Blue Ponies qualify five for state tennis

After two grueling days in Glendive, the Havre High tennis teams had some high's and some low's at the Northeast A Divisional.

Head Coach Jeff Miller's teams battled Glendive, Miles City and Lewistown, with the Pony boys finishing a narrow second and the HHS girls taking fourth.

Miller, who was extremely proud of all 20 of the players who made the trip to divisionals, saw his boys team qualify five players for this weekend's state tournament, while overall, the Ponies fought two-time Northeast A champion Miles City right to the end.

And speaking of champions, Havre had one in the doubles team of senior Carter Spangler and sophomore Max Spangler. The first-year tandem rolled through the boys doubles bracket, including a 6-0, 6-1 stomping of the top team from Mile City in the championship match. For Carter Spangler, it will be his third straight trip to the state tournament. He reached the 2021 tourney with then doubles partner Theron Peterson, then went to state as a singles players last year. Now, he and his younger brother will be one of the team's to beat at this weekend's state tourney.

The Ponies will also be sending their No. 3 doubles team of senior Mason Kinsella and sophomore Carter Chagnon to state after they finished fourth at divisionals. The duo had to knock off teammates Reid Kato and Callen Stoner in order to do so, one of the unfortunate parts of the divisional tournament.

In singles, senior Jackson Headress will also be making his first trip to state. The Ponies' top singles player made a run through the consolation bracket to finish in the top four in boys singles and earn his way to the state tournament.

Unfortunately, Have didn't quite get any girls to the state tourney. But several came close. Senior Chloe Bricker, a four-year varsity player, reached the consolation semifinals in girls singles before falling, while the tandem of Mylee Shennum and Alera Chandler also reached the semifinals in girls doubles, before coming one match short of the state meet.

Still, it was an outstanding year for the Havre girls, and for all the players on both Pony teams.

Now though, Havre's five boys will head to Kalispell for this weekend's Class A state tournament, which runs today through Saturday.