Tennis teams open season against tough competition
After a number of weather delays, the Columbia Falls High School tennis season finally got underway last week as the Cats took on Stevensville and Whitefish.
The Cats took on rival Whitefish Tuesday as the boys fell to the Bulldogs 6-1, while the girls fell 7-0.
“Whitefish has a very strong team, but we fought hard against them,” Wildcat head coach Michele Colliander said.
The Cats’ singles players were all defeated in straight sets, but the doubles team of Chris Howell and Neils Getts defeated Whitefish’s Zach Brandt and Jayce Cripe for the only win of the day for Columbia Falls.
“They (Howell and Getts) did very well, especially considering they had not played together until the match,” Colliander said. “I think they had fun, which is always a priority of mine.”
The Cats had a much better outing against Stevensville Saturday, picking up a 4-3 victory.
Getts, Dillon Washington and Garret Caffrey picked up singles wins for the Cats while Camryn Lingle and Tristan Grein won their doubles match.
“We had a really good day against Stevi,” Colliander said. “The kids played great. Of our three losses, two went to the third set and could have gone either way.”
On the girls side, the Kats fell to Stevensville 6-1, with Hannah Schweikert defeating Ashley Eyre 6-0, 6-1 for the only Columbia Falls victory of the match.
The teams were scheduled to be back in action Tuesday, weather permitting, against Flathead and Glacier and will play at the Libby Invitational this weekend.
SAT
BOYS
Columbia Falls 4, Stevensville 3
Singles: David Haacke, S, def. John Gilk, 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 7-5; Neils Getts, CF, def. Reece Haugo, 6-0, 6-0; Dillon Washington, CF, def. Paul Rodrigues, 6-3, 6-4; Garret Caffrey, CF, def. John Rodrigues, 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles: Camryn Lingle/Tristan Grein, CF, def. Jacoco Carletto/Jaden Tipps, 7-6 (11-9), 6-1; Ben Hale/Sam Hale, S, def. Colton Byrd/Tyler Gates, 6-4, 6-0; Austin Arnijo/Sebastian Driver, S, def. Malachi Brower/Kaleb Bernechy, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
GIRLS
Stevensville 6, Columbia Falls 1
Singles: Jackie Westman, S, def. Anna Pickard, 6-4, 4-6, 10-6; Hannah Schweikert, CF, def. Ashley Eyre, 6-0, 6-1; Maddie Webber, S, def. Gwen Foust, 6-2, 6-1; Mackaela Hawthorne, S, def. Noah Kilman, 6-1, 6-1.
Doubles: Jamyn Beller/Callie Caville, S, def. Katy Garate/Taylor Jarrett, 6-0, 6-0; Aliyah Anderson/Crystal St. Germain, S, def. Martina Heupel/Emily Carman, 6-2, 6-2; Emily Hammack/Thais Swarez, S, won for forfeit.
TUESDAY
BOYS
Whitefish 6, Columbia Falls 1
Singles: Eric Holdhusen, W, def. John Gilk, 6-1, 6-3; Brendon Buls, W, def. Garret Caffrey, 6-1, 6-0; Simon Olivier, W, def. Dillon Washington, 6-1, 6-3; Noah Fauth, W, def. Malachi Brower, 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles: Mark Anderson/Colter Upton, W, def. Tristan Grein/Camryn Lingle, 6-4, 7-5; Chris Howell/Neils Getts, CF, def. Zach Brandt/Jayce Cripe, 6-3, 7-5; Jamie Schwartz/Leonardo Motti, W, def. Colton Byrd/Tyler Gates, 6-1, 6-1.
GIRLS
Whitefish 7, Columbia Falls 0
Singles: Claire Carloss, W, def. Anna Pickard, 6-4, 6-3; Aubrey Hanks, W, def. Hannah Schweikert, 6-4, 6-3; Autumn Roalson, W, def. Gwen Foust, 6-0, 6-1; Gracie Young, W, def. Kylee Dougherty, 6-0 6-0.
Doubles: Olivia Potthoff/Kit Anderson, W, def. Katy Garate/Taylor Jarrett, 6-2, 6-3; Hunter Grimes/Mackenzie Vick, W, def. Kelsey Wright/Shay Bonny, 6-0, 6-1; Jesse Grawunder/Anna Elm, W, def. Emily Carman/Martina Heupel, 6-0, 6-0.