Glacier's Smith in AA state tennis singles final

The Daily Inter Lake

GREAT FALLS — Glacier has two players remaining and Flathead three after Thursday’s opening session of the Class AA state tennis tournament.

Glacier, which advanced 13 players (three in singles and five doubles teams), is down to Rory Smith and Maria Frampton in singles. Both won Northern AA Divisional titles last week at Flathead Valley Community College.

Flathead singles player Joston Cripe and the doubles team of Nolan White/Ethan Hawkins also stayed in the medal hunt. White/Hawkins were division champs last week while Cripe was a runner-up.

Smith, a sophomore, defeated Elijah Scheinz of Helena High 6-0, 6-0, Aiden Binau of Billings Skyview 6-0, 7-6 and Ethan Violette of Missoula Sentinel 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 7-6 (7-4). Smith will face top-seed Connor Joly of Bozeman, who defeated Liam Johnson of Missoula Big Sky 6-4, 7-5 in the other semifinal, today.

“Connor hasn’t lost a match this year,” Glacier coach Josh Munro said.

“It’s going to be a fight.”

Cripe topped Wyatt Johnson of Helena High 6-4, 7-5, lost to Joly 6-0, 6-0, but finished the first day by defeating Andy Bough from Billings Senior 6-4, 6-1. Cripe will start play today versus Aiden Watson of Missoula Sentinel.

Frampton went 2-1 while Maggie Rudbach lost both her matches.

Frampton, a senior, opened with two wins — 6-1, 6-1 over Violet Newhouse of Bozeman and 6-3, 6-1 over Pilar Santos of Helena High — before losing to Maicy McCarty of Bozeman in the semifinals 6-1, 6-1. Frampton, who was third last year at state, has a semifinal loser-out contest today.

Rudbach fell to McCarty in the first round 6-0, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-0 to Meredith Murdock of Missoula Sentinel.

In doubles, White/Hawkins won their opening round against Cody Brunner/Ben Ebel from Billings Skyview 6-4, 6-3, lost in the quarterfinal round to Missoula Hellgate’s Henry Ledyard/Wyatt Brown 6-1, 6-2 and bounced back to beat Glacier’s Micah Heil/Drew Engellant 6-3, 6-4.

Glacier’s doubles team are all eliminated.

Ben Desmul/Ethan Purdy and Kyle Buckingham/Akhil Patel were 0-2.

Desmul/Purdy lost 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-1 in their opener and 6-3, 6-2 in the next round.

Buckingham/Patel lost 6-2, 6-2 and 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (5).

Engellant/Heil lost their opener 6-2, 6-0, pulled out a 6-3, 6-4 win before losing to White/Hawkins.

Glacier and Flathead were 0-4 in girls doubles.

Glacier’s Regin Koester/Katie Lessmeier lost 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 and 6-2, 7-5; and Hannah Nikunen/Ashlyn Sliter lost 6-2, 6-3 and 6-2, 6-2.

Flathead’s Kendall Pyron/Emma Hawkins lost 6-2, 6-3 and 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5).

Smith and Violette met earlier this season with Violette winning in straight sets.

“Ethan (Violette) has been a doubles specialist, won a state title in doubles.” Munro said.

“Big serves, a lot of serve and volley, very aggressive. He has a very different game than other people play.”

Smith survived a tough first set in the semifinal with Violette, but lost the second 6-2.

“Part of it I think is there are a lot of emotions going through the first-set tie-break,” Munro said. “Sometimes it is hard to come out with the same kind of momentum against an opponent who is trying to reestablish themselves, making the big push.”

Violette was up 4-1 in the third set when Smith roared back.

“Rory was on the ropes,” Munro said.

“It was high quality play. Ethan (Violette) had the momentum and the lead.

“Rory got a little smoother (at that point),” Munro continued.

“Just really focused on his technique and foot work, and really getting every ball back in play and setting up points.”

Smith hopes to be the second Glacier boy to win a state title. Kellen Bates was a four-time state champion (2010-13).

Two Glacier girls have won state titles — Laina Bates (2011) and Katya Kulikova (2012).

“She had a really good day,” Munro said of Frampton.

“Honestly, it was really good play. Maicy (McCarty) is really steady ... like hitting against the wall, the ball keeps coming back.

“(Frampton) played some of her most aggressive, solid tennis in that match. Maicy (McCarty) just had an answer to everything.

“She’s had the toughest semifinals of anyone the last two years,” Munro said of Frampton.

“Last year she played the state champ in three sets in the semifinals. No one got closer to that score.”

On Glacier’s doubles woes ...

“It was (disappointing), but really the play was good, very solid,” Munro said.

“It was state. We had some kids compete hard, a couple third setters.”

Flathead coach Jimmy Cripe was pleased with his state performers.

“Nolan (White) and Ethan (Hawkins) bounced back after their quarterfinal loss and played with much more confidence and aggression in tough conditions. It was cold and windy all day. Joston played his best match of the season against Bough. He mentally and physically wore him down. These guys played three matches in one day and went 2-1, which showed a lot of toughness. They put FH tennis back on the map today.”