Libby boys Class B-C state tennis champs, again
The Daily Inter Lake
LIBBY — Libby captured its second-straight Class B-C state boys tennis team title on Saturday at Playfair Park.
The Loggers, despite having no individual or doubles champions, finished with a 29 team score. Missoula Loyola Sacred Heart and Great Falls Central tied for second with 28 points.
The Loggers were led by senior doubles players Erik Lauer and Braydon Thom, who finished second for the second time in two years. They fell to Loyola’s David Ramsey and Fisher Richardson in the finals 6-4, 7-5.
Jhamaal Sykes finished fourth, losing to Valley Christian’s Jake Hollenback in the consolation final 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.
Sykes, a senior, was sixth last year.
“This morning when Jhamaal won that gave us that extra point to win it,” Libby coach Kyle Hannah said.
“The one that sealed it for us was Bigfork beating Great Falls Central.”
That was Colton and Clayton Reichenbach of Bigfork in doubles besting Wyatt Walters and Benson Chu for fifth/sixth place.
Libby qualified two in singles and two doubles teams for state. All six players are seniors.
Colin Maloney also competed in singles for Libby along with the doubles team of Ryan Nagle and Gio Cano.
“It’s how deep you are,” Hannah said of what wins championships.
“And this year, we were deep enough to pull it off. Everyone contributed to it that went on the trip. Everyone scored points.”
Libby’s first title in school history a year ago was also won it Missoula.
“This one (title) is extra sweeter,” Hannah said.
“The guys came in with a target on their backs. They held their heads high. They were excited to be there and ready for the challenge,
“It’s a pretty special group,” Hannah added. “It’s a hard a one to lose. They are good kids, but for them this was the best way to go out.”
Bigfork, which was fifth with 19 points, had another placer — Alex Buenz was sixth in singles.
On the girls side, Townsend came out on top with a 26 score.
Baker, 23, was second and Fairfield, 21, third.
Bigfork, Chinook and Conrad tied for fourth with 18 points.
Placing fifth for Bigfork were Ellie Berreth in singles and Kalie Wicklund and Ahna Fox in doubles.
BOYS
Team Totals
Libby 29, Loyola Sacred Heart and Great Falls Central 28, Valley Christian 23, Bigfork 19, Ronan 13, Conrad 11, Cut Bank 10, Troy 4, St. Ignatius and Anaconda 3, Darby 1.
Singles
Final: Roger Mai, GFC, def. Trey Christiaens, VCS, 7-5, 6-2.
Consolation final: Jake Hollenback, VCS, def. Jhamaal Sykes, LB, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.
Fifth-sixth: Bailey Moss, RN, def. Alex Buenz, BF, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Doubles
Finals: David Ramsey/Fisher Richardson, LSH, def. Erik Lauer/Braydon Thom, LB, 6-4, 7-5.
Consolation final: Dawson Matt/Colby Kraft, CB, def. Clint Judisch/Austin Padilla, CON, 0-6, 6-2, 7-6.
Fifth-sixth: Clayton Reichenbach/Colton Reichenbach, BF, def. Wyatt Walters/Benson Chu, GFC, na.
GIRLS
Team Totals
Townsend 26, Baker 23, Fairfield 21, Bigfork, Chinook and Conrad 18, Loyola Sacred Heart 14, Choteau and Valley Christian 10, Fort Benton 9, St. Ignatius 8, Clark Fork, Philipsburg and Troy 4, Anaconda, Forsyth and Libby 3, Darby, Cut Bank and Chester CJI 2.
Singles
Final: Ellen Widell, BK, def. Jesse Hamlen, TOW, 6-2, 6-1.
Consolation final: Ashley Lundstrom, LP, def. Cheyenne Jones, VCS, 6-3, 6-3.
Fifth-sixth: Ellie Berreth, BF, def. Elsa Kylen, SI, 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles
Final: Dania Jones/Dalayne Van Dyke, CON, def. Amelia Konen/Annie Townsend, FF, 6-3, 7-5.
Consolation final: Sierra Swank/Megan Pruttis, CHI, def. Kara Saltzman/Alexa Olsen, TOW, 6-4, 7-6.
Fifth-sixth: Kalie Wicklund/Ahna Fox, BF, def. Jacy Job/Mattea Burke, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.