Sattler takes epic battle at Corvallis
Whitefish split a pair of duals in the Bitterroot last week, falling in a tight match with Corvallis and rolling past Hamilton.
At Corvallis, Austin Sattler and Logan Blades each pulled out three-set wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively.
Whitefish coach Chris Schwaderer called Sattler’s win one of the greatest comebacks he’s seen.
Sattler was down 5-1 in the second set and managed to claw his way back to a tie breaker. Then he was down 5-0 in the tiebreaker before he found a way to pull out the second-set win. The match went to another tie breaker in third set.
“He climbed out of a huge hole,” Schwaderer said. “It was really impressive.”
Holden Roberts pulled off a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles.
The Blue Devils swept each of the doubles matches and took No. 1 singles to earn the dual win. Still, Schwaderer was pleased to see his team hang with the two-time defending state champions.
The Bulldogs bounced back at Hamilton with a convincing 6-1 dual win, marking the second time Whitefish has topped the Broncs this season.
Sattler, Blades and Roberts won on the singles side, each in two sets.
Camp Kenyon and Casey Beiser earned a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles. Nick Jack and Simon Krell won in three sets against Shawn Homyak and Aaron Mead at No. 2 doubles, and Kolter Larsen and Hayden Eaton won in two sets at No. 3 doubles.
With a handful of players missing for a DECA trip, Schwaderer played some new combinations. He said the impressive win over Hamilton shows Whitefish’s depth.
The Bulldogs host Polson in a conference showdown on Friday. The Pirates took the win in their first dual.
“That will be a fun one,” Schwaderer said. “We’re looking forward to getting another shot at them on our home courts.”
Corvallis 4, Whitefish 3
Singles – Decker, C, def. Matteo Barbuti, 6-2, 6-1; Austin Sattler, WF, def. Zsupnik, 3-6, 7-6(10), 10-2; Logan Blades, WF, def. Jake Pekoc, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Holden Roberts, WF, def. Cameron Winsett, 6-3, 6-3.
Doubles – Bridger Walczynski/DJ Pekoc, C, def. Camp Kenyon/Casey Beiser, 6-1, 6-0; Tim Allsop/Drew Myers, C, def. Simon Kaell/Nick Jack, 6-2, 6-1; Reichard/Josh Venema, C, def. Kolter Larsen/Hayden Eaton, 6-0, 6-2.
Whitefish 6, Hamilton 1
Singles – Ethan Selig, H, def. Matteo Barbuti, 6-0, 6-0; Austin Sattler, W, def. Cody Tredik, 6-0, 6-3; Logan Blades, W, def. Kendall McDonald, 6-3, 6-4; Holden Roberts, W, def. John Walker, 6-3, 6-1.
Doubles – Camp Kenyon/Casey Beiser, W, def. Reese Isherwood/Craig Weese, 6-3, 6-3; Nick Jack/Simon Krell, W, def. Shawn Homyak/Aaron Mead, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5); Kolter Larsen/Hayden Eaton, W, def. Nick Hudson/Brad Hankel, 6-3, 6-3.