Senior girls have been through it all during their high school tennis careers

Sports are full of adversity. If it was always easy, winning would never be satisfying. But even with the expected roadblocks in sports, few could have been prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic that arrived in early 2020 to cancel the spring sports season.

That was the scenario for the freshman girls first joining in the Havre High tennis program back in 2020. Now seniors, the likes of Rayna Johnson, Courtney Burchard, Cat Kaftan, Kate Hemmer and several others have been able to play tennis for the Ponies for the last three years. While they have made the most of these three years, it was disappointing to not get that first year in the program.

"It makes me really sad that we didn't get to play during the COVID year because we could have been so much better than what we are now," Burchard said.

"We did have a disadvantage compared to other people," Kaftan said. "Now we're at the level that almost all the juniors are this year but we have definitely made the most of it and just been the best we could be with that experience."

When the season was canceled, the Ponies did not get much time on the court beforehand. Before the season was shut down, the Ponies only got four practices in. For players such as Kate Hemmer, who also had Northwest honor choir going on at the time, she only got one practice in before the season was shut down.

Thankfully for these Ponies, they were able to participate in open tennis during the summer and months prior to their sophomore seasons. But catching up on the court was not the only adversity they had to deal with.

When they joined the program, the HHS girls tennis teams had just lost many players to graduation, leaving only two returning players on the roster. With a vacuum left on the roster, the young players had to step up their play on the court.

"Now that I look back at it, I think I got a great opportunity to step in and play number one singles my sophomore year," Johnson said. "I got so many opportunities to get better."

Along with having to play better on the court, the young Ponies were faced with the tough task of having to recruit others to replenish the HHS girls tennis program.

"It's hard to get people into a sport they've never played before," Hemmer said about recruiting. "A lot of it was just us trying to figure out how to be better without people our age who we could learn from."

But as their love for tennis grew, it began to become easier for the Ponies to recruit others to play tennis.

"We talked about how fun it was and what a good experience it was," Kaftan said. "It was nice to be able to recruit other people and then watch them grow as tennis players as we were able to practice with them."

Over the years, this class of Ponies has made the most of their time in the program. Johnson has been the number one singles player for the Ponies over the last few years and recently, Kaftan and Buchard have teamed up to play on a doubles team together. During their time playing on the court, they have found themselves both challenged and rewarded by the game of tennis.

"Tennis has been a sport for me where I can focus a little more on myself," Johnson said. "I would say it's probably one of the most mentally challenging things I've dealt with. It can be very frustrating at times but I've learned to move on, to take it one step at a time and to never give up."

"It's a time where I get to connect with people I wouldn't normally see," Hemmer said. "It's a space where I'm allowed to be more confident and confrontational than I would otherwise be able to because it's a sport and the whole point is to be a little bit competitive."

Despite the good times, this class has faced adversity and changes these past three seasons. For Hemmer, she has had to balance playing for the tennis team while also participating in the music programs during the spring. But she has been able to manage it thanks to the help of her coaches and music directors.

This class has also had to deal with a coaching change in its senior year. After George Ferguson left the program, Jeff Miller took over to lead the Ponies this spring. They have adjusted to a new coach, but it was still quite the change for their last year in the program.

"It was really hard because Ferg had been around for so long in the community and this program and he just worked really hard to make a strong connection with each of his players," Johnson said. "But with Jeff coming in, I think he's offered a great new perspective and he's a wonderful coach and I feel like we've learned quite a bit from him."

"It was definitely an adjustment but we've definitely made the best out of it," Kaftan said.

While he may not be coaching the Ponies, Ferguson remembers this senior class for the adversity it went through early in its career and how it made an impact on the program.

"This group of girls have been very special to me, and to Jeff, and more importantly, to Havre High tennis," Ferguson said. "Right ahead of them we graduated two really big classes of girls before they got to HHS, so they came in at a time when we really needed to reload our girls team. Then of course, COVID happened, but they stuck with it. And they've made a huge, huge difference in girls tennis at Havre High, and they should be very proud of themselves for that."

"I really am proud of those girls. They got the tennis bug. They all came in with no experience, then missed their freshman season because of the pandemic. But, they fell in love with the sport regardless," he added. "They became so dedicated, so hungry to get better, and it has paid off. They are a special group. They've meant so much to me, and to our program. They are great kids, on and off the court, and I'm just so very proud of all of them."

After everything, this class has made it to its senior year. Despite severe weather delaying the season and then indoor meets to start the season, the seniors have gotten into a groove and have enjoyed their last time out with the Ponies.

"It is probably the most memorable year with things getting back to normal," Johnson said. "I've had a blast with my friends. It sure has gone by quickly this season."

"We've gotten a lot of experience and I personally feel like I've improved a lot so it's been a really good time," Kaftan said.

This weekend, the senior class of Johnson, Kaftan, Hemmer, Burchard, Addison Gollie, Amaya Bliwernitz and Emerald Tinsley will begin their final postseason with the Ponies as they compete in the Eastern A Divisional meet in Lewistown. With one last chance to compete for the Ponies, these seniors look for strong finishes to their careers.

"I'm excited to go to divisionals and just try to do my very best," Kaftan said. "I think that Courtney and I as a doubles team can make it far if we just stay locked in."

"I am hoping to make it to state this year," Johnson said. "I'm really hoping to try and at least get in the top four (at divisionals) so I can go to state so I'm really hoping to do that this year. That would be a nice cherry on top of the ice cream cone of my senior year."