Bulldog doubles duo win divisional title

Whitefish’s boys tennis team continued its season-long crescendo last week with another impressive display at the Northwestern A divisional meet in Kalispell.

Whitefish’s top doubles team steamrolled the competition to take the doubles title. Sean Janni and Logan Blades never dropped a set as they marched through the bracket and into the state tournament as a No. 1 seed.

They won the championship match Friday against Polson’s Layne Zimmerman and Hayden Congdon 6-2, 6-4.

“They played nearly perfect tennis,” Whitefish coach Chris Schwaderer said. “I couldn’t be happier with their performance.”

They will face No. 4 seed Stevensville in the first round of the state tournament.

“There are no easy matches at state, whether they’re playing a No. 4 or No. 1, they have to maintain the same intensity and focus,” Schwaderer said. “They have to play the same way they did at divisional and treat every match like its their last.”

Strong performances up and down the roster helped the Bulldogs finish the divisional tournament in second place with 30 points. Polson won the title with 58 points.

By all accounts, Whitefish exceeded expectations.

“We were a young team, and were rebuilding,” Schwaderer said. “The progress the kids made was phenomenal. They peaked when they needed to, and then some. To take second outright is a good showing.”

First round wins came from Nevada Kramer at singles, and doubles team Nathan Fauth and Bailey Jack. Fauth and Jack would make it to the consolation semi-finals.

“Their chemistry has been building,” Schwaderer said. “They shook some teams up on the back side of the bracket.”

Holden Roberts won in the consolation quarterfinals 6-4, 6-4 over Polson’s Quaid Harlan, and in the consolation second round 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 over Libby’s Patrick Valetine.

“Holden played some of his best tennis of the year,” Schwaderer said. “He looked comfortable and went out on a high note.”

Schwaderer mentioned the play of Kramer and Hayden Eaton, who scored critical points for the team.

The Class A state tournament kicks off Thursday in Polson.

Northwestern A divisional

Team scores: Polson 58, Whitefish 30, Libby 28, Columbia Falls 10.

Singles

Championship – Dylan McCrumb, P, def. Brady Hislop, P, 6-2, 6-4.

Semifinals – McCrumb def. Schnackenberg, 6-1, 7-5; Hislop def. Leggins, 6-1, 6-2.

Consolation championship – Danny Leggins, L, def. Jason Schnackenberg, L, 0-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Doubles

Championship – Logan Blades/Sean Janni, W, def. Layne Zimmerman/Hayden Congdon, P, 6-2, 6-4.

Semifinals – Blades/Janni def. Dupuis/Kinzle, 6-4, 6-4; Zimmerman/Congdon def. Myslicki/Lusher, 6-2, 6-1.

Consolation championship – Tyler Dupuis/Sam Kinzle, P, def. Ian Myslicki/Lane Lusher, L, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4.