Ryan Divish
Havre Daily News Sports Editor
rdivish@havredailynews.com
The Havre High tennis teams' trophy case is getting a little crowded with Central A divisional championship trophies. For the second straight year, the Ponies swept the divisional team titles and pretty much dominated both the boys and girls meets in Butte.
For the Pony boys, it was their was seventh straight divisional championship with the only drama being how much the Ponies would win by and how many people they could qualify for state.
Officially, Havre won by 50 points, scoring 70 total team points, while Lewistown was second with 20. As for state qualifiers, the Ponies had nine of their 10 players qualify.
"Our boys team did everything I thought they would do, and then some," said Havre High head coach George Ferguson. "Even though you never like to think it, or say it out loud, the team title was always going to be ours to lose this weekend.
"Scoring 70 points was a tremendous achievement because it means that all 10 of our boys won matches, and won a lot of them. Being a part of a seventh straight divisional championship is something that all 10 of the guys will remember forever."
As expected, Havre's returning divisional champs defended their titles. In the singles, senior Kyle Baltrusch made a little bit of history, winning his fourth singles title. Baltrusch cruised into the finals, defeating teammate Todd Roe in the semifinals. In the championship, he dusted Fabian Wummel of Livingston, 6-1, 6-3.
"Kyle was never threatened, but he still played well and that is the most important thing," Baltrusch said. "He finished with the greatest career in Central A divisional tournament history this weekend.
"Winning four consecutive singles titles is a remarkable feat because it means that for four years he was not only unbeatable, but that he was undefeated under a lot of ressure and difficult circumstances. It is a remarkable achievement and it is a testament to what a great player Kyle truly is."
Havre's No. 2 player, Chase Castloo, finished third, defeating teammate Scott Miller 6-1, 6-0. Castloo lost a tough semifinal match to Wummel, but rallied to defeat Kevin Selph of Lewistown in the consolation quarterfinals and qualify for state.
"Chase Castloo probably didn't have the tournament he was looking to have because he wanted to reach the championship match again," Ferguson said. "But he still played good tennis and he just ran into a tough player in the semis. If Chase plays well next weekend, he will still be a force in the state singles draw."
Miller was staring elimination in the eye, having lost in the quarterfinals to Wummel. However, he fought back to defeat Brandon Hemsath in the quarterfinals and then knock off his teammate, Roe, in the consolation semifinals.
Having Scott Miller and Todd Roe play each other to reach state is something you hate to have happen, but it's inevitable in this format. Both of those guys played great tennis all weekend. Scott will help us a lot at state.
"Todd reached the semifinals as a freshman and it shows that he has a great future ahead of him. For the next three years, Todd will be a huge part of our success and he was a big part of it this weekend."
In the doubles, it was a repeat of last year's championship, with Havre's No. 2 team of Gary Wagner and Marc Mariani facing off against Havre's No. 2 team of Billy Wagner and Coda Tchida. And for the second straight year, Mariani and Wagner brought home the championship with a 6-2, 6-1 win.
Mariani and Gary Wagner dropped just one game en route to the title match, while Tchida and Billy Wagner knocked off Lewistown rivals Stephen and Matt Gruener 7-5, 6-1 in the semifinals.
"Our boys doubles teams did everything they had to do this weekend," Ferguson said. "Marc and Gary were their usual dominant selves. Coda and Billy played great tennis along the way."
Havre's remaining doubles team of Lucas Hamilton and John Christian rallied from a quarterfinal loss, to finish in fourth place, losing a heartbreaker to the Grueners 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.
"I am really proud of Lucas Hamilton and John Christian," Ferguson said. "They lost a heart-breaking three-set match in the quarterfinals, but they bounced back and did what they had to do to get to the state tournament. Overall, it was a dominant showing by all of our doubles teams."
While the boys were cruising to a yet another win, the Pony girls found themselves in a dogfight with perennial power Livingston. The Rangers qualified all 10 girls for Saturday play, which put the Ponies in an early hole. However, Havre picked up several key wins in the Saturday matches to score 58 points and edge Livingston, which scored 47.
"This was a very satisfying tournament for our girls," Ferguson said. "Even though we were the defending champions, Livingston came in with a very good team and they had a great first day. That put us a little behind going into to Saturday.
"But we won several really important head-to-head matches with them and got some big points from other areas that enabled us to capture our second straight team title."
Senior Amy McLain won her second straight Central A singles title, defeating senior teammate Megan Rice 6-0, 6-3 in the championship. McLain breezed the early rounds into the title, destroying Livingston's Annah Arrahsmith 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinals.
"Amy went through the draw with relative ease," Ferguson said. "Her game was just too much for anybody in the field, even though she played some very tough competition in the semifinals and in the championship match against Megan. This completed a remarkable two-year run at divisionals for Amy. Judging by the way she played this weekend, she is definitely in top form for the state tournament."
