Vals doubles beat out at state

By FAITH MOLDAN/Bigfork Eagle

The Valkyries' lone state qualifiers, doubles partners Quindee Averill and Roxy Thurman, made a quick two-match exit at the Class A State Tennis Tournament last weekend.

"They played well," Bigfork coach Matt Pororvecchio said of Bigfork's duo. "The competition is just so tough at state and our conference is super-stacked with talent."

Averill and Thurman met Diamond Braine and Kylie Jimmerson of Fergus in their opening match. The Vals fell in three sets 6-3, 1-6, 6-1. Bigfork's match on Thursday, May 22, at the original tournament location — Polson and Ronan — was one of a handful of matches that were completed due to almost constant rain. Another close match, this one in Kalispell after the tournament was moved, against Corvallis' Kirstin Bull and Callie Ward knocked Bigfork out of the running. The Lady Blue Devils won 6-1, 7-5.

"On a different day they could have won. They played tough," Porrovecchio said of Averill and Thurman. "It's not an issue of bending or folding to the competition. We're pretty happy with how they played and hopefully they'll be back next year." Both girls are juniors this year.

Friday at Kalispell

GIRLS

Team Totals

Polson 12

Billing Central 11

Park 10

Havre 9

Beaverhead County 7

Whitefish 5

Dawson County 4

Fergus 4

Libby 4

Corvallis 3

Custer County 3

Hamilton 2

Columbia Falls 1

Ronan 1

SINGLES

First Round

Brittney Hatzel, Billings Central def. Sarah Marcille, Columbial Falls 6-2, 6-0

Katie Mariani, Havre def. Kelsi Nordahl, Beaverhead County 6-2, 6-0

Hope Hedges, Havre def. Brittany Courville, Ronan 6-1, 6-1

Jackie Mee, Libby def. Ashlea Duke, Dawson County 6-2, 6-0

Anna Arrasmith, Park def. Megin Madruga, Corvallis 6-4, 6-1

Brielle Menegazzi, Whitefish def. Shelby Toennis, Custer County 6-0, 6-1

Megan Geiger, Dawson County def. Katie Klundt, Whitefish 6-1, 3-6, 6-2

Stacia Velasco, Beaverhead County def Abby Knab, Fergus 6-4, 6-1

Quarterfinals

K. Mariani, Hav def. B. Hatzell, BC 0-6, 6-3, 6-2

J. Mee, Lib def. H. Hedges, Hav 6-4, 7-5

A. Arrasmith, Park def. B. Menegazzi, WF 3-6, 6-3, 6-1

S. Velasco, BCHS def. M. Geiger, DCHS 6-2, 6-3

Semifinals

K. Mariani, Hav def. J. Mee, Lib 2-6, 7-5, 6-1

A. Arrasmith, Park def. S. Velasco, BCHS 6-0, 6-1

Consolation

S. Marcille, CF def. Kelsi Nordahl, BCHS 6-3, 6-3

B. Courville, Ron def. A. Duke, DCHS 6-2, 6-4

M. Madruga, Cor def. S. Toennis, CCHS 6-3, 6-2

K. Klundt, WF def. A. Knab, Fer. 6-3, 6-3

H. Hedges, Hav def. S. Marcille, CF 6-1, 6-2

B. Hatzell, BC def. B. Courville, Ron 6-3, 6-2

M. Madruga, Cor def. M. Geiger, DCHS 7-6(8-6), 6-2

B. Menegazzi, WF def. K. Klundt, WF 6-2, 6-1

B. Hatzell, BC def. H. Hedges, Hav 6-4, 6-0

B. Menegazzi, WF def. M. Madruga, Cor 6-2, 6-2

DOUBLES

First Round

Cathy Muskett/Katie Dahlin, Billings Central def. Sammi Mitchell, Beaverhead County 6-1, 6-4

Mattea York/Maddy Grebetz, Polson def. Haley Donovan/Courtney Kinholt, Havre 6-1, 6-0

Diamond Braine/Kylie Jimmerson, Fergus def. Quindee Averill/Roxie Thurman, Bigfork 6-3, 1-6, 6-1

Laura Gillette/Mary Gillette, Custer County def. Kirstin Bull/Callie Ward, Corvallis 6-4, 0-6, 6-2

Cali Hislop/Malika Erickson, Polson def. Jolee Landgraf/Morgan McCann, Havre 6-0, 6-1

