Dogs dominate divisional
It was a strong closing day for Whitefish on Friday at the Northwestern A Divisional tennis tournament at Flathead Valley Community College and The Summit.
The Bulldogs had the singles champions in Gracie Smyley and Brendan Buls and boys doubles champs in Mark Anderson/Colter Upton.
Polson’s Berkley Ellis and Qia Harlan won the girls doubles title.
Buls and Anderson were defending divisional champions. Anderson won doubles last year with Forrest Kobelt.
Whitefish also won the team titles for boys and girls. Polson was second and Columbia Falls third.
The last time Whitefish swept divisional team titles was 2006.
It’s the second straight for the boys and their third in four years.
“I couldn’t be happier to see this group of guys win another divisional title,” Whitefish boys coach Chris Schwaderer said.
“The camaraderie that I see every day is really special. These kids love to play tennis and help each other get better.”
The top four finishers in singles and doubles advance to Class A state play at Flathead Valley Community College next week.
Smyley defeated Hannah Schweikert 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
It was the second meeting of the season for the two standouts. Smyley won the first one in straight sets.
“It was excruciating as a coach (to watch), and it was the same for the parents and the participants,” Whitefish girls coach Patrick Dryden said.
“It had to be a fans delight.”
Smyley trailed 5-2 in the first set and battled back from there.
“She just eliminated her unforced errors (after that),” Dryden said, “still played aggressively.
“Hannah played extremely well,” he continued.
“She hit everything back, put a lot of spin on the ball. It was tough to break her serves. She served so well.”
Buls rolled by Joe McDonald of Polson in his final 6-0, 6-0.
“Brendan Buls is a deserving champion,” Schwaderer said.
“He worked his way through the bracket with pure efficiency. Brendan has worked so hard to get where he is, and I admire his commitment to the game and his cerebral approach. Not only does he want to make himself better, but he is also driven to help the other players on the team. He cares as much about their game as he does about his own. If this kid is not a tennis coach some day, I’ll be shocked.”
Anderson/Upton defeated John Gilk/Camryn Lingle of Columbia Falls in their final, 6-2, 6-2.
“Mark Anderson and Colter Upton are equally special,” Schwaderer said.
“They were both beginners three years ago, but due to their athleticism and love for tennis, they progressed rapidly. I give a lot of credit for their success to the fact that they are multi-sport athletes who know how to compete. They have not bought into the idea that they have to specialize in one sport in order to succeed. The variety of skills that they bring to tennis has helped them to be as successful as they are.”
The Whitefish boys and Polson girls are defending Class A state champions.
Correction
It was incorrectly reported that John Gilk and Tristan Grein of Columbia Falls finished first in boys doubles at the Northwestern A Divisional tennis tournament last year in Friday’s divisional tournament story. They finished second. Whitefish’s Mark Anderson and Forrest Kobelt were the champions.
Girls
Team Totals
Whitefish 45, Polson 40, Columbia Falls 20,Libby 17, Ronan 4
Singles
Gracie Smyley, W, def. Hannah Schweikert, CF, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
Third Place
Shea McGuinness, P, def. Marissa Wood, L, 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
Championship
Berkley Ellis/Qia Harlan, P, def. Aubrey Hanks/Olivia Potthoff, W, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
Third Place
Ara Mercer/Megan Rost, P, def. Peyton Kastella/Jesse Grawunder, W, 6-3, 6-3
Boys
Team Totals
Whitefish 56, Polson 46, Columbia Falls 26, Libby 17, Ronan 8
Singles
Championship
Brendan Buls, W, def. Joe McDonald, P, 6-0, 6-0
Third Place
Jayce Cripe, W, def. Neils Getts, CF, 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
Championship
Mark Anderson/Colter Upton, W, def. John Gilk/Camryn Lingle, CF, 6-2, 6-2
Third Place
Kendal Forman-Webster/Bridger Wenzel, P, def. Anton Lefthand/Trevor Schultz, P, 6-4, 5-6, 6-3.