Bulldog netters bounced at state tourney
Whitefish's boys tennis team made a quick exit from the state Class A tournament in Billings last week.
Singles-player Joel Mallams was bounced in the second round of consolation play when he dropped a tough 6-4, 6-3 match to Glendive's Josh Hill. The senior suffered a first-round loss to eventual runner-up, Bob Huppert, 6-2, 6-3.
"Joel had a tough draw and had some stiff competition to start off with," Whitefish coach Chris Schwaderer said. "But I thought he played some of his best tennis of the year. The competition he faced was at a different level, and Joel elevated his game."
Mallams scored his lone win over Tommy O'Leary of Billings Central. He edged O'Leary 6-1, 7-6 (7) to stay alive in the double-elimination bracket.
The doubles team of Connor Ellis and Joel Bacher took a similar route through the playoffs. The duo lost to Scott Athas and Christian Hannesson of Glendive, 6-3, 6-2, in the first round before scoring their only win in a 6-1, 6-1 rout against Keenan Dolezal and Zach Cichosz of Havre. The Whitefish duo was eliminated in the next round by conference foes TJ Benson and Alex Cislo of Libby, 6-3, 6-1.
The loss in the match against Glendive likely came down to jitters, Schwaderer said, but he was impressed with how the team rebounded in the next round.
"Havre has a good program, and we took care of them pretty handily," he said. "Connor and Joel settled down quite a bit and rolled."
While the state tourney was a one-day affair for the team, overall Schwaderer looks at the season as an incredible success.
"We started with three losses, and I was a little concerned," he said. "But I found that the team is a great group, that they're competitive, and that they have exceptional chemistry. We went on quite a roll, winning seven duals in a row and then doing really well at divisional. That says a lot about the kind of kids we've got. I'm looking forward to next year already. I think we have a few kids who could have a breakthrough year."
The coach commended the seniors' leadership, saying they each contributed in their own unique way.
"They all set a positive example about how the team should be and the kind of attitude that's needed on the court," he said.
As Schwaderer looks to build the program back up to an elite level, he hopes to offer clinics in the winter to develop skills prior to the season.
"Our kids don't get a chance to play any off-season tennis," he said. "We're buried early, and the snow hangs late. I'd like to get some courts set up in the gym to work on basic skills. That way, when the season starts, we're not too rusty."