Bigfork's Christiaens a state singles champ in Class B-C tennis
BOZEMAN — Trey Christiaens of Bigfork pulled through in the end, defeating Roger Mai of Great Falls Central 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (4) for the Class B-C state tennis singles title on Saturday.
Christiaens, a senior, is a four-time state placer (a two-time runner-up and one third place).
“It feels really good to finally get one,” Christiaens told Bill Speltz of the Missoulian. “I’m kind of in a state of shock right now. I don’t think it’s hit me yet.
“Roger is a great guy and I’m buddies with him. He beat me that last two times so it feels good to beat him.”
Trailing Mai 5-4 in the third-set tie-breaker, Christiaens scored three straight points to win it.
“I told myself out loud, I did it, he did it, I can do it again,” Christiaens said of leading 4-0 in the tiebreak, then surrenduring five points in a row.
Bigfork added more team points with the doubles team of Clayton and Colton Reichenbach finishing third. They defeated Dylan Cummings/Alex Freund of Troy 6-3, 6-2 in the consolation final. The Reichenbachs were defending state champions.
The Bigfork boys and girls both placed second in the team standings.
Missoula Loyola captured the girls title with 44 points. Bigfork had 39.
Great Falls Central, 44, claimed the boys team championship. Bigfork totaled 35.
Bigfork’s Payton Crawford lost her singles final match to Evelyn Dechans of Missoula Loyola, 6-4, 6-0.
Teammates Ahna Fox/Merideth Bedford finished fourth, falling in the consolation final to Melanie Benson/Lauren Bodlovic of Loyola, 6-4, 6-1.
State B-C Tennis
Saturday
At MSU indoor courts
GIRLS
Team Totals
Loyola 44, Bigfork 39, Fairfield and Choteau 22, Townsend 18, Fort Benton 15, Cut Bank 14, Forsyth 9, Harlem 7, Baker 6, Anaconda 5, Chester-Joplin-Inverness, Philipsburg, Simms 4, Whitehall and Darby 3, Great Falls Central 2, Chinook and Wolf Point 1.
Singles
Final: Evelyn Dechans, Loyola, def. Payton Crawford, Bigfork, 6-4, 6-0.
Consolation final: Grace Daniel, Loyola, def. Naemi Wipf, Fairfield, 6-1, 6-4.
Doubles
Final: Michaela Gunderson/Christine Funk, Choteau, def. Katie Giles/Megan Clark, Fort Benton, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3.
Consolation final: Melanie Benson/Lauren Bodlovic, Loyola, vs. Ahna Fox/Merideth Bedford, Bigfork, 6-4, 6-1.
BOYS
Team Totals
Great Falls Central 44, Bigfork 35, Loyola 33, Troy 17, Anaconda 12, Cut Bank 9, Choteau 7, Conrad 5, St. Ignatius 4, Darby and Valley Christian 2.
Singles
Final: Trey Christiaens, Bigfork, def. Roger Mai, Great Falls Central, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (4).
Consolation final: Nick Diekhans, Great Falls Central, def. Dan Kaleva, Loyola, 6-4, 6-0.
Doubles
Final: Nick Scott/Wyatt Walters, Great Falls Central, def. David Ramsey/Jacob Hollenback, Loyola, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.
Consolation final: Clayton/Colton Reichenbach, Bigfork, def. Dylan Cummings/Alex Freund, Troy, 6-3, 6-2.