By Tiffany L. Rehbein
For the second-straight week, the Havre Blue Pony boys' tennis team placed first, this time at the Conrad Invitational Tennis Tournament on Saturday.
The boys finished with 42 points, while Cut Bank was second with 25. Lewistown and Conrad also competed at the event.
"We did get first place, but overall the boys didn't play very well," head coach Sam Dierman said.
For the third time in as many years, senior Kellen Malone placed first at the Conrad tournament.
He defeated Mike Paulsen of Cut Bank 8-5 in the championship.
"Although he won his third-straight, he will have to play a lot better to reach any of his goals this season," Dierman said.
Senior Nick Heninger defeated teammate Terrance Wells 8-2 for the third-place finish. Wells was fourth at the meet.
"Nick needs more consistent practices if he plans to reach his goals," Dierman said.
Freshman Cody McLain also reached the semifinals but lost to both Malone and Heninger which knocked him from contention.
"Terrence and Cody got into the semifinals and really surprised me with how well they played," Dierman said.
Mike Frey and Seth Maristuen defeated Jeff Billman and Jeff Woldvedt of Cut Bank 8-6 for the first-place finish.
"Mike and Seth finished first, but were very inconsistent," Dierman said. "With continued hard work at practice, they will be very good by the end of the season."
On the girls' side, senior Teri Sherrill finished third. Her lone loss came against Liz McKeone of Conrad. The Conrad girls placed first at the meet with 46 points.
Havre was second with 31.
Sherrill defeated teammates Lauren Malone (8-0), Nichole Borst (8-2) and Crystal Heggen (8-2) in the third-place match.
"I felt Crystal Heggen and Nichole Borst had very good weekends," Dierman said. "They know they can compete at a high level."
Heggen and Borst both lost 8-0 to eventual medalist Amy Pierson of Conrad. They also both were defeated by teammate Sherrill.
The senior duo of Kirsten Kuka and Tiffany Shrauger made their debut and finished second at the invite in doubles.
They lost 8-6 in the championship round to Tia Jensen and Jessica Gollehon of Conrad.
"Kirsten and Tiffany were outstanding," Dierman said. "They well be extremely tough by the end of the year."
Nikki Baltrusch and Jana McPherson finished fourth at the tournament. They lost 8-5 in the consolation round to Jessica Garnett and Jacquie Bruce of Conrad.
"I didn't feel the kids were very focused this weekend," Dierman said. "We had more unforced errors than any weekend I can remember in recent history. As a coach, I've got to do a better job of getting the kids ready to play. We need to work on teamwork among our doubles teams. Our net play was not good. If we had any net play, we would have finished a lot better in doubles. The singles' players just need to get more consistent and that happens through good practices. I need to do a better job of practice planning."
The Blue Ponies will host the Havre Invitational on Saturday.
Boys Team Scores: Havre 42, Cut Bank 25, Lewistown 10, Conrad 5.
Kellen Malone (1st place), def. Kavanaugh, CB 8-4, def. Papp, Co 8-1, def. C. McLain, Hav 8-1, def. Paulsen, CB 8-5 (championship); Nick Heninger (3rd place), def. Broesder, Co 8-0, lost Paulsen, CB 5-8, def. Overcast, CB 8-1, def. LaPrath, Hav 8-4, def. C. McLain, Hav 8-5, def. Wells, Hav 8-2 (3rd and 4th); Terrance Wells (4th place), def. Flamert, Lew 8-0, def. Wetendorf, Co 8-1, lost Paulsen, CB 4-8, def. Lewis, CB 8-1, lost Heninger, Hav 2-8; Cody McLain, def. Lewis, CB 8-7(7-2), def. Rudolph, Co 8-0, lost Malone, Hav 1-8, lost Heninger Hav 5-8; Levi LaPrath, lost Paulsen, CB 1-8, def. Broesder, Co 8-0, def Wetendorf, Co 8-4, lost Heninger, Hav 5-8; Andrew McLain, lost Papp, Co 3-8, lost Kavanaugh, CB; Mike Frey/Seth Maristuen (1st place), def. Kavanaugh/Lewis, CB 8-4, def. Ernst/Jenni, Lew 8-0, def. Billman/Woldvendt, CB 8-6 (championship); Jeremy Heninger/Tyler Vincent, lost Ernst/Brode, Lew 4-8, lost Lillis/Snyder, Co 7-8(8-10).
Girls Team Scores: Conrad 46, Havre 31, Cut Bank 3, Lewistown 2.
Teri Sherrill (3rd place), def. Schramm, Co 8-2, lost McKeone, Co 5-8, def. Malone, Hav 8-0, def. O'Brien, Co 8-1, def. Borst, Hav 8-2, def. Heggen, Hav 8-2 (3rd and 4th); Crystal Heggen (4th place), def. Fralley, Lew 8-0, lost Pearson, Co 0-8, def. Richter, Lew 8-1, def. Calbos, Co 8-1, def. Lindberg, CB 8-3, lost Sherrill, Hav 2-8; Lauren Malone, lost Lindberg, CB 3-8, def. Chapman, Lew 8-0, lost Sherrill, Hav 0-8; Nichole Borst, def. LaTray, CB 8-6, def. Kalbos, Co 8-7(7-2), lost Pearson, Co 0-8, lost Sherrill, Hav 2-8; Kristen Kuka/Tiffany Shrauger (2nd place), def. Erickson/Paulsen, CB 8-1, def. Garnett/Bruce, Co 8-3, lost Jensen/Gollehon, Co 6-8 (championship); Nikki Baltrusch/Jana McPherson (4th place), def. Bird/Bullard, CB 8-2, lost Jensen/Gollehon, Co 1-8, def. Kohl/Shaffer, Lew 8-1, lost Garnett/Bruce, Co 5-8; Breyon Briese/Samantha Velk, lost Jensen/Gollehon, Co 1-8, def. Bird/Bullard, CB 8-2, lost Garnett/Bruce, CB 7-8(5-7).
