Tennis: Glacier boys, girls split against Helena schools
MISSOULA — Hunter Blalack has the state’s attention.
The Glacier senior tennis standout had a tall task ahead of him on Saturday as the Wolfpack tennis team traveled to Missoula to take on Helena High, Helena Capital and Missoula Big Sky.
The Wolfpack, who lost to the Bengals, 6-2, tied Capital, 4-4, and never finished their match against Big Sky due to rain, got plenty of momentum from Blalack’s performance.
The first match of the day saw Blalack take on Helena High’s Lane Ryerson — the Class AA state runner-up from a year ago. Blalack, who failed to place at the state tournament last season, dropped just a single game in each set, dominating Ryerson for a 6-1, 6-1 victory.
Blalack’s monumental win was short-lived. He faced defending state champion Noah Strizich of Capital in his next match.
Although Strizich took both sets for the victory, Blalack didn’t go down easy, falling 6-4, 6-4.
“He had a tough day in terms of who he matched up against, but he’s always had a lot of confidence,” Glacier coach Josh Munro said. “He put a lot of time in the offseason on his footwork and conditioning. He’s hitting thousands of balls as often as possible and he’s getting the results from working hard. Going forward, that’s going to be big for him.”
Glacier’s No. 2 singles spot was owned by Spencer Johnson. The junior cruised to two victories and never dropped a set. He beat both Helena’s Brendan Scherting and Capital’s Alex Hanson, 6-0, 6-0.
The Wolfpack failed to pick up a doubles victory against the Bengals but found redemption against the Bruins.
Sam Stern and Holland Blalack joined teammates Hunter Danz and Ben Wright to take the first two doubles matches against Capital and Brandon Purdy and Dylan Eve won the final doubles match.
Helena High 6, Glacier 2
Singles
Hunter Blalack, G, def. Lane Ryerson, 6-1, 6-1; Spencer Johnson, G, def. Brendan Scherting, 6-0 6-0; Chay Bouchee, H, def. Johnny DuFour, 7-6 2 6-0; Ryan Twardas, H, def. Colin Hill, 6-1 6-3 .
Doubles
Cory Bowlby, Noah Hammon, H, def. Sam Stern, Holland Blalack, 6-3, 7-6 1-0 8; Jarret Boyer, Hunter Hammel, H, def. Hunter Danz, Ben Wright, 6-2 7-6 4; Witt Williams, Alex Caldwell, H, def. Jack Desmul, Nick Vanderbeek, 6-2 6-1 1-0 3; Eran Martin, Alex Seebring, H, def. Brandon Purdy, Dylan Eve, 6-0 6-1.
Glacier 4, Helena Capital 4
Singles
Noah Strizich, C, def. Hunter Blalack 6-4 6-4; Spencer Johnson, G, def. Alex Hanson, 6-0 6-0; Brock Belcher, C, def Johnny Dufour, 6-4, 6-2 1-0 8; Braxten Kent, C, def. Colin Hill, 6-3 6-4 .
Doubles
Sam Stern, Holland Blalack , G, def. Brandon Rehm, Taggart Sullivan 6-4 6-3; Hunter Danz, Ben Wright, G, def. Sky Skinner, Scott Tilton 6-4, 6-2; Leon Hehl; Alex Romero, C, def. Jack Desmul, Nick Vanderbeek, 6-3 6-1; Brandon Purdy, Dylan Eve, G, def. Kip Giddings, Colin Gillespie, 6-2, 6-1 1-0 6.
Girls
Glacier 4, Helena High 4
Capital 5, Glacier 3
McKenna Tinseth was a two-match winner for the Glacier Wolfpack girls tennis team, who tied Helena High, 4-4, and lost to Helena Capital, 5-3, on Saturday.
Tinseth took down Helena’s Sarah Churchill, 6-4, 6-2 and Capital’s Katie Kubicka, 6-2, 6-0.
Kali Mathison and Caitlin Ward won in the No. 1 doubles spot against the Bengals, and Jazmyn Austin and Meghan Denna won the lone doubles match against Captial. Austin and Denna defeated Kaite Culver and Taylor Sulivan, 6-1, 6-2.
“I thought the girls played really, really well. We had some good matches,” Munro said.
“Overall, I thought it was a great improvement from last week. The whole team came out to play today really well.”
Glacier 4, Helena High 4
Singles
Madison Trevor, H, def. Amber Hamblin, 7-6 11 6-1 1-0 7; Abby George, H, def. Shelby Odell, 6-3 6-1; McKenna Tinseth, G, def. Sarah Churchill, 6-4, 6-2; McKenna Johnson, G, def. Kayla Steele, 6-4 6-4 1-0 2.
Doubles
Kali Mathison, Caitlin Ward, G, def. 7-6, 6-3 1-0 8 Jenna Starke, Allison Kelly; Brooke Burkett, Lindsey Burkett, H, def. McKenna Johnson, Sarah Seynei, 6-2, 7-5; Tessa Howe, Cayli Mower, G, def. Brooklyn Lambert, Alex Altos 6-4, 6-3 1-0 6; Britta Binde, Taylor Jolly, H, def. Meghan Denna, Jazmyn Austin, 6-2, 7-5 1-0 8.
Helena Capital 5, Glacier 3
Singles
Hannah Haas, C, def. Kali Mathison, 7-5 6-2; Miranda Brig, C, def. Shelby Odell, 6-2, 6-3; McKenna Tinseth, G, def. Katie Kubicka, 6-2, 6-0; McKenna Johnson, G, def. Christina McGee, 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles
Lexi Redding, Mariah Swenson, C, def. Amber Hamblin Caitlin Ward, 6-2 6-2 ; Brigett Powers, Fiona Powers, C, def. McKenna Johnson, Sarah Cyneai, 6-2, 6-3; Alana Tilton, Hannah Clark, C, def. Tessa Howe, Cayli Mower 6-3, 7-5; Jazmyn Austin, Meghan Denna, G, def. Kaite Culver, Taylor Sulivan 6-1, 6-2