Ronan busy in first week of tennis
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RONAN – After the Chiefs and Maidens split with Columbia Falls during their opening home meet March 27 in nonconference play, the Ronan boys and girls shut down Bigfork 4-2, 4-2 on Thursday before traveling to Loyola Sacred Heart Saturday. The Loyola boys triumphed 5-1, and the girls beat Ronan 4-2.
Although Loyola returned some top players from last year to form a challenging team, Ronan’s girls were able to hang with the Sacred Heart Breakers. The Maidens boast a senior-heavy roster and stand the chance of sending a few athletes to State, when the time comes, head coach Gordon Cummings said. Doubles teams Taylor Courville and Katelyn Matkovich and Seri Smith and Darian Blixt-Leo show a lot of promise, as well as singles players Amber Metzger and Brianna Frank.
“I’m very optimistic about the year with these kids,” Cummings said.
Senior boys Hunter Shima, Kyle Yankey and Spencer Sucha are also athletes to watch.
“I hope to get a lot of leadership out of them,” Cummings noted.
Sophomores Dan Aylesworth and Tyler Anderson are another up-and-coming doubles team for the Chiefs.
The Ronan boys and girls also took on St. Ignatius Tuesday in a battle of neighboring schools before the boys host Valley Christian Thursday, April 12.
SUMMARY
BOYS
Loyola Sacred Heart 5, Ronan 1
SINGLES — Hunter Shima def. Matt Roberts, LSH, 6-4, 5-7, 6-0; Kalen Christiansen, LSH, def. Kyle Yankey 6-2, 6-4; Chris Nagata, LSH, def. Spencer Sucha 6-4, 7-5; Zach Burke, LSH, def. Ronny Cullis 6-1, 6-3.
DOUBLES — Josh Gilligan/Teddy Muth, LSH, def. Dan Aylesworth/Tyler Anderson 6-2, 7-5; Turner Hanby/Alex Menedez, LSH, def. Logan Soukkala/Tallon Fortin, 6-1, 6-1.
GIRLS
Loyola Sacred Heart 4, Ronan 2
SINGLES — Amber Metzger def. Kelly Eppard, LSH, 6-2, 6-1; Jocelyn Caldwell, LSH, def. Brianna Frank, 6-1, 6-1; Olivia Round, LSH, def. Hannah BirdRattler, 6-1, 6-4; Shannon Eppard, LSH, def. Samantha Ashley, 6-1, 6-2.
DOUBLES — Callan Haggarty/Allison Sawyer, LSH, def. Katelyn Matkovich/Taylor Courville 6-2, 6-2, 6-1; Seri Smith/Darian Blixt-Leo def. Angela Holter/Emily McCane, 6-1, 6-1.
BOYS
Ronan 4, Bigfork 2
SINGLES — Colter Mahlum, BF, def. Hunter Shima 6-0, 6-3; Seth Roessman, BF, def. Kyle Yankey, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4; Spencer Sucha def. Logan Lamen, BF, 6-0, 6-1; Ronny Cullis def. Avery Folkman, BF, 6-1, 6-0.
DOUBLES — Dan Aylesworth/Tyler Anderson def. Colter Mahlum/Seth Roessman, BF, 6-4, 6-4; Joey Dresen/Tallon Fortin def. Logan Lamen/Avery Folkman 6-2, 6-0.
GIRLS
Ronan 4, Bigfork 2
SINGLES — Kiana Wichland, BF, def. Katelyn Matkovich, 6-1, 6-3; Taylor Courville def. Alunnis Stallnacht, BF, 6-4, 4-6, 8-7; Amber Metzger def. Shelby Scoggins, BF, 6-1, 6-2; Brooke Bonner, BF, def. Hannah BirdRattler, 6-2, 6-0.
DOUBLES — Seri Smith/Brianna Frank def. Madison Fraley/Makenna Gembala, BF, 7-6, 7-4, 5-2; Samantha Ashley/Cassie Hankins def. Alex Hider/Makenna Gembala, 6-1, 6-0, win by forfeit.
BOYS
Columbia Falls 7, Ronan 0
SINGLES – Miroslov Zyglesky, CF, def. Hunter Shima, 6-1, 7-5; Andrew Jones, CF, def. Kyle Yankey, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4; Josh Potter, CF, def. Spencer Sucha, 7-6, 5-6, 6-3; Caleb Baumann, CF, def. Tallon Fortin, 6-0, 7-5.
DOUBLES – Parker Johnson/Brian Marcille, CF, def. Dan Aylesworth/Tyler Anderson, 6-2, 6-2; Mason Gedlamon/Gavin Thelan, CF, def. Joey Dresen/Ronny Cullis, 6-0, 6-4; Logan Carr/Mike Sandefer, CF, def. Gabe Lutes/Ethen Shumaker, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(7-2).
GIRLS
Ronan 5, Columbia Falls 2
SINGLES – Amber Metzger, R, def. Gabrielle Stenger, 6-4, 6-3; Natalie Law, CF, def. Seri Smith, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2; Darian Blixt-Leo, R, def. Emma Covill, 6-4, 6-3; Brianna Frank, R, def. Hailey Sapa, 6-1, 6-0.
DOUBLES – Katelyn Matkovich/Taylor Courville, R, def. McKenna Emmerich/Gabby Keller, 6-0, 6-1; Hannah BirdRattler/Hannah Kiehn, R, def. Tiffany Borland/Sensta Billow, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4); Magee Panasuk/McAne Christofferson, CF, def. Samantha Ashley/Brianna Frank, 8-6.
