Getts wins divisional tennis title
Four Columbia Falls tennis team members are Billings-bound this week. Sophomore Emily Getts won the Northwest Class A singles crown May 16 in Kalispell, defeating Polson’s Shawna Oakley in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 for the title.
The match was a little closer than the score would suggest, as many points went to deuce, and volleys at times seemed to go on forever as each player did their best to best the other.
Getts typically grinds down opponents with her consistent, if not relentless, ability to return the ball.
“Emily proved she was the best singles player at divisional,” coach Jerry Smalley said. “We all wish her luck as she competes in the state Class A tournament against the state’s best players.”
On the boys side, senior Gavin Thelan played his best tennis of the year to take third at the tournament, dropping Quaid Harlan of Polson for the consolation championship, 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (10-8).
“He did well. He played quite a few three-setters and played his best tennis of the year,” coach Gary Yee said.
The doubles team of Caleb Baumann and Mason Gedlaman advanced to state as well. The seniors took fourth, losing 6-4, 6-0 in the consolation championship to Tommy Murphy and Bailey Jack of Whitefish.
The Wildkat and Wildcat teams took third overall.
“As a team, there is no question we played our best tennis of the year,” Smalley said. “It was quite rewarding as a coach to see how far these girls have improved this season.”
Matches will start Thursday and run through Friday.
Boys
Team scores — Polson 47, Whitefish 35, Columbia Falls 20, Libby 19.
Singles
Championship Bracket
Semifinals
Brady Hislop, P, def. Chaffin Ross, WF, 6-0, 6-0; Holden Roberts, WF, def. Gavin Thelen, CF, 6-0, 7-5.
Finals
Hislop def. Roberts, 6-0, 6-0.
Consolation Bracket
Third round
Quaid Harlan, P, def. Thomas Crosby, P, 6-1, 6-1; Colin Maloney, P, def. Colin Kenney, P, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
Semifinals
Harlan def. Ross, 6-3, 7-5; Thelen def. Maloney, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
Third place
Thelen def. Harlan, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8).
Doubles
Championship Bracket
Semifinals
Dylan McCrumb/Layne Zimmerman, P, def. Mason Gedlaman/Caleb Baumann, CF, 6-2, 6-1; Jason Schnackenberg/Cody Wood, L, def. Tyler Dupuis/Tommy Mercer, 6-4, 6-4.
Finals
McCrumb/Zimmerman def. Schnackenberg/Cody Wood, 6-2, 6-3.
Consolation Bracket
Second Round
Tommy Murphy/Bailey Jack, WF, def. Brown/Potthoff, WF, 6-3, 6-0; Tanner Blades/Nathan Fauth, WF, def. Wirkus/Wick, CF, 6-0, 6-0.
Semifinals
Gedlaman/Baumann def. Murphy/Jack, 6-4, 6-2; Blades/Fauth def. Dupuis/Mercer, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Third Place
Blades/Fauth def. Gedlaman/Baumann, 6-4, 6-0.
Girls
Team Scores — Polson 60, Whitefish 32, Columbia Falls 21, Libby 9.
Singles
Championship Bracket
Semifinals
Emily Getts, CF, def. Sloan Ellis, WF, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1; Shawna Oakley, P, def. Shannon Oakley, P, 6-2, 6-3.
Finals
Getts def. Shawna Oakley, 6-1, 6-3.
Consolation Bracket
Third Round
Katie Fyall, WF, def. Simone Craft, WF, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1; Lauren Dupuis, P, def. Cassie Carlyle, P, 6-4, 7-5.
Semifinals
Ellis def. Fyall, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3; Shannon Oakley def. Dupuis, 6-2, 6-3.
Third Place
Ellis def. Shannon Oakley, 6-2, 6-4.
Doubles
Championship Bracket
Semifinals
Mollybeth Hendrix/Taylor Rost, P, def. McKenzie Wick/Anna Peterson, WF, 6-1, 6-4; Karly Rochin/Marlee Congdon, P, def. Caroline Carbo/Heather Luedke, WF, 6-3, 7-5.
Finals
Hendrix/Rost def. Rochin/Congdon, 6-3, 3-3 (inj. def.)
Consolation Bracket
Second Round
Lenz/Lemm, P, def. Barrick Cosgriff, L, 6-1, 6-3; Brinton/Jackson, CF, def. Hawthorne/Boardner, L, 6-1, 7-5.
Semifinals
Wick/Peterson def. Lenz/Lemm, 6-1, 6-4; Carbo/Luedke def. Brinton/Jackson, 6-3, 6-3.
Third Place
Carbo/Luedke def. Wick/Peterson, 6-2, 6-3.
Late Thursday
Austin Reese, WF, def. Colin Kenney, P, 6-2, 6-0; Sarah McBride, L, def. Molly Schmit, CF, 6-3, 6-4; Shawna Lenz/Mollie Lemm, P, def. Cassidy Grady/Annika Gordon, WF, 6-2, 6-0; Baylee Brinton/Elizabeth Jackson, CF, def. Natalie Ward/Tarah Hoyt, CF, 6-0, 6-1.