Divisional tennis tournaments on tap for area teams
Glacier's Rory Smith hits a backhand return against Missoula Hellgate's Sebastian Silverstein at Flathead Valley Community College on Saturday, May 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Thursday marks the beginning of postseason tennis for Northern AA teams Flathead and Glacier, but the forecasted wet weather threatens to throw a wrench in their plans.
Glacier is hosting the tournament, set to start at 11 a.m. at the FVCC courts.
Rain is forecasted overnight and into the morning, but Glacier coach Josh Munro hopes the courts will dry out enough in time for matches to be played. Rain is not usually a huge problem for tennis courts, but the incoming cooler weather means the sun won’t be coming out to help dry the surface faster.
“It (the weather) adds another element of difficulty to what we’re trying to do,” Munro said.
If it isn’t possible to play on the outdoor courts, play will be moved indoors to the courts at Summit Medical Fitness Center.
A backup venue is a good thing, because there are 80 matches to be played. It’s possible some may be split between FVCC and Summit courts but a lot of that is up to the weather.
“Right now the goal is to start on time outside,” Munro said.
Northern AA is made up of Flathead, Glacier, C.M. Russell and Great Falls High School.
“We did get an early look at them, but all of the teams have made some changes,” Munro said. “Everyone has significantly improved (since April).”
Munro anticipates a doubles battle on both girls and boys sides and girls singles in particular, where CMR and Flathead are favored. CMR, Glacier and Flathead have maybe the strongest boys teams in the state, Munro noted.
“A lot of quality all the way around in some of these matchups,” he said. “It will be Interesting to see how everything shakes out.”
Flathead coach Jimmy Cripe has a team full of young upstarts looking to make it to state.
“The tournament in general is wide open,” he said. “I think it’s definitely the great unknown going in and that makes it fun and exciting.”
The seeding draw is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. today and as long as the weather cooperates, matches will start at 11 a.m. beginning with girls’ singles. Spectators are encouraged at FVCC, but no spectators are permitted at the Summit.
Northwestern A tennis in Polson started a day early on Wednesday in anticipation of the incoming weather.
Whitefish girls tennis coach Patrick Dryden noted that five out of seven of his players got through the first round. None of the Whitefish boys lost a match.
“The real tournament starts tomorrow,” Dryden said.
Dryden added that if the weather is too poor, the tournament will be postponed until Saturday when access to the Summit is possible.
“If we can get some matches in tomorrow it takes all the pressure off and means we will almost certainly not have to use the Summit,” Dryden said.
Play is scheduled to begin tomorrow at 2 p.m. Girls matches will be played at Polson High School and the boys will be at Ronan High School.