Top seeds roll on first day of Western A tennis

Opening rounds allow coaches to gauge the athletes' mindsets

After winning the doubles title last year, Polson sophomore Karston Erickson knows what to expect at this week's Western A divisional tennis tournament in Kalispell.

He also realizes that his experience won't make for an easy run.

"I'm hopeful to make it to state," Erickson said, "but with (Whitefish's Renzo Caimi) in the mix, I don't really think that, unless something happens, that I'm going to win singles."

Erickson, who switched to singles this spring after teaming with since-graduated Jake Grebetz last year, brought a No. 4 seed into Thursday's opening day. Following a first-round bye, he made the most of his only match, topping Bigfork junior Sean Barrett 6-1, 6-2.

"I think it was a very good match to warm up with," Erickson said. "Sean was a lot of fun to play with.

"He's a really nice guy, and there were some really good points, so I'm glad of how we both played."

Barrett beat Columbia Falls' Wes Bartkoski in the first round. His quickness and accurate lob held form in the second round, but the 6-foot-2 Erickson maintained Thursday's theme as seeded boys and girls went 8-0.

"I played pretty well (today)," Barrett said. "I played a lot better in my second match - the kid was really good.

"I don't think the height matters much. He's just a good all-around player. He made some nice passing shots."

According to Erickson, the first match of tournaments typically are the most nerve-racking.

"I think that I shouldn't have come to the net so much, I should have maybe just stayed back and let him make more mistakes," he said. "So, eventually I just hit some drop shots, had him come to the net, and then I just passed him with some shots."

Whitefish's Matt Harris, who took second at state last year, won't be repeating as he and Brendan Viscomi are the top seed in doubles.

Libby's Jackie Mee took last year's singles title as a freshman before placing fourth at state. She justified her top seed with a 6-0, 6-0 second-round victory.

No. 1 seed Caimi, Ryan Rottenbiller of Whitefish (No. 2) and Phillip Meyers of Bigfork (No. 3) all were victorious Thursday, as were seeded girls Brielle Menegazzi of Whitefish (No. 2), Sarah Marcille of Columbia Falls (No. 3) and Kate Klundt of Whitefish (No. 4). Caimi hasn't lost a set all season.

"It's kind of going the way it's supposed to go," Columbia Falls boys' coach Gary Yee said of the first-day action. "We got along well at the seeding meeting."

There were close calls, though. While Mee, Menegazzi and Marcille won in straight sets, Klundt used three sets to outlast Polson freshman Kendyall Rochin 5-7, 6-0, 6-2.

Caimi and Rottenbiller rolled 6-0, 6-0, while Meyers rallied past Whitefish's Tanner Hosek 5-7, 6-0, 6-3.

Though the first day of divisionals does little to settle the team picture, Yee said it allows coaches to gauge their athletes' mindsets.

"Your top players, you want them to be able to play their game and not play down," he said, "and you're looking for your weaker players to get as much experience as they can.

"Basically, if your top players don't play down, they advance the way they should."

Action resumes at 8 a.m. today with boys' singles and boys' and girls' doubles at Flathead Valley Community College, and girls' singles at The Summit.

There were no doubles matches on Thursday. Defending divisional champions Cali Hislop and Malika Erickson of Polson look to stay undefeated and perfect in sets.

Western A Divisional Tennis

In Kalispell

Thursday

Boys' Singles

First Round

Caimi, W, bye; Medland, P, def. May, L, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1; Ronish, CF, bye; Mahlum, B, bye; I. Hosek, W, bye; Sheffield, L, bye; Barrett, B, def. Bartkoski, CF, 6-0, 6-0; Erickson, P, bye; Meyers, B, bye; T. Hosek, W, def. Giles, P, 6-4, 6-3; Gao, CF, bye; Hauck, L, bye; Engebretson, P, bye; Ballard, CF, bye; Sabo, B, def. Schnackenberg, L, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4; Rottenbiller, W, bye.

Second Round

Caimi, W, def. Medland, P, 6-0, 6-0; Mahlum, B, def. Ronish, CF, 6-1, 6-1; I. Hosek, W, def. Sheffield, L, 6-1, 6-1; Erickson, P, def. Barrett, B, 6-1, 6-2; Meyers, B, def. T. Hosek, W, 5-7, 6-0, 6-3; Hauck, L, def. Gao, CF, 6-1, 6-1; Engebretson, P, def. Ballard, CF, 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2; Rottenbiller, W, def. Sabo, B, 6-0, 6-0.

Girls' Singles

First Round

Mee, L, bye; Bosic, B, def. Opel, W, 6-2, 6-2; Freeman, CF, bye; Reilly, P, bye; Deaton, B, bye; Bartkoski, CF, bye; Kendyall Rochin, P, def. Poppen, L, 6-1, 6-1; Klundt, W, bye; Marcille, CF, bye; Jones, P, def. Kelsey, B, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-4); Sekecri, W, bye; Cislo, L, bye; Probst, P, bye; Getts, CF, bye; Shults, B, def. Shaw, L, 6-1, 6-2; Menegazzi, W, bye.

Second Round

Mee, L, def. Bosic, B, 6-0; 6-0; Reilly, P, def. Freeman, CF, 6-0, 6-1; Deaton, B, def. Bartkoski, CF, 6-1, 6-2; Klundt, W, def. Kendyall Rochin, P, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2; Marcille, CF, def. Jones, P, 6-0, 6-1; Cislo, L, def. Sekecri, W, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1; Probst, P, def. Getts, CF, 6-2, 6-2; Menegazzi, W, def. Shults, B, 6-2, 6-1.