Kelsey Jura/Alyssa Smith, Hamilton def. Jessie Robinson/Lindsay Sebastian, Billings Central 7-5, 2-6, 6-2

Carly Selvig/Blair Milne, Dawson County def. Alyse Baker/Nadine Dietrich, Beaverhead County 6-3, 6-3

Mollie Morrow/Hanna Barney, Park def. Cassie Ward/Kayla Rochin, Polson 6-2, 6-2

Quarterfinals

M. York/M. Grebetz, Pol def. C. Dahlin/K. Muskett, BC 4-6, 7-6(7-3), 6-2

D. Braine/K. Jimmerson, Fer def. L. Gillette/M. Gillette, CCHS 6-4, 0-6, 6-2

C. Hislop/M. Erickson, Pol def. K. Jura/A. Smith, Ham 6-1, 6-3

M. Morrow/H. Barney, Park def. C. Selvig/B. Milne, DCHS 4-6, 6-2, 6-0

Semifinals

M. York/M. Grebetz, Pol def. D. Braine/K. Jimmerson, Fer 6-3, 6-1

C. Hislop/M. Erickson, Pol def. M. Morrow/H. Barney, Park 7-5, 6-3

CONSOLATION

S. Mitchell/A. Brammer, BCHS def. H. Donovan/C. Kinholt, Hav 7-6(7-0), 6-3

K. Bull/C. Ward, Cor def. Q. Averill/R. Thurman, BF 6-1, 7-5

J. Robinson/L. Sebastian, BC def. J. Landgraf/M. McCann, Hav 6-2, 6-3

A. Baker/N. Dietrich, BCHS def. C. Ward/K. Rochin, Pol 3-6, 6-4, 6-3

L. Gillette/M. Gillette, CCHS def. S. Mitchell/A. Brammer, BCHS 6-3, 6-3

C. Dahlin/K. Muskett, BC def. K. Bull/C. Ward, Cor 6-2, 6-2

J. Robinson/L. Sebastian, BC def. C. Selvig/B. Milne, DCHS 7-5, 6-7(7-4), 6-4

A. Baker/N. Dietrich, BCHS def. K. Jura/A. Smith, Ham 3-6, 6-4, 6-3

C. Dahlin/K. Muskett, BC def. L. Gillette/M. Gillette, CCHS 6-4, 6-4

J. Robinson/L. Sebastian, BC def. A. Baker/N. Dietrich, BCHS 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

Girls

Team Totals

Polson 29, Park 22, Billings Central 19, Havre 19, Whitefish 8, Beaverhead 7, Dawson County 4, Fergus 4, Libby 4, Corvallis 3, Custer County 3, Hamilton 2, Columbia Falls 1, Ronan 1, Bigfork 0

Singles

Final

Katie Mariani, Havre def. Annah Arrasmith, Park 6-4, 7-5

Consolation

Semifinals

Brittney Hatzell, Billings Central def. Stacia Velasco, Beaverhead County 6-2, 6-3

Brielle Menegazzi, Whitefish def. Jackie Mee, Libby 6-4, 6-2

Third/Fourth

Hatzell, BC def. Menegazzi, WF 6-3, 6-3

Doubles

Final

Cali Hislop/Malika Erickson, Polson def. Mattea York/Maddy Grebetz, Polson 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Consolation

Semifinals

Mollie Morrow/Hanna Barney, Park def. Cathy Muskett/Katie Dahlin, Billings Central 7-6(7-2), 6-0

Jessie Robinson/Lindsay Sebastian, Billings Central def. Diamond Braine/Kylie Jimmerson, Fergus 6-3, 6-3

Third/Fourth

Morrow/Barney, Park def. Robinson/Sebastian, BC 6-0, 6-3

Only one Bigfork High School boys tennis player remained standing on the final day of the Class A State Tennis Tournament, but all the Vikings played well against tough competition.

Philip Myers lost out to Whitefish's Ryan Rottenbiller in three sets in the consolation semifinals Saturday morning. The two had to wait for the courts to dry after an early morning rain shower. Once the courts were dry enough, Myers took the first set from Rottenbiller 6-3. He controlled the net and sent Rottenbiller hustling after the ball and to all corners of the court.

The second set slowly but surely went Rottenbiller's way. He picked up a game on Myers 3-2 and went on to win the set 6-2 to force a third set in which both players showed much greater emotion than the first two sets.

