Viking tennis loses close meet to Polson; Valkyries hammer Columbia Falls

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

One win would have made Bigfork High School's boys tennis team record perfect.

The Vikes, 3-1 on the season, nearly beat Polson Saturday on the road. The Pirates edged out the Vikes 4-3 with the help of a Bigfork forefeit at No. 1 doubles.

Jordan Sabo did his best to notch a Bigfork win. He fell in the first and last set against Shanw Medland (0-6, 5-7) but won the second set 6-0. That loss was his only one of the week. He won the remainder of his matches — all singles — 6-3, 6-4; 6-0, 6-2; and 6-1, 6-2.

Phillipe Myers won his snowy match against Columbia Falls' Billy Garcia last Thursday in Bigfork. He blanked Garcia 6-0, 6-0 as the flakes fell. The weather was better for Myers on Saturday. He defeated Tyler Engebretson 6-1, 6-0. Myers kept up his winning ways with the help of Bridger Mahlum. The doubles pair topped Stevensville's Levi McConnell and Justin Stockdale 6-1, 6-0. On Tuesday, Myers finished the week 4-0 with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Glacier High School's Patrick Phatharaampornchai.

Mahlum also finished the week 4-0. He began the week by shutting out Columbia Falls' Scott Hopkins 6-0, 6-0 and finshed the week battling off John Hammett of Glacier. Mahlum kept the match from going to three sets and won 6-0, 7-6.

"They had standout games against Glacier," Bigfork coach Matt Porrovecchio said of Myers and Mahlum. "They had good matches that tested their mental toughness and play. I'm proud and impressed of how they played."

Some of Bigfork's youngest players found the win column as well. Freshmen Evan Jordt and Ryan Gembala split thier doubles matches, ending the week 2-2. They won against Columbia Falls' Jon Riffey and Mark Johnson and Stevensville's Travis Griffin and Nathan Taveres. Jordt and Gembala beat the Wildcats 8-2 in an eight-game pro set, which was played due to weather and time constraints. They won 6-1, 6-1 against Stevensville.

Zach Hansen and Chance Anderson made their doubles debut versus Glacier on Tuesday. The duo fell 6-3, 6-2 to Juan-Pablo Gevaudan and Kyle Leduc.

Bigfork travels to Whitefish today, April 17, before hosting Libby and Cutbank April 19 and Flathead High School April 21.

Boys

Bigfork 5, Columbia Falls 2

Singles — Philip Myers, B, def. Billy Garcia, 6-0, 6-0; Bridger Mahlum, B, def. Scott Hopkins, 6-0, 6-0; Sean Barret, B, def. Eric Schaffer, 8-3; Jordan Sabo, B, def. Joel Ballard, 6-3, 6-4.

Doubles — Grant Getts/Jake Ronish, CF, def. Tyler Butts/Scott Taylor, 6-1, 6-2; Cody Maynard/George Kimmerly, CF, def. Seth Gordon/Cole Francisco, 8-1; Evan Jordt/Ryan Gembala, B, def. Jon Riffey/Mark Johnson, 8-2.

Boys

Polson 4, Bigfork 3

SINGLES — Phillip Myers, B, def. Tyler Engebretson, 6-1, 6-0; Bridger Mahlum, B, def. Kyle Cooper, 6-2, 6-0; Scott Taylor, B, def. Shad Giles, 6-0, 6-3; Shawn Medland, P, def. Jordan Sabo, 6-0, 0-6, 7-5.

DOUBLES — Matt Roberts/Stefan McCrumb, P, won by forfeit; Seth Hovenkotter/Steven Roberts, P, def. Seth Gordon/Cole Francisco, 6-3, 6-0; TJ Lipko/Jonah Barta, P, def. Evan Jordt/Ryan Gembala, 7-5, 6-1.

Boys

Bigfork 6, Stevensville 1

SINGLES — Scott Taylor, B, def. James Stockdale, 6-0, 6-0; Jordan Sabo, B, def. Riley Slaughter, 6-0, 6-2; Bridger Mahlum, B, def. Cody Stevens, 6-0, 6-0; Zac Hansen, B, def. Mark Galeazzi, 6-0, 6-0.

DOUBLES — Phillip Meyers/Mahlum, B, def. Levi McConnell/Justin Stockdale, 6-1, 6-0; Ryan Dufresne/Sam Lubbers, S, def. Cole Francisco/Seth Gordon, 5-7, 7-6 (6-1); Evan Jordt/Ryan Gemballa, B, def. Travis Griffin/Nathan Taveres, 6-1, 6-1.

Boys

Bigfork 5, Glacier 3

Singles: Phillipe Meyers (BF) def. Patrick Phattharaampornchai 6-1, 6-4, Bridger Mahlum (BF) def. John Hammett 6-0, 7-6 (3); Sean Barrett (BF) def. John Patrick 6-0, 6-3; Jordan Sabo (BF) def. Michael Boettcher 6-1, 6-2.

Doubles: Scott Taylor/Tyler Butts (BF) def. Kyle Schmauch/Scott Marvin, 6-1, 6-4; Brandon Simpson/Dan Howell (G) def. Cole Francisco/Seth Gordon 6-2, 6-4; Tyson Howe/Tyler Russell (G) def. Evan Jordt/Ryan Gamble 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; Juan-Pablo Gevaudan/Kyle Leduc (G) def. Zac Hansen/Chance Anderson 6-3, 6-2.

