Glacier nets crosstown sweep over Flathead

By DAVID LESNICK

The Daily Inter Lake

The score didn’t matter as much as what actually transpired on the courts at Flathead Valley Community College on Friday afternoon.

“We got to play,” Glacier tennis coach Josh Munro said.

Hallelujah!

After weather spoiled outings in Great Falls in late March and last Saturday in Missoula, it was finally time to serve and volley for Flathead and Glacier.

“For everyone, it was a different kind of experience,” Munro said. “We were finally outside. For a lot of kids, it was just their fourth time outside (on courts).”

The results heavily favored Glacier as the Wolfpack won the girls and boys matchups by identical 8-0 scores.

“Overall, play is what you would expect with as little court time as everyone had,” Munro said.

“A lot of things to work on.”

There were two close matches in girls singles and one in boys singles and doubles.

Glacier’s Nina Friedman bested Isabel Sherman at No. 2 singles 6-4, 6-4 and Glacier’s Kari Inabnit followed at No. 3 with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Alice Addington.

Glacier’s Trevor Woodward topped Brett Thompson 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 boys singles. In doubles, Glacier’s Akhil Patel and Hunter Watterud stopped Cade Creekmore and Brian Wells, 6-2, 6-4.

First-year Flathead coach Jimmy Cripe saw plenty of positives despite the outcome.

“Really pleased with our kids,” he said.

“With their effort and composure. It was the first match of their lives for half of them — boys and girls. They handled the situation quite well.”

The crosstown was originally scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m., but was — yes — rained out.

Weather permitting, Flathead and Glacier host the three Missoula schools — Big Sky, Hellgate and Sentinel — today at FVCC for duals at 9 a.m, noon and 3 p.m.

“Glad to be playing,” Cripe said.

“New coach, new program, dealing with the weather and a late start. It’s full speed ahead now with match play and get them the experience they need.”

Girls

Glacier 8, Flathead 0

Singles — Maria Frampton, G, def. Delani Long, 6-0, 6-1; Nina Friedman, G, def. Isabel Sherman, 6-4, 6-4; Kari Inabnit, G, def. Alice Addington, 6-3, 7-5; Izy Lyon, G, def. Teagan Halloran, 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles — McKenna Johnson/Maggie Rudbach, G, def. Haily Fennelly/Sierra Dillworth, 6-0, 6-4; Kirsti Ericksen/Liv Wilson, G, def. Emma Hawkins/Kendall Pyron, 6-1, 6-2; Regin Koester/Katie Lessmeier, G, def. Olivi Mohatt/Klara Burgstaller, 6-1, 6-3; Ashlyn Sliter/Hannah Nikunen, G, def. Mikel Twitchel/Cassidy Lavin, 6-0, 6-3.

Boys

Glacier 8, Flathead 0

Singles — Rory Smith, G, def. Ethan Hawkins, 6-0, 6-1; Trevor Woodward, G, def. Brett Thompson, 6-3, 6-4; Ryan Kelly, G, def. Liam Rehbein, 6-0, 6-1; Robert West, G, def. Owen Shilling, 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles — Tyler Keller/Kyle Buckingham, G, def. Taylor Lewellan/David Marbureer, 6-0, 6-0; Morgan Cordell/Logan Hill, G, def. Stephen Bridges/Peyton Snell, 6-0, 6-2; Akhil Patel/Hunter Watterud, G, def. Cade Creekmore/Brian Wells, 6-2, 6-4; Ben Desmul/Drew Engellant, G, def. Ryan Thomson/Evan Hendrickson, 6-0, 6-0.