Ponies, Beeters compete on the court

There's always been a great rivalry between Havre High and Chinook sports. And one of those friendly rivalries is on the tennis court each spring.

Tuesday afternoon, the Blue Ponies and Sugarbeeters renewed that rivalry with a girls dual at the Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts in Havre. The Ponies and Beeters were able to play 21 matches between singles and doubles before dark, and HHS head coach George Ferguson said it was a great day for both teams.

Havre High senior Lainey Chagnon looks to hit a serve during a doubles match between the Blue Ponies and the Chinook Sugarbeeters Tuesday afternoon at the Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts in Havre. Chagnon and partner Jennifer Cichosz won the match 8-3.

"Today was a very competitive day, and a great way for both teams to get in some much-needed matches," Ferguson said. "Chinook has a very strong program under Thom MacLean. I think he has just done a tremendous job with that program. It wasn't all that long ago they won a state championship and I'm always just so impressed with their teams. So it's always very competitive when we play each other, and I think both teams got a lot out of the dual."

Chinook's Kiana Burkhartsmeyer returns a shot during a singles match Tuesday afternoon in Havre. The Beeters and Blue Havre High girls played 21 matches Tuesday afternoon.

As for the results, Havre got a pair of singles wins from Brandy Lambourne, while the No. 1 Blue Pony duo of Lainey Chagnon and Jennifer Cichosz were victorious in doubles. Breck Don and Ellery Bresler also teamed up for two wins, as did Haley Graham and Morgan Jappe. Freshman Madison Huebsch had a great comeback win in singles, while the freshmen team of Sarah Holsinger and Alara Vogel also won a doubles match.

Havre's Lainey Chagnon, front, and Jennifer Cichosz play doubles Tuesday afternoon in Havre.

Chinook got a pair of wins from Brooke Nicholson in singles, while Kiana Burkhartsmeyer bounced back from a loss to Lambourne, by beating Havre junior Shannon Herring.

"What I always like about out dual with Chinook is, we really match kids up by skill level and the matches are usually really good. I thought that was the case for both teams on Tuesday," Ferguson said. "I was really pleased with the way our girls played in wins and losses. I thought we were sharp and focused. And all of our new freshmen, as well as all of Chinook's freshmen got two matches each, and that's really nice because our JV kids don't get as many matches as we'd like them to get.

"So it was a really productive day of tennis," he continued. "I was really pleased with how all of our girls played, and I was very impressed with Chinook's team. So it was really a good day all the way around. And it was a perfect way to get ready for our big tournament this weekend."

Blue Pony Shannon Herring strikes a backhand during Tuesday's girls dual meet between Havre and Chinook.

The Blue Ponies will be back at home Saturday when they host the 2013 Havre Invitational. Chinook will dual fellow Hi-Line rival Chester/J-I on Thursday, as well as head to the Choteau Invitational on Saturday. The Beeters will also be back in Havre for the Chinook Invitational April 26-67 and the Northern B-C Divisional May 10-11.

Havre vs Chinook

Singles

Brandy Lambourne, HAV def, Kiana Burkhartsmeyer, CHI, 8-5; Mariah Swank, CHI def. Jade McCormick, HAV, 8-2; Brooke Nicholson, CHI def. Shannon Herring, HAV, 8-4; Laura Nussbaum, CHI def. Tatiana Ralph, HAV, 8-6; Brandy Lambourne, HAV def. Mariah Swank, CHI, 8-3; Kiana Brukhartsmeyer, CHI def. Shannon Herring, HAV, 8-1; Brooke Nicholson, CHI def. Tatiana Ralph, HAV, 9-8 (7-5); Stella Rigg, CHI def. Rainey Stoner, HAV, 8-1; Madison Huebsch, HAV def. Jordan Surber, CHI, 8-7 (7-2).

Doubles

Lainey Chagnon/Jennifer Cichosz, HAV def. Alana Smith/Ashton Nideregger, CHI, 8-3; Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV def. Stella Rigg/Adriana Standiford, CHI, 8-1; Morgan Jappe/Haley Graham, HAV def. Lauren Harshman/Cortney Gunderson, CHI, 8-1; Hattie Niederegger/Jordan Surber, CHI def. Madison Huebsch/Rainey Stoner, HAV, 9-7; Aubri McCann/Allie Skoyen, CHI def. Megan Smith/Raynell Clancy, HAV, 8-6; Lizzie Hodgson/Cortney Gunderson, CHI def. Ashley Hoffland/Sarah Holsinger, HAV, 8-5; Hattie Niederegger/Lauren Harshman, CHI def. Alara Vogel/Courtney Gobin, HAV, 8-4; Breck Don/Ellery Bresler, HAV, Alana Smith/Ashton Niederegger, CHI, 8-4; Morgan Jappe/Haley Graham, HAV def. Laura Nussbaum/Adrianna Standiford, CHI, 8-5; Sarah Holsinger/Alara Vogel, HAV def. Allie Skoyen/Lizzie Hodgson, CHI, 6-2; Megan Smith/Ashley Hoffland def. Aubri McCann/Cortney Gunderson, CHI, 6-4; Lauren Harshman/Brooke Nicholson, CHI def. Courtney Gobin/Raynell Clancy, 6-0.

Middle School Tennis coming soon

Once again Havre High head tennis coach George Ferguson will be conducting middle school tennis lessons. The first session will begin April 8 at 7 p.m. at the high school tennis courts. Each session will be held on Monday's through April 29 and is open to boys and girls grades 6-8. Middle school tennis is a great way for anyone planning on joining the Havre High tennis team to get started. Cost is a donation of one can of tennis balls of any brand. For more information, call Ferguson at 390-4142.