CFHS tennis openers postponed, reset for next Friday
George Kimerly returns serve during a Columbia Falls practice on Monday. Chris Peterson photo
By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News
The Columbia Falls tennis teams will have some obstacles to overcome this season. None of them are their own making.
Poor weather this spring has hampered efforts to resurface the city tennis courts. The city has purchased a snap-together surface to fix the ailing courts, but before the work can be started, crews need a few days of weather in the 50s to do the work.
Problem is, March was a cold month, with snow more often than not. Even when the sun shone, it was never very warm. As a result, the courts haven't been finished and the boys have been making do with the two courts that are good enough to play on.
"It's tough getting the practice we need on two courts," admitted second-year coach Gary Yee.
Still, the team is making do with what it has and was supposed to have its first match against Whitefish at home tomorrow (April 4) at 3 p.m. But the weather has resulted in postponement of the action and the matches are rescheduled for next Friday (April 11).
The team has some returning talent. Cody Maynard and Grant Getts went to state last year in doubles. Both are returning and Maynard played a lot in the off-season. Whether they'll remain in doubles hasn't been determined yet, Yee said.
Yee also expects good things from returning players Jake Ronish, Billy Garcia and Scott Hopkins. Also added in the mix this year is George Kimerly. He is a soccer goalie, but Kimerly's picking up the game quickly, Yee noted. Another player with potential is Vadim Vyagelskiy — a freshman who's showing some talent as well.
Whitefish continues to be the team to beat in the conference, Yee noted. The Bulldogs' top player last year, Ian Hosek, is now in the No. 2 spot — replaced by a foreign exchange student, Renzo Caimi from Chile.
On the girls side, coach Jerry Smalley said he expects good things from senior Sarah Marcille. She has the opportunity to be one of the few girls in school history to qualify for state in all four years of high school.
Marcille played doubles with her sister, Kate, when she was a freshman and sophomore, and as a junior, she qualified for state in singles.
The girls also are boosted by returning juniors Stephanie Raymond, Shelby Hobbs, Lydia Freeman and Laura Burgi.
Smalley said he also expects Tyler Thompson, Frankie Anderson, Sara Lueken and Pepper Borland to contribute.
The team doesn't lack for players. There are 38 girls — including 13 freshmen — playing tennis this year.