Tennis teams seeing plenty of outdoor practice

The Columbia Falls tennis teams are enjoying something they haven’t seen during the first weeks of tennis practice for years — sun.

With above average temperatures in March, both the girls and the boys have hit the courts in full force the past few weeks as they tune up for the season.

The Wildkats will see change at the head and assistant coach positions this year. Longtime coach Jerry Smalley retired at the end of last season.

Gene Marcille will step up to the head job after two years as an assistant to Smalley, and Michelle Ramage Colliander will take the reins as the junior varsity coach.

“I’m really excited about this opportunity, and it’s an honor to follow coach Smalley,” Marcille said. “My best move so far was to hire Michelle as an assistant. She was a state champion for the Wildkats back in 1997, and she’s fired up to be back involved with Wildkat tennis.”

The Kats return a veteran group of players, including junior Emily Getts, last year’s Northwest Class A divisional champion and all-state competitor.

She’ll be joined by seniors Hailey Sapa and Kaylee Flannigan, junior Samantha Gilk, and sophomores Molly Schmit and Sammi Mueller. Newcomers expected to make an impact are juniors Harley Molchan and Sydney Grilley, along with sophomore Morgan Stenger.

“Emily has a legitimate shot at a state championship and has been working on her tennis all winter at The Summit,” Marcille said. “Hailey and Molly have also put in lots of extra time, and though Sydney and Morgan are new to tennis, they both started in state championships earlier this year with Wildkat soccer and volleyball respectively. They understand what it takes to compete.”

The Wildcats are in redevelopment mode, 13-year coach Gary Yee said. Last year, three players went to state — Gavin Thelan and the doubles squad of Caleb Baumann and Mason Gedlaman. But they graduated and moved on, leaving the team of 14 with no seniors.

Yee said he’s hoping for good things from returning players Brock Denney, Cooper Wendt and Trevor Wick.

“They’ll be our leaders,” he said.

But Yee is optimistic about the squad.

“They’re all eager to learn,” he said.

The teams are scheduled to open the season against conference foe Whitefish on March 26. The Cats are at home, the Kats away. Matches start at 3 p.m.