"Talk about tough competition," Bigfork coach Matt Porrovecchio said.

Again, Rottenbiller took a slim 2-1 lead and extended it with a couple of lucky breaks where the ball hit the top of the net and quickly dropped on the other side and out of the reach of Myers. Rottenbiller won the final set 6-1.

Myers began state tournament action with a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Justin Hartford of Fergus. Undeterred, Myers won his next two matches. He defeated Hardin's Chase Johnson 6-1, 7-5 and Havre's Mason Sheppard 6-0, 6-3.

"They were going at it hard," Porrovecchio said of Myers and his opponents' play. "For a kid who's only played tennis a couple of years he did really well." Porrovecchio added that he believed Myers' natural athleticism and smarts helped him outlast some of his opponents. Myers finished the tournament tied for fifth place.

Also outlasting their opponents in the consolation bracket were Bigfork doubles partners Scott Taylor and Tyler Butts. The duo opened the tournament with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Dawson County's Brett Patterson and Jesse Orcutt. Corvallis' Levi Pauley and Jake Sangster got the best of the Vikes in the quarterfinal round 6-3, 6-4.

Faced with a loser-out match, the Vikes played their game and won 6-0, 6-4 over Scott Athas and Christian Hannesson of Dawson County.

"They had a good season," Porrovecchio said of the Bigfork pair. Taylor and Butts defeated Pauley and Sangster earlier in the season. They also had to face Columbia Falls' Grant Getts and Cody Maynard again. The Wildcats took the match 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

"They fought hard in three-set matches against a couple teams more seasoned than them," Porrovecchio said. "They weren't out of the running by any means."

Class A State Tennis

At Kalispell

Boys

Team Totals

Whitefish 20

Corvallis 13

Havre 12

Bigfork 6

Fergus 5

Billings Central 4

C Falls 4

Dawson County 3

Hamilton 2

Park 2

Ronan 2

STATE CLASS A TENNIS

AT KALISPELL

BOYS' RESULTS

SINGLES

FIRST ROUND

Blake Anderson, Dawson County def. Spencer Ferh, Corvallis 7-6(7-3), 4-6, 6-4

Ryan Rottenbiller, Whitefish def. Cameron McCleery, Fergus 6-0, 6-4

Shane Kemmer, Havre def. Ian Hosek, Whitefish 6-4, 6-4

Geoff Fehr, Corvallis def. Brook Murphy Dawson County 6-1, 6-0

Renzo Caimi, Whitefish def. Mason Sheppard, Havre 6-0, 6-0

Angel Nikolov, Ronan def. Ben Nearpass, Billings Central 6-0, 6-1

Evan Hanson, Hamilton def. Chase Johnson, Hardin 7-5, 6-0

Justin Hartford, Fergus def. Phillip Myers, Bigfork 6-3, 6-3

QUARTERFINALS

R. Rottenbiller, WF def. B. Anderson, DCHS 6-3, 6-1

G. Ferh, Cor def. S. Kemmer, Hav 6-1, 3-6, 6-4

R. Caimi, WF def. A. Nikilov, Ron inj. default

J. Harford, Fer def. E. Hanson, Ham 6-4, 6-0

SEMIFINALS

G. Ferh, Cor def. R. Rottenbiller, WF 4-6, 6-2, 6-3

R. Caimi, WF def. J. Harford, Fer 6-0, 6-0

CONSOLATION

S. Fehr, Cor def. C. McCleery, Fer 6-0, 5-7, 6-2

I. Hosek, WF def. B. Murphy, DCHS 6-0, 6-2

M. Sheppard, Hav def. B. Nearpass, BC 3-6, 6-4, 6-1

P. Myers, BF def. C. Johnson, Har 6-1, 7-5

S. Kemmer, Hav def. S. Fehr, Cor 6-2, 2-6, 6-1

I. Hosek, WF, Def. B. Anderson, DCHS 6-2, 4-6, 6-2

M. Sheppard, Hav def. E. Hanson, Ham 6-3, 6-2

P. Myers, BF def. A. Nikilov, Ron inj. default

S. Kemmer, Hav def. I. Hosek, WF 6-3, 6-2

P. Myers, BF def. M. Sheppard, Hav 6-0, 6-3

DOUBLES

FIRST ROUND

Isaac Boelman/Bryce Burke, Billings Central def. Kyle Jacobson/Trey Lagrandeur, Whitefish 6-2, 6-2

