Libby's Mee ready to defend state tennis title
Defending state singles champion Jackie Mee of Libby will open Class A state tournament play today in Billings against Stefanie Huschka of Glendive.
Mee is also shooting for her second straight undefeated season.
The senior went 20-0 last year and is 16-0 this spring.
Last weekend in Kalispell she captured her fourth-straight divisional singles championship.
Mee finished sixth at state her sophomore season and was fourth as a freshman.
The last time she dropped a set was in the state championship match a year ago to Brittney Hatzell of Billings Central. Mee won 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.
Mary Conwell of Hamilton, who finished fourth last year, and Taylor Steubs of Billings Central, who was fifth, are also back in singles.
Girls doubles has the top two teams returning, both from Havre. Hayley Donovan and Courtney Kinholt defeated teammates Morgan McCann and Jolee Landgraf last year in the title match 6-4, 7-5.
Lindsay Sebastian of Billings Central, who finished third last year, returns but with new partner Kyla Clancy.
And Polson’s Kayla Rochin and Kendyall Rochin will be looking to improve on their sixth place finish of a year ago.
Spencer Fehr of Corvallis is the lone returning state placer in boys singles.
In doubles, two state placing teams are back: Ryan Toner and Ryan Hodges of Billings Central, who finished fourth, and Jesse Robins and Steven Sheehy, also of Billings Central, who placed sixth.
The Billings Central boys and Havre girls are defending state champions.
The Whitefish boys were third last year as were the Libby girls.
Joining Mee at state girls are Northwestern A divisional doubles champs Anna Valentine and Audra Poppen.
Polson has the most qualifiers with two in singles — Jane Probst and Whitney Zimmerman, and two doubles teams — the Rochins and Kelsie Howell and Mackenzie Clay.
The Columbia Falls have qualified Tami Kolatschek in singles and Lexie Bartkoski and Marissa Getts in singles.
For boys, Columbia Falls, Libby, Polson and Whitefish have all qualified one player in singles and one doubles team.
Advancing in singles are Libby’s Cree Maloney, Whitefish’s Joel Mallams, Polson’s Matt Roberts and Columbia Falls’ Parker Johnson.
In doubles, it’s Polson’s Justin Evertz and Shad Glies, Libby’s TJ Benson and Alex Cislo, Whitefish’s Connor Ellis and Joel Bacher, and Columbia Falls’ Brian Marcille and Vadim Zvygelskiy.
Maloney won the divisional singles title, while Evertz and Giles were champions in doubles play.
Polson’s girls and Libby’s boys won divisional team titles.
Class A State Tennis
Today-Saturday
Pioneer Park/Central Park Tennis Courts
Billings
First Round
Girls
Singles
Morgan Opp, Glendive, vs. Tami Kolatschek, Columbia Falls
Ellen Harmon, Lewistown, vs. Sarah Harmsworth, Corvallis
Kelsey Jura, Hamilton, vs. Mary Ricketts, Livingston
Stefanie Huschka, Glendive, vs. Jackie Mee, Libby
Dylan Balanda, Livingston, vs. Tabitha Hooten, Corvallis
Jane Probst, Polson vs. Jessie Robinson, Billings Central
Whitney Zimmerman, Polson, vs. Taylor Steubs, Billings Central
Christina Mack, Havre, vs. Mary Conwell, Hamilton
Doubles
Carly Selvig/Blaire Milne, Glendive, vs. Kelsie Howell/Mackenzie Clay, Polson
Mollie Morrow/Alex Ricketts, Livingston, vs. Kelsey Della Silva/Stella Quinlan, Hamilton
Kate Ferris/Katie Myllymaki, Dillon, vs. Morgan McCann/Jolee Landgraf, Havre
Lindsey Sebastian/Kyla Clancy, Billings Central vs. Anna Valentine/Audra Poppen, Libby
Hayley Donovan/Courtney Kinholt, Havre, vs. Sydnee Madruga/Lairen Phinney, Corvallis
Kayla Rochin/Kendyall Rochin, Polson, vs. Gabby Weber/Trenna Thelen, Billings Central
Lexi Bartkoski/Marissa Getts, Columbia Falls, vs. Ashlee Burman/Katie Turner, Glendive
Marian Ferry/Amanda Monger, Lewistown, vs. Sarah Downey/Emily Paffhausen, Dillon
—————
Boys
Singles
Josh Hill, Glendive, vs. Ethan Bent, Lewistown
Spencer Fehr, Corvallis, vs. Matt Roberts, Polson
Joel Mallams, Whitefish, vs. Bob Huppert, Hamilton
Tommy O’Leary, Billings Central, vs. Kyle Miller, Havre
Levi Pauley, Corvallis, vs. Parker Johnson, Columbia Falls
Ryan Burke, Billings Central, vs. Justin Jensen, Havre
Rusty Burshia, Hardin, vs. Travis Pattengale, Livingston
James Enzel, Stevensville, vs. Cree Maloney, Libby
Doubles
Jesse Robins/Steven Sheehy, Billings Central, vs. Brian Marcille/Vadim Zvygelskiy, Columbia Falls
Emmett Wester/Aiden Goodman, Livingston, vs. Isaac Smith/Cody Lengyel, Corvallis
Luke Allsop/Dillon Murray, Corvallis, vs. Brad Wilson/Cole Noctor, Butte Central
Kyle Massick/Michael Heger, Billings Central, vs. Justin Evertz/Shad Giles, Polson
Braydon Grimson/Danny Roe, Havre, vs. Jason Jessop/Parker Richards, Hamilton
TJ Benson/Alex Cislo, Libby, vs. Ryan Toner/Ryan Hodges, Billings Central
Connor Ellis/Joel Bacher, Whitefish, vs. Scott Athas/Christian Hannesson, Glendive
Keenan Dolezal/Zach Cichosz, Havre, vs. Mitchell Decker/Bridger Walczynski, Corvallis