Tennis team strikes gold

Friday, May 25, 2012

From the Missoulian

Polson girls, Corvallis boys take state A tennis titles

A whole heap of State A tennis hardware was claimed by western Montanans on Friday at wind-swept Great Falls.

Joining Corvallis as team champions were the Polson girls. They edged Hamilton by a point, 35-34, even though the Broncs got the best of the Pirates in the doubles final, with Erica Huppert and Meg Maclean sweeping Mollybeth Hendrix and Kenzie Clay, 6-4, 6-1.

For Polson’s girls, it was truly a group effort that put them over the top.

“With the nine girls going we knew we’d have to get points out of most all of them and we got points out of eight in interesting conditions,” Pirates veteran coach Bob Hislop said. “We knew all year long – in fact I told people – we’re probably a better dual team than tournament team.

“We were a little worried about not being able to score enough. But the kids really didn’t have any fear about going out and doing it.”

Hislop credited his top singles player, Whitney Zimmerman, with playing a key role. The junior was upset in the first round but rallied for four wins in the back draw before losing in the consolation final to Macy Ricketts of Livingston 6-2, 6-1.

“Instead of hanging her head she came out today and just started winning matches,” Hislop said. “Her match to get into the consolation (final) was the one that put us over the top.”

This year’s meet marked the second in a row that a Huppert from Hamilton claimed state gold. Last year Bobby Huppert did it in singles as a senior. His sister Erica did it as a junior in doubles on Friday.

“I’m going to rub it in his face (that) I got one before he did,” Erica joked. “It’s pretty exciting that it’s kind of being passed through the family.”

Maclean and Huppert did not drop a set in two matches on Friday. Three years of playing together has helped them gain an edge on the competition.

“We’ve had a lot of time to really get used to each other,” Maclean said. “We hope to play together again next season. We’ll be the defending state champs, so I think we’ll stick together.”

Hamilton senior Mary Conwell fell short in her bid for a second straight singles championship. She faced Morgan Opp of Glendive in a rematch of last year’s final, and this time it was Opp who swept 6-1, 6-2 to garner her second singles crown in three years.

GIRLS

Final team scores – Polson 35, Hamilton 34, Glendive 22, Livingston 21, Corvallis 10, Dillon 3, Lewistown and Hardin 2, Havre, Anaconda and Billings Central 1, Columbia Falls, Libby, Whitefish, Stevensville and Butte Central 0.

Singles semifinals

Morgan Opp, GLE, def. Macy Ricketts, LIV, 6-0, 6-1; Mary Conwell, HAM, def. Dylan Balanda, LIV, 6-3, 6-2.

Championship

Opp def. Conwell, 6-1, 6-2.

Consolation final

Ricketts def. Whitney Zimmerman, POL, 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles semifinals

Erica Huppert/Meg Maclean, HAM, def. Audra Engebretson/Karmen Borchers, POL, 6-4, 6-2; Mollybeth Hendrix/Kenzie Clay, POL, def. Hollie Seymour/Sallie DeBoer, LIV, 6-1, 6-2.

Championship

Huppert/Maclean def. Hendrix/Clay, 6-4, 6-1.

Consolation final

Sydnee Madruga/Megan Lengyel, COR, def. Jordan Quinn/Karly Rochin, POL, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

 

From the Lake County Leader

Lady Pirates win state championship

GREAT FALLS – Whitney Zimmerman did not let a first-round loss in singles play in Class A state tennis spoil her tournament experience.

The Northwestern A divisional champion battled back through loser-bracket action to finish fourth and help the Polson girls capture the state championship on Friday.

“With her going down in the first round (Thursday), it was looking pretty meager for awhile,” Polson coach Bob Hislop said. “She came all the way around.”

Polson trailed Hamilton 34-31 before Zimmerman’s victory put her into the consolation final day. She picked up a team point for reaching the third/fourth place match, then three more for placing fourth.

That gave the Pirates the necessary points to pass Hamilton for the 35-34 victory.

“More than anything, it was manpower,” Hislop said. “We qualified nine (players) and eight scored points.”

Polson dominated doubles, finishing 2-4-6.

Mollybeth Hendrix and Kenzie Clay were second, Karly Rochin and Jordan Quinn placed fourth, and Audra Engebretsen and Karmen Borchers were sixth.

“When we won it before (2008) we had four best players,” Hislop said. “This it was all about a total effort… kids scoring here and scoring there and scratching out three-set matches. We won more of those than we lost.”

The Polson boys wound up fourth. The doubles team of Will Davey and Ian Laimbeer placed third.

“I’m very happy,” Hislop said. “It hasn’t quite sunk in yet. State championships don’t come around that often, so you have to love them when they happen.”

Polson advanced to state with 16 players after winning the girls and boys Northwestern A divisional title last week in Polson.

