Class A tennis: Polson girls look to repeat state title run

Polson tennis coach Bob Hislop knows his girls team isn’t favored to repeat as the Class A state champion, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be in the mix.

Northwestern A divisional champion Whitney Zimmerman is a two-time state placer who is expected to make another deep run in the singles draw and Polson’s top doubles team of Mollybeth Hendrix and Karly Rochin is no stranger to the state tournament. Both players placed in the top four of last year’s doubles draw with different partners.

Throw in Shannon Oakley, who qualified for state as the third seed out of Northwestern A, and doubles team Tegan Bauer and Libby Clay, a No. 4 seed, and Polson has the numbers to earn some hardware.

“We have a chance to get a trophy,” Hislop said. “With the right set of circumstances when you’ve got six girls there, you have a chance to do something.

“We’re not going to give up our state championship without a fight.”

Zimmerman placed fourth in last year’s singles draw, winning her way through the consolation ladder after losing in the first round to Hamilton’s Hannah Peterson. This year she’ll play Anaconda’s Ashley Johnson in the opening round and will likely get a rematch with Peterson in the quarterfinals.

“She got beat early last year by that girl at the state tournament and has been itching all year to avenge the loss,” Hislop said of Zimmerman.

A win in the quarterfinals would likely put Zimmerman in the semis against Livingston’s Macy Ricketts, who beat the Polson senior in the third-place match a year ago. For Ricketts to reach that point, she’ll have to get past Whitefish’s Ryan Chauner in the first round and a quarterfinal match against either Glendive’s Jordan Johnson or Corvallis’ Elizabeth Hennessy.

Led by defending singles champion Morgan Opp, Glendive is a strong contender for the team title along with Corvallis.

“Corvallis and Glendive are older teams and they’re really solid,” Hislop said. “Those will be the teams to beat. Livingston will be in there as well.”

Columbia Falls freshman Emily Getts, who lost to Zimmerman in the divisional championship match, will play Havre’s Brandy Lambourne in round one and could face Opp in the quarterfinals.

Like Polson, Whitefish has two doubles teams in the state tournament, including divisional champions Megan Danczyk and Lindsey Viscomi. They’ll play Lewistown’s Jen Monger and Andrea Nielsen in the opening round.

Polson also has high hopes in the boys’ competition with three-time state qualifier Brady Hislop and two-time qualifier Dylan McCrumb in the singles draw. McCrumb beat Hislop for the divisional championship and will face Butte Central’s Kale Guldseth and Northey Tretheway, respectively, in the first round.

“I’ve heard from other coaches that they’re backboards,” Hislop said. “Really, really super steady. They don’t make many mistakes.

“My kids can bring their game at you, come at you and try to win points. They’re tough first-round draws. I don’t think in the boys’ tournament there’s very many easy first-round draws.”

McCrumb’s half of the draw also includes Libby’s Jason Schnackenberg and Corvallis’ Alma Powell, the Central A divisional champion.

“The Powell kid from Corvallis has just improved and improved all year,” Hislop said. “He beat Dylan in a really close match in Corvallis. I didn’t think Dylan played that well that day, but it was still a close match.”

Hislop is in the same half as Libby’s Danny Leggins, Havre’s Jeff Miller and Billings Central’s Dillon Meyer. Meyer is the defending Class A singles champion and Miller is one of two players to ever win a set against four-time Class AA singles champion Kellen Bates of Glacier High School.

Polson also has two doubles teams in the tournament. Hayden Congdon and Layne Zimmerman placed second at the Northwestern A divisional tournament while Tyler Dupuis and Sam Kinzle were third.

Whitefish’s Sean Janni and Logan Blades won the Northwestern A divisional title and will face Stevensville’s Joseph Fecteau and Curtis Liston in their first round at state. Libby’s Ian Myslicki and Lane Lusher are also in that half of the draw.

Both tournaments begin today, with the boys playing in Polson and the girls in Ronan.