Whitefish singles players dominate Havre tourney

The Polson boys tennis team slipped past the Whitefish squad during the Pirates°O 4-3 win over the Bulldogs on Thursday at Grouse Mountain.

At the number-one singles slot, Polson°Os Andy Dykstra defeated Whitefish°Os Izaak Opatz 6-1, 6-2.

°)()(Andy°Os a very strong player,°+/- Whitefish head coach Kathy Cummings said. °)()(He°Os probably the hardest guy to beat in our conference.°+/-

Whitefish°Os Matt Harris, who moved up to number-two singles after teammate Ben James sprained his ankle, defeated Isaac Swan in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.

At the number-three slot, White-fish°Os Ian Hosek defeated Jason Newton 6-1, 6-0.

Cummings said some of the closest matches of the evening came in at the number-one and the number-two doubles seeds.

In the number-one doubles match, Kyle Jacobson and Ryan Rottenbiller came back from a 5-2 deficit in the first set to win 7-5, and the pair sealed their victory by holding onto a 6-2 second set.

In the number-two slot, Brendan Viscomi and Scott Johnson couldn°Ot overcome Polson°Os Colton Woods and John Rausch, who went on to win 6-2, 6-4.

Pirates 4, Bulldogs 3

Singles - Andy Dykstra, POL, def. Izaak Opatz, 6-1, 6-2; Matt Harris, WF, def. Isaac Swan, 6-0, 6-0; Ian Hosek, WF, def. Jason Newton, 6-1, 6-0; Jake Grebetz, POL, def. Kevin Sartiano, 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles - Kyle Jacobson/Ryan Rottenbiller, WF, def. Brett Vandeberg/Derrick Roberts 7-5, 6-2; Colton Woods/John Rausch, POL def. Brendan Viscomi/Scott Johnson, 6-2, 6-4; Adam Eraly/Gabe Caye, POL, def. Chase Pierce/Eli Reynolds, 6-1, 6-3.

At the Havre Invitational on Saturday, two rain delays didn°Ot stop Whitefish from finishing first and second in the singles standings.

Whitefish°Os number-one and number-two singles players, Izaak Opatz and Matt Harris, squared off against each other in the finals, with Harris overtaking his teammate 10-3 in pro sets.

Harris has moved up to the number-one singles position, with Opatz playing number two and Ben James returning from his ankle injury at number three.

The Whitefish singles players weren°Ot the only two to make the final round. After defeating the previously unbeaten Havre duo of John Christian and Chase Castloo 10-1 in the semifinals, Whitefish°Os Jacobson and Rottenbiller advanced to the final round, where they ran into some stiff competition in the form of twins.

Lewistown°Os Stephen and Matt Gruener beat Jacobson and Rottenbiller 10-8 in a back-and-forth match that stalled at deuce several times during game play.

°)()(That was an incredible match to watch,°+/- Cummings said. °)()(I believe we°Oll be seeing them (Grueners) again at state.°+/-

The Bulldogs play the Bigfork Vikings Thursday at 3 p.m.A6P5

Havre Invitational

Singles, Championship - Matt Harris, WF def. Isaac Opatz, WF, 10-3; Semifinals - Opatz, WF def. Todd Roe, HAV, 10-8; Harris, WF def. Brett Cline, CB, 10-2; Quarterfinals - Harris, WF def. Shane Kemmer, HAV, 6-1; Opatz, WF def. Billy Wagner, HAV, 6-3;

Doubles, Championship - Stephen Gruener/Matt Gruener, LEW def. Scott Rottenbiller, Kyle Jacobsen, WF, 10-8; Semifinals - Rottenbiller/Jacobsen, WF def. John Christian/Chase Castloo, HAV, 10-1; Quarterfinals - Rottenbiller/Jacobsen, WF def. Andy Springer/Dustin Vanden Bos, CON, 6-0; Gruener/Gruener, LEW def. Brendan Viscomi/Scott Johnston, WF, 6-3; Other Results - Viscomi/Johnston, WF def. Jordan Croft/Mason Sheppard, HAV, 6-3; Viscomi/Johnston, WF def. Kinholt/Zentmire, HAV, 6-3.