Bulldogs split duals
<p>Conner Ellis tosses up a serve in a match at Polson.</p>
Whitefish’s boys tennis team split a pair of duals on Friday, taking a win at Bigfork and a conference loss at Polson.
At Bigfork, Logan Blades and Holden Roberts tallied two set wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles.
“I’m really happy with our young kids,” coach Chris Schwaderer said. “Holden and Logan are really developing into good players. It gives me a lot of confidence in the future of the program.”
Camp Kenyon and Connor Ellis rolled 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles. Casey Beiser and Sean Janni matched that, going 6-0, 6-0 in their win at No. 2 doubles.
The win marked the second time in two weeks Whitefish had topped the Vikings.
In Polson, the Pirates flexed their strength as a tennis power in the league. The dual loss was Whitefish’s first of the season.
Schwaderer said he’d rather see the team take a loss early in the season, letting his players know they have room to improve before divisional.
Blades picked up a 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) win at No. 3 singles, and Kenyon and Ellis continued their perfect season with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles.
“That was the most anticipated match,” Schwaderer said. “It was going to be a clash to determine pecking order. Camp and Connor made a big statement and let it be known they are the team to beat.”
Whitefish 4, Bigfork 1
Singles — Colter Mahlum, B, def. Matteo Barbuti, 6-3, 6-2; Logan Blades, W, def. Shane Parks, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5); Holden Roberts, W, def. Logan Lamm, 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles — Camp Kenyon/Connor Ellis, W, def. Parks/Lamm, 6-0 , 6-0; Casey Beiser/Sean Janni, W, def. Gunnar Boose/Avery Folkman, 6-0, 6-0.
Polson 5, Whitefish 2
Singles — Brady Hislop, P, def. Matteo Barbuti, 6-0, 6-1; Sam Peel, P, def. Austin Sattler, 2-6, 6-1, 7-5; Logan Blades, W, def. Tommy Mercer, 6-1, 7-6, (7-3); Lane Zimmerman, P, def. Holden Roberts, 6-2, 6-3.
Doubles — Camp Kenyon/Connor Ellis, W, def. Ian Laimbeer/Will Davey, 6-3, 6-4; Dylan McCrumb/Hayden Congdon, P, def. Casey Beiser/Sean Janni, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2; Reed Hovenkotter/Sam Kinzle, P, def. Simone Kaell/Kolter Larsen, 6-2, 6-3.