But Ferguson was quick to point out Rice's contributions to the title. She handed Butte Central's Julia Kohl her first loss of the season in a brilliant 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 win.
"Megan Rice winning in the semifinals was huge, because it really gave us a lot of points to work with the rest of the day," Ferguson said. "Megan had a phenomenal tournament this weekend. It was great to watch her reach the championship match in her senior year. Her run gave our team a huge boost that we really needed on Saturday."
Freshman Katie Mariani will also be headed to the state tournament, finishing fourth, losing to Arrahsmith in the consolation finals. Mariani was knocked off by Arrahsmith in the quarterfinals, but scrapped back to win two matches, including a big 7-5, 6-3 win over Kohl in the consolation semifinals.
"Katie Mariani played outstanding this weekend," Ferguson said. "It is hard to understate what she did for our team and what she did for herself. Katie's win over Kohl gave us more place points, which allowed us to push even further ahead in the team race. It was a great weekend for Katie and it shows what an amazing competitor she is."
Havre's No. 4 player, Karissa Olson, had a tough tournament draw, losing both of her matches.
In the doubles, Havre's No. 1 team of Steph Flatau and Keelie Solomon came up just short in their title bid, finishing second for the second straight year, losing a heartbreaker to Lewistown's Alira Carpenter and Devin Nelson 7-6 (7-5), 7-5. Flatau and Solomon scored a tough win in the semifinal, defeating Megan Foote and Agnes Kesting in a 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-4 marathon.
"Steph Flatau and Keelie Solomon's three-set win in the semifinals probably clinched things for us against Livingston," Ferguson said. "The Livingston team was solid and Steph and Keelie did not have their best stuff in that match. But they kept fighting and they stayed very focused and were able to pull that match off and get into the championship."
Havre's No. 2 team of Kari Gorder and Kristi Hollingshead and No. 3 team of Haley McLain and Alexa Lipp ran into some tough competition. Gorder and Hollingshead rebounded from a first-round loss with a win in the consolation matches, but were eliminated in the consolation second round by Livingston's Jennifer Wesen and Vanessa Sievers 6-0, 6-4. McLain and Lipp lost to Wesen and Sievers in the first round and were eliminated by the team of Kate Flemming and Callan Driscoll of Butte Central.
"This championship was a total team effort and everyone that was here this weekend and even some of the girls that didn't make the divisional team had a part in our success this weekend," Ferguson said. "I am just really happy for everybody on our girls team to get another divisional championship."
The Ponies will now have a few days to prepare for the Class A state tournament, which begins Thursday and runs through Friday in Lewistown.
Central A divisional at Butte
FINAL TEAM SCORES
Boys - Havre 70, Lewistown 20, Livingston 18, Butte Central 9.
Girls - Havre 58, Livingston 47, Lewistown 36, Butte Central 8, Anaconda 8.,
BOYS SINGLES
Championship - Kyle Baltrusch, Havre, def. Fabian Wummel, Livingston, 6-1, 6-3.
Third place - Chase Castloo, Havre, def. Scott Miller, Havre, 6-1, 6-0.
Semifinals - Kyle Baltrusch, Havre, def. Todd Roe, Havre, 6-0, 6-0; Fabian Wummel, Livingston, def. Chase Castloo, Havre, 6-1, 6-2.
Consolation semifinals - Chase Castloo, Havre, def. Kevin Selph, Lewistown, 6-3, 6-3; Scott Miller, Havre, def. Todd Roe, Havre, 6-3, 6-4.
Consolation quarterfinals - Kevin Selph, Lewistown, def. Adam Fine, Butte Central, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1; Scott Miller, Havre, def. Brandon Hemsath, Lewistown, 6-3, 4-6, 6-5.
BOYS DOUBLES
Championship - Marc Mariani/Gary Wagner, Havre, def. Coda Tchida/Bill Wagner, Havre, 6-2, 6-1.
Third place - Steven Gruener/Matt Gruener, Lewistown, def. Lucas Hamilton/John Christian, Havre, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.
Semifinals - Marc Mariani/Gary Wagner, Havre, def. Ben Hoover/Gordon Gertiser, Livingston, 6-0, 6-1; Coda Tchida/Bill Wagner, Havre, def. Steven Gruener/Matt Gruener, Lewistown, 7-5, 6-1.
Consolation semifinals - Steven Gruener/Matt Gruener, Lewistown, def. Dan Markovich/Casey Boyle, Butte Central, 6-4, 6-1; Lucas Hamilton/John Christian, Havre, def. Ben Hoover/Gordon Gertiser, Livingston, 6-1, 6-2.
Consolation quarterfinals - Dan Markovich/Casey Boyle, Butte Central, def. John Peterschick/Shane Emerson, Lewistown, 6-1, 6-0; Lucas Hamilton/John Christian, Havre, def. Trevor Bristol/Zach Bair, Butte Central, score n/a.