Come rain, snow, sleet or shine, the Bigfork High School girls tennis team will compete.

The Vals packed in four matches in a five-day span and came out 3-1.

Bigfork's toughest competition came from the Polson Lady Pirates. Perenial powerhouses in Western A tennis, the Lady Pirates allowed the Vals just two wins in Polson on Saturday.

Kelly Deaton, who notched two singles wins on the week and a doubles victory as well, defeated Polson's Kelsie Jones 6-1, 6-3. She faced off in an 8-game pro set againts Columbia Falls' No. 1 Sarah Marcille on Thursday, falling 8-3. Deaton teamed up with Jade Bosic Tuesday against Glacier High School. The pair went the distance with Arica Avila and Katlyn Hacke. The Vals came out on top 7-5, 7-6.

The Vals played the pro sets at the Montana Athletic Club courts after being washed out of the city courts by snow flurries.

Also winning in Polson was Jen Wirth. Wirth, along with doubles partner Nicolette Peterson, downed Columbia Falls' Shelby Hobbs and Steph Raymond 8-3 in Bigfork. The duo defeated Brittney Constantino and Becky Weidow of Stevensville on Saturday, before losing to Glacier's Rachel Sheririll and Genna Boyer.

Up against the best, Bigfork's Quindee Averill and Roxy Thurman teamed up Saturday versus Polson but were edged out. Averill and Thurman both won their singles matches of the week. Seperately, they made quick work of their Columbia Falls' opponents as the snow melted but the cold temperatures stuck around. Averill topped Laura Burgi 8-1, while Thurman blanked Lydia Freeman 8-0.

Adding to Bigfork's wins were freshmen Elyse Meyers and Hannah Barrett. The two won their first doubles match against Glacier's Brianna Walling and Lauren Jones 6-3, 6-3.

"There's a large group of highly competitive, like-skill level girls gunning for varsity spots," Bigfork coach Matt Porrovecchio said. "The competition is good and keeps up the high level of play. You can't coach competition from your peers."

The Vals stay just as busy this week, traveling to Whitefish today, April 17, and hosting Libby and Cutbank on April 19 as well as Flathead High School on April 21.

Girls

Bigfork 6, Columbia Falls 1

Singles — Sarah Marcille, CF, def. Kelly Deaton, 8-3; Quindee Averill, B, def. Laura Burgi, 8-1; Roxy Thurman, B, def. Lydia Freeman, 8-0; Jade Bosic, B, def. Lexi Butkowski, 8-1.

Doubles — Nicolette Peterson/Jennifer Wirth, B, def. Shelby Hobbs/Steph Raymond, 8-3; Lisa Kelecy/Ariana Shults, B, def. Franki Anderson/Tyler Thompson, 8-1; Ann Marie Losee/Claire Wilken, B, def. Alysia Potter/Sara Lueken, 8-1.

Girls

Polson 5, Bigfork 2

SINGLES — Kelly Deaton, B, def. Kelsie Jones, 6-1, 6-3; Jane Probst, P, def. Jade Bosic, 7-5, 6-2; Jen Wirth, B, def. Sarah Keeble, 6-1, 6-2; Kelsie Howell, P, def. Nicolette Peterson, 6-4, 7-5.

DOUBLES — Cali Hislop/Malika Erickson, P, def. Quindee Averill/Roxy Thurman, 6-3, 6-4; Maddie Grebetz/Mattea York, P, def. Arianna Shults/Lisa Kelsey, 6-1, 6-2; Cassie Ward/Kayla Rochin, P, def. Clair Wilken/Ann Marie Loesse, 6-1, 6-0.

Girls

Bigfork 6, Stevensville 1

SINGLES — Quindee Averill, B, def. Shelby Conner, 6-2, 6-3; Roxy Thurman, B, Sarah Allred, 6-0, 6-0; Kelly Deaton, B, def. Misiel Ravinen, 6-1, 6-0; Jade Bosic, B, def. Cassidy Morgan, 6-0, 6-1.

DOUBLES — Jen Wirth/Nicollette Petersen, B, def. Brittney Constantino/Becky Weidow, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4; Airanna Shults/Lisa Kelsey, B, def. Christina Boberg/Josie Clark, 6-1, 6-4; Kylee Andeison/Courtney Lisko, S, def. Claire Wilkens/Ann Marie Losee, 6-4, 6-3.

Girls

Bigfork 5, Glacier 3

Singles: Quindee Averill (BF) def. Cami Mathison 2-6, 6-3, 6-3; Liana Bates (G) def. Roxy Thurman 6-0, 6-1; Arianna Shults (BF) def. Hilary Syvertson 6-3, 6-4; Lisa Kelecy (BF) def. Montana Ziglar 6-1, 6-3.

Doubles: Rachel Sherrill/Genna Boyer (G) def. Jen Wirth/Nicolette Peterson 6-1, 6-7 (5) 6-3; Jade Bosir/Kelly Deaton (BF) def. Arica Avila/Katlyn Hacke 7-5 7-6 (3); Hillary Secrist/Ann Koenig (G) def. Claire Wilken/Logun Kosh 6-0, 6-3; Elyse Meyers/Hannah Barrett (BF) def. Brianna Walling/Lauren Jones 6-3, 6-3.