Early forecast cloudy for girls' tennis
With many of Northwest Montana's courts still battling snow, area girls' tennis coaches agree on at least one thing: It's too early to know what to expect this spring.
Flathead took second at Northern AA divisionals last year, sending six players to state. Four of its state participants are gone, however, giving the Bravettes several fresh faces.
The Bravettes' remarkable depth from last year gives Class AA newcomer Glacier a chance to be successful in its first season. The Wolfpack is loaded with talented underclassmen, including some highly-rated USTA players.
Glacier and Flathead are joined in the Northern AA conference by Great Falls High and Great Falls C.M. Russell.
Polson took first at Western A divisionals last year. The Pirates' deep doubles pool will help them contend again, but Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Libby and Whitefish all have enough pieces to make for a riveting divisional tournament.
Libby sophomore Jackie Mee took fourth at state last year. She is the only returning state placer in Western A.
Britney Courville gives Ronan a chance to excel as the Maidens battle Dillon, Corvallis, Hamilton and Stevensville in the Southern A conference.
Eureka is back in the West B-C with St. Ignatius and Troy after placing fifth at Western A divisionals last spring.
Coaches can only hope that their lineups continue to clear along with the sky.
Class AA
Flathead
Head coach: Buck Measure, sixth year
Last year: Second at Northern divisionals
State participants lost: Sara Newgard; Alix Dixon/Hanna Hanes; Rachel Sherrill (to Glacier)
State participants returning: Izzy Makman (Jr.); Olivia Heinle (Jr.)
State placers returning: None
Projected top singles: Makman; Maxine Sugarman (So.); Sarsten Noice (Jr.)
Projected top doubles: Melanie Nelson (Sr.)/Maggie Sherrill (Sr.); Shannon Ballard/Jordan Gentry; Heinle
Coach's outlook: "The girls have come into the season well prepared. They obviously have been working hard indoors on their tennis game, and it has shown so far this early in the season. We are definitely still jelling. It's been a very big change with sending kids to Glacier, as well as the number of kids who have graduated. At this point, we're still developing as a team."
Glacier
Head coach: Josh Munro, first year
Last year: NA
State participants lost: NA
State participants returning: Rachel Sherrill (So.) (from Flathead)
State placers returning: NA
Projected top singles: Liana Bates (Fr.); Cami Mathison (Fr.); Mary Snipstead (So.); Kayla Nelson (So.)
Projected top doubles: Sherrill/Genna Boyer (Jr.); Arica Avila (Jr.)/Katlyn Hacke (So.); Hillary Secrist (Jr.)/Ann Koenig (Jr.)
Coach's outlook: "The girls are probably 14 deep and very capable. That group from about 9-10 through 14 is all very steady and very similar. There's some good depth and there's some very good standout players at the top."
Class A
Bigfork
Head coaches: Paul Wallin/Matt Porrovecchio, third year
Last year: Fourth at Western divisionals
State participants lost: Breanna Hughes
State participants returning: Quindee Averill (Jr.); Roxy Thurman (Jr.); Jen Wirth (Jr.)
State placers returning: None
Projected top singles: Jade Bosic (So.); Kelly Deaton (So.)
Projected top doubles: Averill/Thurman
Porrovecchio's outlook: "It's so early in the season, but they're working hard. Everybody's getting a lot of time in practice and everybody's improving. I think as the season progresses, we'll do well. It's a good group of kids who work hard, so it should be fun."
Columbia Falls
Head coach: Jerry Smalley, 14th year
Last year: Sixth at Western divisionals
State participants lost: None
State participants returning: Sarah Marcille (Sr.)
State placers returning: None
Projected top singles: Marcille
Projected top doubles: Shelby Hobbs (Jr.); Stephanie Raymond (Jr.); Laura Burgi (Jr.); Lydia Freeman (Jr.)
Coach's outlook: "Last year was the most inexperienced girls' team I've ever coached. We have five returnees, and they made great improvement last year, so we're expecting them to make great improvements again this year. We have over 35 girls out for tennis. The numbers are good, and we're looking at an exceptional class of freshmen. Hopefully, several of those girls will step up."
Libby
Head coach: Kyle Hannah, third year
Last year: Third at Western divisionals
State participants lost: None
State participants returning: Jackie Mee (So.)
State placers returning: Mee (fourth)
Projected top singles: Mee; Veronica Cislo (Jr.)
Projected top doubles: Nichole Neuman (Jr.)/Riley Denning (Sr.); Margeaux Zwang (Sr.)/Audra Poppen (So.)
Coach's outlook: "I hope for the girls to win a few more duals … and my goal is to place first or second at divisionals this year. (Mee) is going to be tough. She spent a lot of weekends this summer at camps to improve her game, so I think she's going to be pretty tough to beat."
Polson
Head coach: Bob Hislop, 17th year
Last year: Won Western divisionals
State participants lost: Kelsie Delaney
State participants returning: Malika Erickson (Sr.)/Cali Hislop (Jr.); Mattea York (Sr.)
State placers returning: None
Projected top singles: York
Projected top doubles: Erickson/Hislop; Maddie Grebetz (Sr.)/Cassie Ward (Sr.); Kayla Rochin (So.)/Kelsie Jones (Jr.)
Coach's outlook: "The girls will be pretty solid in doubles, we think. We may even move York to doubles at the end of the year. It just depends on the other teams. We're not as good a divisional team as we were last year."
Ronan
Head coach: Gordon Cummings, sixth year
Last year: Fourth at Southern divisionals
State participants lost: None
State participants returning: Britney Courville (Jr.)
State placers returning: None
Projected top singles: Courville; Ashley Mcleod (Sr.); Jade Michel (Jr.)
Projected top doubles: Too early to tell
Coach's outlook: "Britney has a chance to be No. 1 or 2 at divisionals, I would think. She's very strong … and I think with that state experience last year, that's really going to help her."
Whitefish
Head coach: Kathy Cummings, first year
Last year: Second at Western divisionals
State participants lost: Kate Whitaker/Kimberly McIntyre
Sate participants returning: Brielle Menegazzi (Sr.)
State placers returning: None
Projected top singles: Menegazzi; McCara Cullen (Jr.); Kate Klundt (Jr.)
Projected top doubles: Steffi Osland (Sr.); Chelsi Bergensmith (Jr.); Anne Miller (So.); Becca Rozar (Jr.)
Coach's outlook: "I think Jackie Mee from Libby is going to be a tough opponent, and Bob Hislop always has some good players, so we won't really know (for a while). But I think we'll be competitive. We've been conditioning hard, and I think they'll be ready."
Class B-C
Eureka
Head coach: Dave Loy, 15th year
Last year: Fifth at Western divisionals
State participants lost: None
State participants returning: None
State placers returning: None
Projected top singles: Martina Quade (Sr.); Casey Armstrong (So.)
Projected top doubles: Sasha Trudeau (Sr.)/Megan Koshatka (Sr.); Tayler Holder (So.)/Marni Zauner (So.)
Coach's outlook: "(Our strength is) probably doubles, I would think, although Martina is probably our top player. Martina should make it to state this year. If you go from last year, Mission's probably going to be the favorite (in our conference)."