GIRLS SINGLES
Championship - Amy McLain, Havre, def. Megan Rice, Havre, 6-0, 6-3.
Third place - Annah Arrahsmith, Livingston, def. Katie Mariani, Havre, 6-4, 6-3.
Semifinals - Amy McLain, Havre, def. Annah Arrahsmith, Livingston, 6-1, 6-0. Megan Rice, Havre, def. Julia Kohl, Butte Central, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2.
Consolation semifinals - Katie Mariani, Havre, def. Julia Kohl, Butte Central, 7-5, 6-3; Annah Arrahsmith, Livingston, def. Cissy Story, Livingston, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5).
Consolation quarterfinals - Katie Mariani, Havre, def. Amanda Hoover, Livingston, 6-3, 6-1; Cissy Story, Livingston, def. Serena Morrow, Livingston, 6-2, 6-1.
GIRLS DOUBLES
Championship - Devon Nelson/Alira Carpenter, Lewistown, def. Steph Flatau/Keelie Solomon, Havre, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5.
Third place - Megan Foote/Agnes Kesting, Livingston, def. Eliza Hancock/Hanna Gertiser, Livingston, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
Semifinals - Devon Nelson/Alira Carpenter, Lewistown, def. Eliza Hancock/Hanna Gertiser, Livingston, 6-3, 6-1; Steph Flatau/Keelie Solomon, Havre, def. Megan Foote/Agnes Kesting, Livingston, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-4.
Consolation semifinals - Megan Foote/Agnes Kesting, Livingston, def. Jennifer Wesen/Vanessa Sievers, Livingston, 6-1, 6-4; Eliza Hancock/Hanna Gertiser, Livingston, def. Katie Jackson/Merrick Carpenter, Lewistown, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.
Consolation quarterfinals - Jennifer Wesen/Vanessa Sievers, Livingston, def. Alexa Lipp/Hailey McLain, Havre, 6-2, 6-1; Katie Jackson/Merrick Carpenter, Lewistown, def. Kaylyn Johnston/Jackie Smith, Anaconda, 6-4, 6-1.
Friday
Girls Singles
First round - Laura McKenna, Lew, def. Kimi Burt, BC, 6-0, 6-0; Jamie Berg, Lew, def. Maria Pacioretty, BC, 6-4, 6-3; Serena Morrow, Liv, def. Jordan Cook, A, 6-2, 6-2.
First round byes - Amy McLain, H; Jamie Janosko, A; Amanda Hoover, Liv; Ashleigh Haulbrich, A; Katie Mariani, H; Annah Arrahsmith, Liv; Julia Kohl, BC; Ashleigh Littlefield, A; Karissa Olson, H; Emily Gordon, Lew; Jessica Martin, Lew; Haley Cote, BC; Megan Rice, H.
Second round - McLain, H, def. McKenna, Lew, 6-0, 6-0; Hoover, H, def. Janosko, A, 6-2, 7-5; Mariani, H, def. Haulbrich, A, 6-2, 6-0; Arrahsmith, Liv, def. Berg, Lew, 6-1, 6-1; Kohl, BC, def. Story, Liv, 6-0, 6-3; Gordon, Lew, def. Olson, H, 6-4, 6-2; Martin, Lew, def. Cote, BC, 6-0, 6-2; Rice, H, def. Morrow, Liv, 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Quarterfinals - McLain, H, def. Hoover, H, 6-0, 6-2; Arrahsmith def. Marrow, 7-5, 6-4; Kohl, BC, def. Gordon, Lew, 6-4, 6-2; Rice, H, def. Martin, Lew, 6-1, 6-0.
Consolation first round byes - Burt, BC; Pacioretty, BC; Littlefield, A; Cook, A.
Consolation second round - Janosko, A, def. Burt, BC, 7-5, 6-4; Haulbrich, A, def. Pacioretty, BC, 6-2, 6-2; Littlefield, A, def. Olson, H, 6-1, 6-3; Cook, A, def. Cote, BC, 6-0, 6-1.
Consolation second round byes - McKenna, Lew; Berg, Lew; Story, Liv; Morrow, Lew.
Consolation third round - McKenna, Lew, def. Janosko, A, 6-4, 6-1; Haulbrich, A, def. Berg, Lew, 6-1, 6-3; Story, Liv, def. Littlefield, 7-5, 6-1; Morrow, P, def. Cook, A, 6-0, 6-2.
Girls Doubles
First round byes - Devon Nelson/Alira Carpenter, Lew.
