Pony netters ready to peak in Bozeman

All season long, Havre High head tennis coach George Ferguson has talked about a process. A process that started back in March and was never about wins and losses. Instead, Ferguson has preached nothing but improvement.

That process is now coming to a head as the Blue Ponies get set to play in the Central A divisional tournament today and Friday in Bozeman. Havre is the defending champion in both boys and girls, and in fact, the Blue Pony boys have won six straight Central A titles and 20 of the last 21 dating back nearly two decades.

But, defending their titles isn’t at the forefront of the Ponies’ minds this weekend in Bozeman. No, these are two new teams, and they have new goals according to Ferguson.

“This has been another great year for us,” Ferguson said. “The kids have been awesome to coach. They’ve worked extremely hard, and done everything we’ve asked of them. All season, we’ve talked about just getting better every day, we’ve talked about building for the divisional tournament, and I feel like all 20 kids we’re taking to Bozeman have done that. They have all put in the work and effort to get to this point, and now it’s their opportunity to go out and earn divisional championships and trips to the state tournament. It isn’t about what we’ve done in the past, or even last year, it’s about these 20 kids and the opportunity they have in front of them, and I’m confident they are all going to do great things this weekend.”

The Pony boys are a heavy favorite, as Lewistown, Livingston, Belgrade and Anaconda just don’t seem to have the firepower to keep up with Havre in the team title race. And that’s saying something because Havre’s lineup is much different than it was a year ago when HHS dominated the field at the divisional tournament.

“Our boys team has been strong all season,” Ferguson said. “They have been working hard and building for this weekend. They’ve been focused and determined, and that’s the attitude they are taking to Bozeman. It’s a different team than last year. We don’t have any of the same doubles teams from last year, and we only have two singles players who played singles at divisionals a year ago. But, this team has really come together well, and they haven’t even peaked yet. I think that will happen this weekend and I’m looking forward to seeing how they do.”

One of the singles players who is back for the Ponies is junior Jeff Miller (23-3). He’s the two-time defending Central A champion and the reigning Class A state champion as well. Miller has lost just three times all season, and hasn’t lost to an opponent from the Central A in two years now. Senior Jamie Lieberg (18-12) also played at the Central A a year ago, and he’s vastly improved this season, while sophomores Jake Sedahl (16-6) and Dustin Haas (19-6) should also be tough to beat this weekend.

In doubles, Jerod Boles and Noah Landgraf (26-2) have rolled through the competition this season, and are hoping to follow what Ned Malone and Brian Smith did a year ago for the Ponies, which is make a run at not only the divisional championship, but the state title as well. Havre’s depth will also shine with Nate Korb and senior Wyatt Lindbloom (16-6) at the No. 2 spot and steadily improving freshmen Kennedy McKay and Trey Murphy (7-4) at No. 3.

“Even though this is a different team this year, the formula is the same as always,” Ferguson said. “We’ve tried to be as balanced as possible in both singles and doubles and with this group, I feel like we are. Jeff and Noah and Jerod are playing well and are favorites this weekend, but with our depth, we have a ton of kids who can make some noise. Actually, everybody in our boys lineup has a chance to do special things in their own way this weekend. And that can happen as long as our boys are as focused and determined as they have been all season long, and I know they will be.”

Havre’s girls on the other hand, are even more different this season than a year ago when they won a dramatic team title over Livingston. That team graduated six seniors, which means only four Blue Ponies are returning to Bozeman from last year’s divisional squad. And of the remaining six players who weren’t on the divisional team a year ago, four are first-year players, so things are dramatically different now. Still, Ferguson says his girls team has made huge strides in a short amount of time, and that they will be a team that will garner plenty of respect this weekend.

“Our girls have done such a great job of working through this process, of just staying focused on getting better every day in practice and in every match,” Ferguson said. “That has been the goal from day one. That’s been our only emphasis. We have wanted to do everything we can to get them ready to be as successful as they can be at divisionals. And I feel like they are there now.

“It hasn’t been easy for them,” he continued. “Tennis is a hard sport and when you lack experience, and play the schedule we play, it can be pretty tough. And it has been on many of them at times. But that’s why I’m just so proud of them, because they haven’t gotten down. They have stayed the course and each one of these girls has improved so much. They have just done a tremendous job and that’s going to really show this weekend. I know they’re going to do really well, as a team, and individually.”

Havre senior Tatiana Ralph (20-7) is the true veteran of the Blue Pony team. She placed third at divisionals a year ago and won the match that clinched the team title for the Ponies. Ralph has been strong at the No. 1 spot this season, and she should contend for the singles title this weekend. Freshman Paige Nelson (12-19) is also a player Ferguson said that other teams should watch out for this weekend, while juniors Meggan Smith (10-8) and Ashley Hoffland (4-6) are both playing in their first divisional tourney.

In doubles, Rainey Stoner and Madison Huebsch (12-16) played No. 3 for the Ponies and scored a point a season ago. Reggie Bernard and Alara Vogel (8-10) are a new team this season and have really stepped up big, while freshmen Megan Lindbloom and Alex Donaldson (7-20) have grown into the No. 3 role for the Ponies.

And as for how the girls will do this weekend, Ferguson said things are wide open. The senior-laden Livingston squad is a heavy favorite and Lewistown is very strong in doubles. But Ferguson said his team should not be overlooked.

“Our girls are playing their best right now, which was always the goal,” Ferguson said. “Tatiana has the experience to do really well this weekend, and both of our junior doubles teams have come a long, long way and are ready to take that next step. I know some of the other teams and players aren’t really thinking our girls are a contender this weekend, and to me, that’s a big mistake. I wouldn’t want to play any of our girls right now because they are peaking at the perfect time, and they are coming on really strong. I’m just so proud of how far this team has come, and they are going to be right in the hunt this weekend.

“I’m really proud of all 20 of our kids, and the kids who didn’t make the divisional team, too,” Ferguson added. “We work hard, we push hard and it’s a very tough sport. But this entire group has just been awesome to coach, and I’m so excited for the 20 kids that have this opportunity in front of them this weekend. This is a very exciting time for a tennis player, and I’m looking forward to watching all of our kids do great things this weekend.”

The 2015 Central A tennis tournament starts this afternoon and is scheduled to run through Friday evening at the Montana State University Tennis Center in Bozeman. The top four players in each bracket will advance to next week’s Class A state tournament in Missoula.