Vikes, Vals split tennis opener

The Bigfork High School boys’ and girls’ tennis teams started their seasons with splits on the road Saturday against Corvallis and Hamilton.

Both the Vikes and Vals defeated the Hamilton Broncs, but lost to the Corvallis Blue Devils.

Bigfork topped the Broncs 6-1, getting wins from no. 1 single Owen Roberts, no. 3 Jordan Sabo and no. 4 Bridger Mahlum. Roberts won his match in two sets, 7-5, 6-0. Sabo also won in two, 6-1, 6-0. Phil Sandry won the lone junior varsity singles match in a 10-2 pro set.

All three of the Vikes’ doubles pairs defeated their opponents. The duo of senior Travis Boughton and junior Tyler Butts won their no. 1 doubles match 6-3, 6-3. The no. 3 doubles pair of freshmen Bridger Mahlum and Casey Brown blanked their opponents 6-0, 6-0.

“We were pleasantly surprised,” Bigfork coach Matt Porrovecchio said. “They had a good outing for only having had 10 practices.”

Last year’s boys state champs, the Blue Devils, proved harder to beat. The Vikes fell 5-2.

Mahlum was the Vikes’ only winner in singles competition. He defeated Tyler Roberts 6-2, 6-1.

Shorthanded and being as it was Bigfork’s first meet, the Vikes switched things up and moved Scott Taylor and Javier Guevara, who had played in the no. 2 doubles against the Broncs, to the no. 1 doubles spot. Dylan Richmond and Jordan Sabo, who both played singles against Hamilton were the no. 2 team while Sandry and Butts teamed up in the no. 3 position. They recorded the other Viking victory with a 8-0 win.

“Corvallis has a solid group of players,” Porrovecchio said.

The Vals found the same amount of success and defeat against the Broncs and Blue Devils.

Bigfork topped the Broncs 6-1.

Sophomores Quindee Averill and Roxy Thurman pulled double duty for the Vals. Both recorded wins in their singles matches — 6-3, 6-0 and 6-2, 6-2 respectively — and then paired up in the no. 1 doubles spot. The duo defeated Courtney Quinian and Kaitlin Baldridge 6-1, 6-3.

“That’s a bit of an oddity later in the year, but it’s early,” Porrovecchio said. “They get to hit shots and see balls they wouldn’t have in singles.”

Cassie Keller also won her singles match. She beat Laura Cornelisse 6-3, 6-3. The remaining two doubles teams also recorded wins for the Vals. Jade Bosic and Kelly Deaton won their match in three sets and Mindy Rambo and Claire Wilken won in two.

The Blue Devils were tough on the Vals, defeating Bigfork 4-1.

Bigfork’s win came from no. 1 single Breanna Hughes. She beat Megin Madruda in three sets 6-3, 7-6 and 8-6. Averill and Thurman lost their doubles match against the Blue Devils. They also went three sets 6-3, 6-7 and 5-7.

“We saw a lot about our players,” Porrovecchio said, adding that competition brought out the best in many of them.

The Vikes and Vals host Libby March 31 in Bigfork. Start time is 1 p.m.

Bigfork 6, Hamilton 1

Singles - Owen Roberts, B, def. Eric Johnson 7-5, 6-0; Evan Caughey, H, def. Dylan Richmond 6-3, 6-1; Jordan Sabo, B, def. Josh Keinig 6-1, 6-0; Bigfork won No. 4 singles by forfeit.

Doubles - Travis Boughton/Tyler Butts, B, def. Ryan Splatt/Alex Ridgway, 6-3, 6-3; Scott Taylor/Javier Guevara, B, def. Josh Peterson/Tyler Berghtel 6-1, 6-3; Bridger Mahlum/Casey Brown, B, def. Blake Brintnal/Justin Wallace, 6-0, 6-0.

Corvallis 5, Bigfork 2

Singles - Geoff Fehr, C, def. Owen Roberts 6-1, 6-1; Levi Pauli, C, def. Travis Boughton, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3; Spencer Fehr, C, def. Tyler Butts 2-6, 7-5, 6-0; Bridger Mahlum, B, def. Tyler Roberts, 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles - Eric Spencer/Taylor Wagel, C, def. Scott Taylor/Javier Gueverz 6-3, 6-4; Dillon Murray/John Powell, C, def. Dylan Richmond/Jordan Sabo 10-4; Phil Sandry/Tyler Butts, B, def. Nathan Venema/Allsop 8-0.

Bigfork 5, Hamilton 2

Singles - Laura Moran, H, def. Breanna Hughes, 6-3, 6-2; Quindee Avenll, B, def. Ashli Mildenbergger, 6-1, 6-0; Roxy Thurman, B, def. Katie Andre, 6-3, 6-2; Cassie Keller, B, def. Laura Cornelisse, 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles - Courtney Quinlan/Kaitlin Baldridge, H, def. Quindee Averill/Roxy Thurman 1-6, 3-0; Jade Bosic/Kelly Deaton, B, def. Rebecca Hankel/Teddy Shook, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1; Mindy Rambo/Claire Wilken, B, def. Jenni Schreckendgust/Tessa Helgeson, 6-0, 6-0.

Corvallis 4, Bigfork 1

Singles - Breanna Hughes, B, def. Megin Madruda, 6-3, 7-6 (5); Kayla Gingerich, C, def. Cassie Keller, 6-1, 6-2.

Doubles - Kirstin Bull/Arielle Perkins, C, def. Roxy Thurman/Quindee Averill, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5; Emily Keegan/Callie Ward, C, def. Jade Bosic/Kelly Deaton, 6-1, 6-2; Katie Kerner/Tabitha Hooten, C, def. Mindy Rambo/Claire Wilken, 8-4.