey Leinwand, H, def. Morgan/Bridgette, G, 8-0.

Rayna Johnson, H, def. Sage, G, 8-1; Kate Hemmer, H, def. by Piper, G, 8-7 (8-6); Chloe Bricker, H, def. Connley, G, 8-0; Amaya Bliwernitz, H, def. by Olivia, 8-6; Courtney Burchard/Cat Kaftan, H, def. Bri/Bridger, G, 8-0; Emerald Tinsley/Mylee Shennum, H, def. by Piper/Keisha, G, 8-6; Heather Herring/Alera Chandler, H, def. Morgan/Olivia T-S; G, 8-3; Addison Golie/Lindsey Leinwand, H, def. Tessa/Connley, G, 8-2.

Rayna Johnson, H, def. Piper, G, 6-0; Chloe Bricker, H, def. Keisha, G, 6-1; Mackenzie Kuhn/Willow Riggin, H, def. by Olivia T-S/Bri, 8-7 (7-3).

Rayna Johnson, H, def. Stella Overstreet, CB, 6-4, 6-2; Chloe Bricker, H, def. Lauren Yttredahl, CB, 6-2, 6-4; Kate Hemmer, H, def. Autumn Wells, CB, 6-2, 6-2; Amaya Bliwernitz, H, def. Anna Trafton, CB, 6-4, 6-3; Courtney Burchard/Cat Kaftan, H, def. Lauren Yttredahl/Kellyn Dunaway, CB, 6-4, 6-3; Emerald Tinsley/Mylee Shennum, H, def. by Stella Overtsreet/Kaidence Schmidt, CB, 6-3, 6-4; Heather Herring/Alera Chandler, H, def. Ava Shook/Autumn Wells, CB, 6-2, 6-5 (7-3); Addison Golie/Lindsey Leinwand, H, def. Anna Trafton/Grace Poulton, CB, 6-2, 6-2.

Havre Boys

Carter Spangler, H, def. Jay, G, 8-2; Callen Stoner, H, def. Tristen, G, 8-7 (7-3); Mason Kinsella, H, def. by Colson, G, 8-3; Carter Chagnon, H, def. by Dominick, G, 8-2; Tre Gary/Reid Kato, H, def. by Carter/Dylan, G, 8-4; Max Spangler/Jackson Headdress, H, def. Jake/Joey, G, 8-1; Conner McKay/Gavin Hall, H, def. Kooper/Konley, G, 8-1; Daniel Tilleman/Ronin Olsen, H, def. Tucker/Brandon, G, 8-3.

Carter Spangler, H, def. Tristen, G, 8-0; Callen Stoner, H, def. by Jay, G, 8-3; Mason Kinsella, H, def. by Dominick, G, 8-1; Carter Chagnon, H, def. by Colson, G, 8-5; Tre Gary/Reid Kato, H, def. Jake/Tucker, G, 8-3; Max Spangler/Jackson Headdress, H, def. by Carter/Dylan, G, 8-1; Conner McKay/Gavin Hall, H, def. Kooper/Branson, G, 8-2; Daniel Tilleman/Ronin Olsen, H, def. Joey/Konley, 8-5.

Conner McKay, H, def. Joey, G, 6-2; Mason Kinsella, H, def. by Konley, G, 6-3; Gavin Hall, H, def. Tucker, G, 6-0; Carter Spangler, H, def. Branson, G, 6-1; Tre Gary/Reid Kato, H, def. by Jay/Tristen, G, 6-2.

Carter Spangler, H, def. Peyton St. Goddard, CB, 6-4, 6-3; Callen Stoner, H, def. Alex Wahl, CB, 6-3, 6-1; Mason Kinsella, H, def. Jed Winkowitsch, CB, 6-2, 6-3; Carter Chagnon, H, def. Ken Winkowitsch, CB, 6-3, 6-2; Tre Gary/Reid Kato, H, def. by Damien Burke/Dallas Berkram, CB, 3-6, 6-5 (7-5), (10-8); Max Spangler/Jackson Headdress, H, def. Jackson Black/Alex Wahl, CB, 6-5 (7-4), 6-3; Conner McKay/Gavin Hall, H, def. Ethan Marshall/Jed Winkowitsch, CB, 6-3, 6-3; Daniel Tilleman/Ronin Olsen, H, def. Kaidyn Cole/Ken Winkowitsch, CB, 2-6, 6-2, 10-6.