Polson girls seek 5th-straight divisional tennis title

by David Lesnick Daily Inter Lake
| May 19, 2011 2:00 AM

State and divisional tennis action begins today at two different locations in western Montana.

Missoula is hosting the Class B-C state tournament while Libby is the site for the Northwestern A divisional tournament. Both events are three-day affairs.

Bigfork will have seven girls competing while the defending state champ Bigfork boys will have eight.

The Valkyries roll into state after dominating divisional play the week before. Bigfork's girls were led by singles champ McKinze Shults and doubles champs Hannah Barrett and Kianna Wicklund.

Also placing at divisionals and advancing to state are: Ariel Stallknecht, fourth in singles, Miranda Miller, sixth in singles; Makenna Gembala and Shelby Scoggins, third in doubles.

Playing state singles for the Vikings are, in order, Colter Mahlum, Dylan Reichenbach, John Lyon and Nate Roberson. In doubles it's Evan Jordt and Ryan Gembala along with Kyle Campbell and Seth Roessman.

Northwestern A

divisional

Play begins today at 11 a.m. with singles action at the city courts and doubles at the high school.

The top four finishers - singles and doubles - advance to state.

The Polson girls are odds-on-favorites to make it five-straight divisional titles. The Pirates have the top two seeds in singles - Kendyall Rochin and Whitney Zimmerman - and the No. 2 doubles team in Kenzie Clay and Jordan Quinn.

On the boys side, defending champ Libby has the top two seeds in singles - Cree Maloney and Alex Cislo.

Columbia Falls is expected to push the Loggers with Parker Johnson, No. 3 singles seed, and Vadim and Miroslav Zvygelskiy, No. 2 seed in doubles.

Northwestern A divisional seeds

Boys

Singles - 1. Cree Maloney, Libby; 2. Alex Cislo, Libby; 3. Parker Johnson, Columbia Falls; 4. Hayden Congdon, Polson.

Doubles - 1. Justin Evertz/Will Davey, Polson; 2. Vadim/Zvygelskiy/Mirosloa Zvygelskiy, Columbia Falls; 3. Brady Hislop/Ian Laimbeer, Polson; 4. Connor Ellis/Camp Kenyon, Whitefish.

Girls

Singles - 1. Kendyall Rochin, Polson; 2. Whitney Zimmerman, Polson; 3. Gabrielle Stenger, Columbia Falls; 4. Josie Benedetti, Ronan.

Doubles - 1. Marissa Getts/Lexi Bartkoski, Columbia Falls; 2. Kenzie Clay/Jordan Quinn, Polson; 3. Katelyn Matkovich/Taylor Courville, Ronan; 4. Audra Engebretsen/Carmen Borchers, Polson