Polson netters sweep divisionals
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The Polson Lady Pirate tennis team claimed its seventh consecutive divisional championship last weekend, while the boys won their second divisional title in a row. The Polson girls scored 55 points to send Whitefish into second with 45, followed by Columbia Falls with 23 and Libby with 2. The Pirates finished with 58 points, followed by Whitefish with 30, Libby with 28 and Columbia Falls with 10.
“One of the neatest things about the streaks we have going is that we are very young on the boys and girls teams,” head coach Bob Hislop said. “To replace 6 girls and still win divisional says a lot about the hard work and determination of the kids.”
Whitney Zimmerman won the divisional championship for the second straight year and will be looking to medal at state for the third time. No other girl in Polson High School history has medaled at state three times, Hislop noted. Zimmerman won the divisional championsip over Emily Getts of Columbia Falls 6-1, 6-1.
Teammate Shannon Oakley placed third by defeating Ryan Chauner of Whitefish 6-1, 6-3. Oakley had to beat teammates Lauren Dupuis and Taylor Rost to reach the consolation final.
Mollybeth Hendrix and Karly Rochin lost the championship match to Viscomi/Danczyk of Whitefish 6-1, 6-2.
“The two juniors had a great tournament up until the championship,” Hislop said. “Both girls placed at state in doubles last year with senior partners. We are hoping that it all comes together for them at state.”
Tegan Bauer and Libby Clay advanced to state by placing fourth in doubles. They lost the consolation match to Cain/Craven of Whitefish 6-1, 6-4. Peyton Anderson and Shawna Oakley made it within one match of qualifying for state and also had a great tournament.
On the boys side, Polson athletes crushed their opponents in their semifinal matchups to sew up the title. In the singles final, Dylan McCrumb beat teammate Brady Hislop 6-2, 6-4.
“(McCrumb) played an excellent match, and Brady made more errors than normal,” coach Hislop said. “Both boys should have a very good shot at placing at state.”
In the boys doubles final, the Polson team of Hayden Congdon and Layne Zimmerman was defeated by Logan Blades/Sean Janni of Whitefish 6-2, 6-4.
“Our boys didn’t play very well and credit Whitefish with playing a great match,” Hislop noted.
The two teams had split during the regular season, but Friday was the Whitefish pair’s day.
The doubles team of Sam Kinzle and Tyler Dupuis finished the tournament third.
“At a set down and 2-5 down in the second, (Kinzle) and (Dupuis) went to work and made an amazing comeback to win the match 5-7, 7-5, 6-4,” Hislop said.
Freshman Quaid Harlan had an excellent tournament, winning two matches, including a tough win over teammate Tommy Mercer.
Polson will host the state tournament this week, with girls playing in Ronan Thursday and the boys in Polson. Weather cooperating, the entire tournament will move to Polson on Friday.
