Wolfpack boys in mix for Class AA state tennis title
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