Tennis fever: Ponies host Havre Invitational

Daniel Horton Havre Daily News [email protected]

The Havre High tennis teams don't play regular season matches on its home courts very often. So when the chance arises to stay and play in Havre, the Blue Ponies look forward to that opportunity. And on Saturday, the Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts will be the sight for the 2009 Havre Invitational tennis tournament as the Ponies host Cut Ban, Lewistown and Conrad. "It's always nice to stay at home and play on our courts, in front of our family and friends," HHS head coach George Ferguson said. "We're looking forward to a full day of tennis and it should be a good tournament." The Havre invite is an invitationalstyle tourney with brackets for No. 1-2's boys and girls singles players, as well as brackets for No. 3 singles players and both a boys and girls doubles bracket. All HHS varsity and junior varsity competitors will play in the event. "Our tournaments is good because it really kind of matches skill levels," Ferguson said. "And it's an opportunity for all of our kids to get multiple matches under their belt. Also, all three teams coming in here have some very good players, so it should be a competitive tournament." And while Ferguson is hoping his teams play well on Saturday, the biggest goal this time of year is just playing. HHS has battled poor weather this season, and although the season is five weeks old, Havre has played just once last weekend at the Cut Bank Invitational. "We did very well for our first meet of the year last week," Ferguson said. "This weekend, we just want to build on that. We want to continue to improve and make sure we're moving forward. Playing matches and improving is all we're looking for this weekend." The HHS boys lineup will have a different look to it this week as seniors Shane Kemmer and Mason Sheppard will make their season debuts for the Ponies. Kemmer will play singles for HHS along with Keenan Dolezal, Jake Ulgenes and Blaine Grisak. The Ponies will also have Simon McCann in the lineup. McCann, a freshman, has been injured for most of the early part of the season. In doubles, HHS will go with Sheppard and Kyle Miller, along with the duos of Jeremy Jensen and Justin Jensen, Brayden Grimson and Zach Cichosz and William Wagner and Ryan Brandt. On the girls side, the Ponies are strong in doubles with the teams of Hayley Donovan and Courtney Kinholt, Morgan McCann and Jolee Landgraf and Melissa Kittelson and Mikaela Lipp. Freshman Sierra Kannberg and Breanna LaValle will also play doubles for HHS, while Christina Mack, Christina Plum, Danielle Faechner, Theresa Buerkle, Sierra Wedlake Kirsten Keller will participate in singles this weekend for the Ponies. The Havre Invitational will get under way at 8 a.m. on Saturday and run all day at the Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts in Havre.