Glacier's Blalack 2nd in AA state tennis singles
HELENA — In his quest for a state singles championship, Hunter Blalack came up just short.
The Glacier senior was edged by Helena High’s Layne Ryerson 6-3, 6-2 in the title match of the MHSA Class AA state tennis tournament on Friday.
Ryerson, the Class AA runner-up in 2014, evened the season series with Blalack at 2-2, but won when it mattered most — in the state final.
The defeat is hardly a setback for Blalack. The four-time state qualifier ended a phenomenal prep career with his second state medal, pacing the Glacier boys to third place in the final team standings.
During his rookie campaign, Blalack reached the state semifinals before ultimately losing in the consolation finals for a fourth-place finish as a freshman. The Wolfpack was second in the team standings in 2012.
As a sophomore, Blalack was an intricate part of Glacier’s state champion team in 2013. While teammate Kellen Bates won his second-straight singles title, Blalack finished 3-2 at the tournament as an underclassman, a match away from the consolation finals.
With Blalack’s title-match loss and a championship victory from doubles pair Joe Sawatzke and Daniel Alme of Billings West, the Golden Bears claimed the boys team title.
Billings West finished with 19 points, nipping Bozeman (16) and the Wolfpack (15).
Zoe Lindgren of Bozeman won the girls singles title and the Hawks ran away with the team championship.
Lindsay Martinez and Mackenzie George of Great Falls C.M. Russell won the doubles title.
BOYS
Team scores
Billings West 19, Bozeman 16, Glacier 15, Helena High 13, Hellgate 12, Capital 8, Big Sky 8, Senior 7, Great Falls 6, Sentinel 4, Skyview 3, Butte 1, CM Russell 0, Flathead 0
Singles
Consolation semifinals
Noah Strizich, CHS, def. Ryan Benge, Sky, 6-3, 6-1; Colin Bahin, MBS, def. Marcos Zelver, Boz, 6-3, 6-1.
Consolation Finals
Colin Bahin, MBS, def. Noah Strizich, CHS, 6-1, 6-3.
Championship
Layne Ryerson, HHS, def. Hunter Blalack, Gla, 6-3,6-2.
Doubles
Consolation semifinals
Lunn/Johnson, GFH, def. Hewett/Ramsbacher, MS, 6-4, 6-4; Williams/Hance, Boz, def. Thomas/Wilgus, Sen, 6-4, 6-4.
Consolation Finals
Williams/Hance, Boz, def. Lunn/Johnson, GFH, 6-2, 6-0.
Championship
Joe Sawatzke/Daniel Alme, BW, def. Izak Nord/Grant Porter, MH, 6-4, 6-2.
GIRLS
Team scores
Bozeman 27, Missoula Hellgate 19, CM Russell 15, Missoula Sentinel 14, Billings Skyview 13, Capital High 9, Billings West 4, Helena High 4, Butte 3, Great Falls High 2, Galcier High 1, Flathead 1, Senior 0, Big Sky 0.
Singles
Consolation Finals
Hannah Hass, CHS, def. Katie Hooton, Sky, 6-4, 6-1.
Consolation semifinals
Hannah Haas, CHS, def. Olivia Panarella, MH, 6-3, 6-2; Katie Hooton, Sky, def. Whitni Wilson, Sky, 6-0, 6-4
Championship
Zoe Lindgren, Boz, def. Sophia Panarella, MH, 6-4, 6-3.
Doubles
Consolation semifinals
Harrington/Veteto, MS, def. Starke/Battershell-Corson, HHS, 7-6(4), 6-3; Ramsbacher/Thomas, MS, def. Meyer/Woodin, BW, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(4).
Consolation Finals
Harrington/Veteto, MS, def. Ramsbacher/Thomas, MS, 6-4, 7-5.
Championship
Lindsay Martinez/Mackenzie George, CMR, def. Sophie Allen/Margo Shea, Boz, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.