COMPLETE TOURNAMENT RESULTS

SINGLES

First Round

Morgan Opp, Glendive, dec. Jeanna Mane, Lewistown, 6-0, 6-0

Kim Lamar, Hamilton, dec. Gabrielle Stenger, Columbia Falls, 6-2, 6-3

Sara Robinson, Polson, dec. Annie Sangster, Corvallis, 6-3, 6-1

Macy Ricketts, Park, dec. Katie Cummins, Billings Central, 6-2, 6-1

Mary Conwell, Hamilton, dec. Kylee Wegner, Polson, 6-0, 6-1

Jordan Johnson, Glendive, dec. Brandy Lambourne, Havre, 6-0, 6-2

Dylan Balanda, Park, dec. Carrie Old Coyote, Hardin, 6-0, 6-2

Hannah Peterson, Hamilton, dec. Whitney Zimmerman, Polson, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4

Second Round

Morgan Opp, Glendive, dec. Kim Lamar, Hamilton, 6-1, 6-0

Macy Ricketts, Park, dec. Sara Robinson, Polson, 6-1, 6-1

Mary Conwell, Hamilton, dec. Jordan Johnson, Glendive, 6-0, 6-0

Dylan Balanda, Park, dec. Hannah Peterson, Hamilton, 7-6, 6-1

Semifinals

Morgan Opp, Glendive, dec. Macy Ricketts, Park, 6-0, 6-1

Mary Conwell, Hamilton, dec. Dylan Balanda, Park, 6-3, 6-2

Consolation First Round

Jeanna Mane, Lewistown, dec. Gabrielle Stenger, Columbia Falls, 6-2, 7-6

Katie Cummins, Billings Central, dec. Annie Sangster, Corvallis, 6-3, 7-6

Brandy Lambourne, Havre, dec. Kylee Wegner, Polson, 6-1, 7-5

Whitney Zimmerman, Polson, dec. Carrie Old Coyote, Hardin, 7-6, 6-0

Consolation Second Round

Hannah Peterson, Hamilton, dec. Jeanna Mane, Lewistown, 6-2, 6-2

Jordan Johnson, Glendive, dec. Katie Cummins, Billings Central, 6-3, 6-1

Sara Robinson, Polson, dec. Brandy Lambourne, Havre, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1

Whitney Zimmerman, Polson, dec. Kim Lamar, Hamilton, 7-5, 6-2

Consolation Third Round

Jordan Johnson, Glendive, dec. Hannah Peterson, Hamilton, 6-4, 6-3

Whitney Zimmerman, Polson, dec. Sara Robinson, Polson, 6-4, 6-1

Consolation Fourth Round

Macy Ricketts, Park, dec. Jordan Johnson, Glendive, 6-2, 6-1

Whitney Zimmerman, Polson, dec. Dylan Balanda, Park, 6-4, 7-6

Fifth Place

Dylan Balanda, Park, dec. Jordan Johnson, Glendive, 6-2, 6-3

Third Place

Macy Ricketts, Park, dec. Whitney Zimmerman, Polson, 6-2, 6-1

Championship

Morgan Opp, Glendive, dec. Mary Conwell, Hamilton, 6-1, 6-2

DOUBLES

First Round

Lystad/Hill, Glendive, dec. Heckeroth/Decker, Corvallis, 6-2, 6-2

Engebretson/Borchers, Polson, dec. Richards/Ellingson, Park, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4

Quinn/Rochin, Polson, dec. Monger/Nielsen, Lewistown, 6-1, 6-3

Huppert/Maclean, Hamilton, dec. Hertz/Lee, Billings Central, 6-1, 6-2

Hendrix/Clay, Polson, dec. VanMeel/Salle, Anaconda, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4

Madruga/Lengyel, Corvallis, dec. Burman/Carbajal, Glendive, 7-5, 6-2

Suenram/Southam, Beaverhead County, dec. Johnson/Cai, Hardin, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4

Seymour/Deboer, Park, dec. Danzyk/Craven, Whitefish, 6-1, 6-3

Second Round

Engebretson/Borchers, Polson, dec. Lystad/Hill, Glendive, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5

Huppert/Maclean, Hamilton, dec. Quinn/Rochin, Polson, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4

Hendrix/Clay, Polson, dec. Madruga/Lengyel, Corvallis, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4

Seymour/Deboer, Park, dec. Suenram/Southam, Beaverhead County, 7-5, 6-2

Semifinals

Huppert/Maclean, Hamilton, dec. Engebretson/Borchers, Polson, 6-4, 6-2

Hendrix/Clay, Polson, dec. Seymour/Deboer, Park, 6-1, 6-2

Consolation First Round

Richards/Ellingson, Park, dec. Heckeroth/Decker, Corvallis, 7-6, 6-1

Monger/Nielsen, Lewistown, dec. Hertz/Lee, Billings Central, 6-3, 7-6

VanMeel/Salle, Anaconda, dec. Burman/Carbajal, Glendive, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3

Johnson/Cai, Hardin, dec. Danzyk/Craven, Whitefish, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0

Consolation Second Round

Suenram/Southam, Beaverhead County Forf Richards/Ellingson, Park, 6-0, 6-2

Madruga/Lengyel, Corvallis, dec. Monger/Nielsen, Lewistown, 6-4, 6-4

Quinn/Rochin, Polson, dec. VanMeel/Salle, Anaconda, 6-3, 6-3

Johnson/Cai, Hardin, dec. Lystad/Hill, Glendive, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3

Consolation Third Round

Madruga/Lengyel, Corvallis, dec. Suenram/Southam, Beaverhead County, 6-4, 6-3

Quinn/Rochin, Polson, dec. Johnson/Cai, Hardin, 6-4, 6-2

Consolation Fourth Round

Madruga/Lengyel, Corvallis, dec. Engebretson/Borchers, Polson, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

Quinn/Rochin, Polson, dec. Seymour/Deboer, Park, 7-6, 6-2

Fifth Place

Seymour/Deboer, Park, dec. Engebretson/Borchers, Polson, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3

Third Place

Madruga/Lengyel, Corvallis, dec. Quinn/Rochin, Polson, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Championship

Huppert/Maclean, Hamilton, dec. Hendrix/Clay, Polson, 6-4, 6-1