Solid start for Glacier girls at state AA tennis
MISSOULA — It going to be interesting to see how everything shakes out for the girls on the final day at the Class AA state tennis tournament.
Two-time defending state champ Glacier is in position to make it a 3-peat, but three other teams are in hot pursuit after Friday’s session.
“We control our own fate,” Glacier coach Josh Munro said.
“That’s where you want to be.”
However, Bozeman, Billings West and Great Falls High are all in contention.
“We lost some heartbreakers (in doubles) that put us in a tough spot right away, but Billings West helped us out,” Munro said.
The Wolfpack will have three players in today’s semifinals — Vernonica Walton will face Katya Kulikova, while Hailey Blalack plays Molly Crum of Great Falls.
Glacier’s two doubles teams “both dropped tight matches,” Munro said.
On the boys side, Hellgate is in position to repeat as team champs with three doubles teams in the semifinals along with two singles players.
Two-time defending state singles champ Kellen Bates of Glacier will face Blake Miller of Hellgate in one of the semis, while Hunter Blalack of Glacier will tangle with Alex Braun, also of Hellgate, in the other one.
“Solidly in second (place),” Munro said of the Wolfpack boys after Friday’s play.
“It would take a perfect storm for us to catch Hellgate. We just have to seal the deal tomorrow ... finish strong. Helena High is right there nipping at us.”
Flathead lone state player — Glenn Strickler — finished first-day action with a 1-2 mark. He’s still alive in consolation play today.
“He’s playing well,” Flathead coach Jeff Anderson said.
“He’s peaking at the right time, even though he lost his match to Alex Braun (6-2, 7-5 (7-5). He played incredibly well. It was a joy to watch.”
GIRLS
At Fort Missoula
Team scores
Glacier and Bozeman 14, Billings West 10, Great Falls High 7, Missoula Hellgate 6, Billings Senior 5, Great Falls Russell 4, Helena Capital 3, Missoula Sentinel 1, Billings Skyview, Butte, Flathead, Helena High, Missoula Big Sky 0.
Singles
First round
Veronica Walton, G, def. Ricquel Ramsbottom, BWE, 6-2, 6-2; Zoe Lindgren, BOZ, def. Toni Mischke, MH, 6-2, 6-2; Brooke Satre, HCP, def. Maddie Murdock, MS, 6-0, 6-4; Katya Kulikova, G, def. Sophie Dimich-Louvet, BSR, 6-1, 6-0; Sophie Allen, BOZ, def. Jenna Donovan, MS, 6-0, 6-1; Hailey Blalack, G, def. Goodyear, BWE, 6-1, 6-1; Molly Crumm, GF, def. Cole, BWE, 6-0, 6-1; Ockford, BOZ, def. Paula Woerlein, MH, 6-0, 6-0.
Quarterfinals
Walton def. Lindgren, 6-1, 7-6 (3); Kulikova def. Satre, 6-0, 6-0; Blalack def. Allen, 6-2, 6-2; Crumm def. Ockford, 6-0, 6-2.
Doubles
First round
Hailey Swain/Gillian Burgan, BWE, def. Hannah Willstein/Megan Woody, MH, 6-1, 6-1; Katie Cerotzke/Jackie Santin, GF, def. Hines/Giddings, HCP, 6-2, 6-3; Collins/Petersen, BOZ, def. Amy Snipstead/Kailee Vaudt, G, 6-1, 6-1; Anna Ballew/Morgan Simkins, MH, def. Knote/Nichols, BSR, 6-2, 6-2; Spencer/Martinez, CMR, def. Antmann/Vetter, BTE, 6-2, 6-1; Allie/Reinschmidt, BSR, def. Darbie Anderson/Katie Tabaracci, MS, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5; Emily Finnegan/Mackenzie Keiper, MH, def. LaVeau/Dunphy, BWE, 6-1, 6-4; Henning/Olivo, BOZ, def. Kirstyn Haugenoe/Kali Mathison, G, 6-0, 6-0.
Quarterfinals
Swain/Burgan, BWE, def. Cerotzke/Santin, GF, 6-3, 6-2; Collins/Petersen, BOZ, def. Ballew/Simkins, MH, 6-1, 6-0; Spencer/Martinez, CMR, def. Allie/Reinschmidt, 6-0, 6-1; Henning/Olivo, BOZ, def. Finnegan/Keiper, 6-0, 6-0.
BOYS
At Playfair Park
Team scores
Missoula Hellgate 22, Glacier 15, Helena High 9, Billings Senior, Billings West, Flathead, Missoula Sentinel 3, Billings Skyview and Butte 2, Helena Capital and Missoula Big Sky 1, Bozeman, Great Falls Russell and Great Falls High 0.
Singles
First round
Nick Staffileno, BSR, def. Aaron Koerner, MBS, 6-2, 6-2; Hunter Blalack, G, def. Robbie Pike, BOZ, 6-1, 6-1; Glen Strickler, KF, def. Noah Strizich, CAP, 6-4, 6-2; Alex Braun, MH, def. John Ramsbottom, BWE, 6-0, 6-1; Kellen Bates, G, def. Garrett Ryerson, HHS, 6-0, 6-0; Lucas Veteto, MS, def. Jacob Hooten, BSV, 6-3, 6-0; Blake Miller, MH, def. Angus Pollard, BWE, 6-3, 6-1; Lane Ryerson, HH, def. Mario Hernandez, G, 6-2, 6-2.
Quarterfinals
Blalack def. Staffileno, 6-2, 6-1; Braun def. Strickler, 6-2, 7-6; Bates def. Veteto, 6-1, 6-1; Miller def. L. Ryerson, 7-5, 6-4.
Doubles
First round
Mackin/Sawatzke, BW, def. Murphy/Yaeger, CMR, 6-1, 6-3; Lee Fritsen/Dylan Harvala, MH, def. Poell/Curey, HH, 7-5, 7-5; Reid Birgenheier/Nick Klaudt, MH, def. Sando/Fogarty, BTE, 7-5, 6-7, 6-1; Froystad/Castren, G, def. Dutton/Adamson, BSV, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1; Will Ballew/Avery Howard, MH, def. Little/Carr, BOZ, 6-0, 6-1; Boyer/Iverson, G, def. Lyons/Havens, BSV, 7-6, 6-7, 6-1; Hellwig/Roe, G, def. Coffee/Schuman-Kline, BSR, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Krushensky/Harris, HH, def. Daniel Harvala/Zack Peevey, MH, 6-2, 6-4.
Quarterfinals
Fritsen/Harvala def. Mackin/Sawatzke, 6-1, 6-3; Birgenheier/Klaudt def. Froystad/Castren, 6-0, 6-2; Ballew/Howard def. Boyer/Iverson, 6-0, 6-2; Krushensky/Harris def. Hellwig/Roe, 6-0, 6-1.