First round - Jennifer Wesen/Vanessa Sievers, Liv, def. Alexa Lipp/Hailey McLain, H, 6-0, 6-2; Eliza Hancock/Hanna Gertiser, Liv, def. Kari Gorder/Kristi Hollingshead, H, 6-3, 5-7, 6-0; Katie Flemming/Callan Driscoll, BC, def. Ayla Marjama/Chandra Calder, A, 6-2, 6-3; Megan Foote/Agnes Kesting, Liv, def. Katie Jackson/Merrick Carpenter, Lew, 6-2, 7-5; Kaitlin Dean/Amerlynn Dean, A, def. Ashleigh Anderwald/Chrissy Pantoja, BC, 6-0, 6-2; Brianne Schwomeyer/Dagny Morrow, Lew, def. Kaylyn Johnston/Jackie Smith, A, 6-3, 6-2; Steph Flatau/Keelie Solomon H, def. Meagan Siddoway/Ali Kling, BC, 6-1, 6-0.
Quarterfinals - Nelson/Carpenter, Lew, def. Wesen/Sievers, Liv, 6-0, 6-2; Hancock/Gertiser, P, def. Flemming/Driscoll, BC, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5; Foote/Kesting, P, def. Leary/Dean, A, 6-2, 7-5; Flatau/Solomon, H, def. Schwomeyer/Morrow, Lew, 6-0, 6-1.
Consolation first round - Gorder/Hollingshead, H, def. Marjama/Calder, A, 6-2, 7-5; Jackson/Carpenter, Lew, def. Anderwald/Pantoja, BC, 6-0, 6-1; Johnston/Smith, A, def. Siddoway/Kling, 6-4, 6-2.
Consolation second round - Lipp/McLain, H, def. Flemming/Driscoll, BC, 6-4, 6-3; Wesen/Sievers, Liv, def. Gorder/Hollingshead, H, 6-0, 6-4; Jackson/Carpenter, Lew, def. Schwomeyer/Morrow, Lew, 6-2, 6-2; Johnston/Smith, A, def. Leary/Dean, A, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2.
Boys Singles
First round - Kyle Baltrusch, H, def. Colin Manch, 6-0, 6-0; Alex Murphy, BC, def. Dale Walker, Lew; Todd Roe, H, def. Adam Fine, BC, 6-0, 6-1; Kevin Selph, Lew, def. Jay Jovick, Liv, 6-1, 6-2; Fabian Wummel, Liv, def. Brandon Hemsath, Lew, 6-1, 6-3; Scott Miller, H def. Lindsey Vainino, BC, 6-0, 6-0; Levi Driskell, Lew, def. Clay McQueary, BC, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1); Chase Castloo, H, def. Sean Gilmore, P, 6-3, 6-4.
Quarterfinals - Baltrusch, H, def. Murphy, BC, 6-0, 6-0; Roe, H, def. Selph, Lew; 5-6, 6-1, 7-5; Wummel, Liv, def. Miller, H, 7-6, 6-1; Castloo, H, def. Driskell, Lew, 6-1, 6-2.
Consolation first round - Walker, F, def. Manch, Lew, 6-3, 6-0; Fine, BC, def. Jovick, Liv, 6-4, 6-3; Hemsath, Lew, def. Vainio, BC, 6-4, 7-5; Gilmore, Liv, def. McQueary, BC, 6-2, 6-1.
Consolation second round - Selph, Lew, def. Walker, Liv, 6-1, 6-0; Fine, BC, def. Murphy, BC, 6-0, 6-1; Hemsath, Lew, def. Driskell, Lew, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4; Miller, H, def. Gilmore, Liv, 6-0, 6-1.
Boys Doubles
First round - John Peterschick/Shane Emerson, Lew, def. Steven Kambich/Nathan Scheidecker, BC, 6-0, 6-0; Lucas Hamilton/John Christian, H, def. Jake Bruch/Chaz Goodwine, Liv, 6-0, 6-0; Trevor Bristol/Zach Bair, BC, def. Derek Clute/Matt Storey, Liv, 6-1, 6-2.
First round byes - Marc Mariani and Gary Wagner, H; Ben Hoover/Gordon Gertiser, Liv; Dan Markovich/Casey Boyle, BC; Steven Gruener/Matt Gruener, Lew; Coda Tchida/Bill Wagner, H.
Quarterfinals - Mariani/Wagner, H, def. Petershick/Emerson, Lew, 6-0, 6-0; Hoover/Gertiser, Liv, def. Markovich/Boyle, BC, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1; Gruener/Gruener, Lew, def. Hamilton/Christian, H, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3; Tchida/Wagner, H, def. Trevor Bristol/Zach Bair, BC, 6-1, 6-0.
Consolation second round - Markovich/Boyle, BC, def. Kambich/Scheidecker, 6-1, 6-0; Bristol/Bair, BC, def. Bruch/Goodwine, Liv, 6-4, 6-3; Hamilton/Christian, H, def. Clute/Storey, Liv, 6-1, 6-0.
