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Wolfpack boys in mix for Class AA state tennis title

by The Daily Inter Lake
| May 22, 2014 10:12 PM

While not bringing the same firepower to the tournament as they did last season, the Glacier boys hope to still be in the mix for a state championship as the Class AA state tennis tournament begins today at Montana State University in Bozeman.

The Wolfpack carries a singles player and a pair of doubles teams into the event, one where five teams are vying for the top three spots.

“A lot of it will come down to who gets to the semis and who gets through the semis,” Glacier coach Josh Munro said.

“Any of five teams could win it right now.”

Glacier junior Hunter Blalack opens against Helena High’s Layne Janicek in the first round. The Wolfpack’s Spencer Johnson and Greg Jones begin doubles against Kevin Bruhaug and Andrew Driscoll of Billings Senior. Teammates Kyler Harkins and Sam Stern open against Daniel Alme and Thomas Sawatzke of Billings West.

“Right now we came out as favorably as we could for the draws,” Munro said.

“We can win this, we’re definitely in that mix. We have to have some things break our way, but every team in the draw, every school is either going to catch a break or have one go against them.”

Flathead’s Glenn Strickler is the Braves’ lone representative in Bozeman, opening singles play against Noah Strizich of Helena Capital.

Helena’s Layne Ryerson and Hellgate’s Dylan Harvala enter as the singles favorites. Ryerson has yet to lose a match this season and Harvala was runner-up a year ago to current-Indiana Hoosier Kellen Bates of Glacier. Blalack hopes to be in the mix as well.

Johnson, who won last season in doubles, and Jones figure to contend with duos from Bozeman and Billings Senior for the state crown.

“On any given day any of those kids can beat any other kid,” Munro said.

“We’ll just see who’s here and who’s ready to play on the weekend and how they handle the pressure.”

The Bozeman girls enter as the heavy favorites in the shadow of their home courts with singles players Zoe Lindgren and Madison Shea among the favorites along with their top three doubles teams.

Glacier opens against the Hawks in each of their first round doubles matches. Kayla Harwood and Kali Mathison play Bozeman’s Tatiana Caine and Maggie Russell and Maya Buckingham and Berta Jover-Llorens start with Bozeman’s Sophie Allen and Margot Shea.

“They drew a tougher draw,” Munro said.

“Bozeman’s three teams could easily place 1-2-3. That’s just the strength and the depth Bozeman has.

“We’re going to have to come out of the gate playing our best tennis.”

Great Falls CMR’s Lindsay Martinez also enters as a singles favorite, unbeaten in more than 20 matches this season, though she went to three sets against the Bozeman girls.

Class AA State Tournament

Montana State University, Bozeman

Friday/Saturday

First-round matchups

Boys

Singles

Joe Sawatzke, Billings West vs. Stash Wrobel, Missoula Hellgate

Asad Khattak, Great Falls CMR vs. Marcos Zelver, Bozeman

Noah Strizich, Helena Capital vs. Glenn Strickler, Flathead

Dylan Harvala, Missoula Hellgate vs. Jack Replogle, Billings Senior

Hunter Blalack, Glacier vs. Layne Janicek, Helena High

Josh Moller, Billings Senior vs. Lucas Veteto, Missoula Sentinel

Colin Bahin, Missoula Big Sky vs. Skeff Thomas, Billings Senior

Layne Ryerson, Helena High vs. Soren Ormseth, Great Falls CMR

Doubles

Willy Schuman-Kline/Jack Wilgus, Billings Senior vs. Kyler Clifton/Tom Johnson, Great Falls

Drum Caras/Austin Viloette, Missoula Sentinel vs. Hunter Beto/Tyler Markle, Helena Capital

Oliver Carr/Colton Litle, Bozeman vs. Jacob Himber/Austin Rosenbuam, Missoula Big Sky

Kevin Bruhaug/Andrew Driscoll, Billings Senior vs. Spencer Johnson/Greg Jones, Glacier

Ethan Howward/Izak Nord, Missoula Hellgate vs. Micheal Dobbins/Brandom Rehm, Helena Capital

Daniel Alme/Thomas Sawatzke, Billings West vs. Kyler Harkins/Sam Stern, Glacier

Josh Haagensen/Taylor Lunn, Great Falls vs. Ryan Benge/Aaron Lyon, Billings Skyview

Andrew Hance/Robbie Pike, Bozeman vs. Koehl DeShazer/Justin Smith, Missoula Sentinel

Girls

Singles

Ricquel Ramsbottom, Billings West vs. Brooke Gowins, Great Falls CMR

Kelsey Thomas, Missoula Sentinel vs. Madison Shea, Bozeman

Hannah Haas, Helena Capital vs. Mariah Skiftun, Missoula Hellgate

Cora Hentchel, Billings West vs. Lindsay Martinez, Great Falls CMR

Sofia Panarella, Missoula Hellgate vs. Karissa Tu, Bozeman

Jade Goodyear, Billings West vs. Laura Gilligan, Great Falls

Abigail Davidson, Great Falls vs. Katie Hooton, Billings Skyview

Zoe Lindgren, Bozeman vs. Wren Matelich, Missoula Hellgate

Doubles

Abby Coffee/Danie Nichols, Billings Senior vs. Maddie keeper/Holland Small, Missoula Hellgate

Pindsay Pyette/Karyl Thompson, Great Falls CMR vs. Leonora Barton/Madison Pederson, Bozeman

Aidan Amtmann/Molly Nelson, Butte vs. Brooke Dart/Bailey Roady, Great Falls

Jenna Donovan/Katie Veteto, Missoula Sentinel vs. Maggie Dunphy/Tatum Meyer, Billings West

Kayla Harwood/Kali Mathison, Glacier vs. Tatiana Caine,/Maggie Russell, Bozeman

Alison Ebel/Witni Wilson, Billings Skyview vs. Morgan Harrington.Sarah Ramsbacher, Missoula Sentinel

Anna Ballew/MacKenzie Keiper, Missoula Hellgate vs. Bri Dutton/Michelle Hoff, Billings Skyview

Sophie Allen/Margot Shea, Bozeman vs. Maya Buckingham/Berta Jover-Llorens, Glacier