Josh Chavez/Gabe Pritchett, Park def. Ben Endicott/Neil Sauer, Hamilton 6-2, 6-1

Tyler Roberts/Dillon Murray, Corvallis def. DJ Kamp/Derek Bartel, Fergus 6-4, 1-6, 6-3

Matt Harris/Brendan Visomi, Whitefish def. Jessie Robins/Steven Sheehy, Billings Central 6-1, 6-1

Todd Roe/Kyle Miller, Havre def. Ben Kerner/Delane Jessop, Corvallis 6-0, 6-0

Grant Getts/Cody Maynard, Columbia Falls def. Scott Athas/Christian Hannesson, Dawson County 6-2,6-3

Tyler Butts/Scott Taylor, Bigfork def. Brett Patterson/Jesse Orcutt, Dawson County 6-1, 6-4

Levi Pauley/Jake Sangster, Corvallis def. David Zentmire/Brad Hanson, Havre 6-2, 6-4

QUARTERFINALS

I. Boelman/B. Burke, BC def. J. Chavez/G. Pritchett, Park 6-2, 6-1

M. Harris/B. Viscomi, WF def. T. Roberts/D. Murray, Cor 6-0, 6-0

T. Roe/K. Miller, Hav def. G. Getts/C. Maynard, CF 6-4, 6-1

L. Pauley/J. Sangster, Cor def. T. Butts/S. Taylor, BF 6-3, 6-4

SEMIFINALS

M. Harris/B. Viscomi, WF def I. Boelman/B. Burke, BC 6-7(4-7), 6-2, 6-2

T. Roe/K. Miller, Hav def. L. Pauley/J. Sangster, Cor 6-2, 6-1

CONSOLATION

K. Jacobson/T. Lagrandeur, WF def. B. Endicott/N. Sauer, Ham 6-2, 6-2

DJ Kamp/D. Bartel, Fer def. J. Robins/S. Sheehy, BC 6-4, 6-3

S. Athas/C. Hannesson, DCHS def. B. Kerner/D. Jessop 6-4, 6-3

B. Patterson/J. Orcutt, DCHS def. D. Zentmire/B. Hanson, Hav 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

K. Jacobson/T. Lagrandeur, WF def. T. Roberts/D. Murray, Cor 6-2, 6-1

DJ Kamp/D. Bartel, Fer def. J. Chavez/G. Pritchett, Park 7-6(7-3), 7-5

T. Butts/S. Taylor, BF def. S. Athas/C. Hannesson, DCHS 6-0, 6-4

G. Getts/C. Maynard, CF def. B. Patterson/J. Orcutt, DCHS 6-1, 6-3

DJ Kamp/D. Bartel, Fer def. K. Jacobson/T. Lagrandeur, WF 6-4, 7-6(8-6)

G. Getts/C. Maynard, CF def. T. Butts/S. Taylor, BF 6-4, 4-6, 6-2

Saturday

At Flathead Valley Community College Courts

And the Glacier Tennis Club at The Summit

Boys

Team Totals

Whitefish 43, Corvallis 23, Havre 19, Fergus 12, Billings Central 9, Bigfork 6, Dawson County 4, Columbia Falls 4, Hamilton 2, Park 2, Ronan 2, Hardin 0

Singles

Final

Renzo Caimi, Whitefish def. Geoff Fehr, Corvallis 6-1, 6-2

Semifinals

Levi Pauley/Jake Sangster, Corvallis def. DJ Kamp/Derek Bartel, Fergus 6-4, 7-6(8-6)

Isaac Boelman/Bryce Burke, Billings Central def. Grant Getts/Cody Maynard, Columbia Falls 6-4, 6-4

Consolation

Semifinals

Justin Harford, Fergus def. Shane Kemmer, Havre 6-2, 6-4

Ryan Rottenbiller, Whitefish def. Phillip Myers, Bigfork 3-6, 6-2, 6-1

Third/Fourth

Harford, Fergus def. Rottenbiller, WF 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

Championship

Matt Harris/Brendan Viscomi, Whitefish def. Todd Roe/Kyle Miller 6-3, 6-0

Third/Fourth

Boelman/Burke, BC def. Pauley/Sangster, Cor 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7-2)