Tennis: Libby, Polson ride momentum to state play
Northwestern A divisional tennis champions Libby and Polson will be looking for more titles and trophies at the Class A state tournament, which begins today in Missoula at 8 a.m.
The top four singles players and doubles teams from Northwestern, Southwestern, Eastern and Central divisionals last week qualified for state.
The Polson girls will have two competing in singles — divisional runner-up Marlee Congdon and fourth-place finisher Mollie Lemm — and two doubles teams — Taylor Rost and Shawna Lenz and Olivia Hewston and Cassie Carlyle.
Polson piled up 52 points to win the divisional by 17 points. It was the ninth straight championship for the Pirates.
Also advancing in girls are divisional singles champion Emily Getts of Columbia Falls and third-place finisher Paula Fernandez of Libby.
Getts, a junior, is undefeated on the season. It was her second divisional championship.
Getts finished fourth at state last year.
The Whitefish girls are sending the two top doubles teams from divisionals to state — winners Anna Peterson and Katie Fyall along with runners-up Heather Luedke and Hannah Madsen.
On the boys side, Libby advances divisional singles champion Walter Briones and third-place finisher Cody Wood and the doubles team of Jason Brandt and Colin Maloney, who finished third.
Polson is sending the top two doubles teams from the divisional in champs Colin Kenny and Quaid Harlan and runners-up Cadis Chowning and Tommy Mercer.
Whitefish has two singles players at state — Max Smyley, second at divisionals, and Eric Holdhusen, who was fourth. Also advancing are Ryan Brown and Chaffin Ross, fourth in divisional doubles.
The tournament ends Friday.
“I think the division will have a good weekend with Briones es and Getts,” veteran Polson coach Bob Hislop said. “I just think that if Whitefish’s doubles teams plays well at state, they have a good chance of winning it.”
“Having six girls there, if we get hot I think we have a chance to win a trophy,” Hislop added.
“I think we have the tools, but we’re just so young. We have people who can score points, we just need to have a couple good days.”