By Tiffany L. Rehbein
State trophies and state champions highlighted the 2000 tennis, golf, and track spring awards night held at the Havre High School cafeteria on Thursday.
"All of these athletes have done a great, great job of representing Havre High School and the Havre community," Athletic Director Charlie Klimas said.
Both the boys' and girls' tennis teams completed their best season's in school history last weekend.
The boys placed first at divisional and captured the school's first-ever state championship.
The 69 points accumulated at divisional was also the best-ever in school history. It was the ninth divisional championship and 9-of-10 athletes qualified for state.
At state, the 28 points tallied was also the best-ever in school history.
During the past 10 years, it was the sixth state trophy won at Havre High.
The girls placed second at both divisional and state, capping off the Blue Ponies best finish in school history.
"It was sort of a hectic season, but a fun season," head tennis coach Sam Dierman said.
Crystal Heggen and Levi LaPrath, both of whom are seniors, were awarded the Most Improved Player.
Senior Tiffany Shrauger and freshman Cody McLain were awarded Best Hustle.
"This goes to whomever gives it their all in practice," Dierman said.
The Coaches Award, given to the athlete who has done something special through the years, was given to seniors Kirsten Kuka and Nick Heninger.
Senior Teri Sherrill, the girls' state singles champion, was awarded Most Valuable Player for the girls.
"She is the best female tennis player in Havre High School history. Period," Dierman said.
Senior Kellen Malone, the back-to-back boys' state champion, was awarded MVP for the boys.
"Like Teri, he is the best male tennis player in Havre High history," Dierman said.
The Blue Pony boys' golf team placed third at state for the second-straight year, while the girls took the state by storm and qualified for the state meet.
"Our goals going in were for the boys to take first at state and to get the girls to state," head golf coach Keith Evenson said. "We fell a little short on one, but were pleasantly surprised by the girls."
The boys claimed first-place trophies at Shelby, almost breaking the school record for the lowest game shot, Havre, Conrad, and Cut Bank.
The girls claimed the first-place trophy at Fort Benton during the regular season.
Nick Obie, a sophomore, was awarded Male Golfer of the Year. Obie, who placed second at the state meet, recorded the lowest scored in Havre High School history at 70. He broke his own record, one he set as a freshman last season.
Obie also placed first at the Conrad Invitational with a 73 and first at Lewistown, where he fired a 74.
Lisa Wagner, one of just two seniors on the team, was awarded Female Golfer of the Year.
She recorded the second best average, since 1970, in school history with a 94.1. Wagner placed first at the Central A divisional tournament and helped lead the Blue Ponies to the divisional title.
Wagner was also awarded Most Inspirational Golfer. After the first day of the State A tournament, the Havre boys were in fifth place.
"She gave our boys a pep talk after the first day at state," Evenson said. "I don't know if it was her or not, but they came out the next day and golfed much better."
Her sister, sophomore Julie Wagner, was awarded Most Improved Golfer.
Small victories defined the track season this spring.
"There is no such thing as a boring track meet," head track coach John Ita said.
Highlights included beating the Great Falls Bison in a dual at Havre, and the boys' 1,600-meter relay at state, Ita said.
The boys were ranked ninth coming into the race and Clif Cunningham, a senior who was out for track for the first time, ran the anchor leg and gave his all for the sixth-place medal.
"And, of course, Heberly winning the 100," Ita said was another highlight of the season.
Steve Heberly, a freshman, upset the flight of runners and captured the state championship. He was the first freshman in Havre High history to win the 100 meters at state.
The Blue Pony Hall of Fame saw some new inductees and some old members improve.
Maureen Porter, a sophomore, and Cara Holmquist, a senior, were entered in the pole vault. They each had a jump of 7-6 and tied for second in the hall.
Jennie Peterson, the state champion in the 3,200 meters, slipped into second place in the hall with a time of 11:45.1 in the race.
LaShae Michels, the state champion in the triple jump, improved her place to second with a leap of 35-2.
She also moved into second place in the long jump with a leap of 16-8 1/2.
Brent Finneman, a junior, is fourth in the 100 meters with a time of 11.1. Heberly is fifth in the 100 in the Hall of Fame with a time of 11.12, which he set at state.
The boys' 400-meter relay Finneman, Heberly, Adam Landgraf, and Grant Roman is in third place in the fame with a time of 43.39.
The boys went undefeated in the Class A in the race and were crowned state champions.
The Adams Award, which goes to an exemplary
