Glacier, Whitefish set for state tennis

For a decade the Glacier boys dominated Northern AA tennis, winning the divisional title 10 times in a row and breaking through last year to win the program’s second state championship.

This year was a bit different. The Wolfpack boys were runner-up to C.M. Russell, which swept the team titles at the divisional.

It’s a different situation than last season, Glacier coach Josh Munro acknowledges.

“After playing them (CMR) two or so weeks ago, we knew all year long the fact they didn’t graduate anybody meant they were gonna be very difficult to beat,” Munro said.

CMR will have to contend with Bozeman’s boys, second last year and arguably the favorite heading into the State AA tournament in Missoula, which starts today.

Likewise for the Bozeman girls, who are in the hunt for their 10th straight state title.

The Whitefish girls last won the Class A title in 2019, and the boys in 2018, where there was a rare three-way tie for first between Whitefish, Corvallis and Hardin.

Polson claimed the girls crown in 2021, but graduated most of its team. Havre has four of five back from its winning boys team. Whitefish was runner-up for both boys and girls last year, and by sheer numbers could be considered a favorite to sweep team titles in Bozeman.

State AA

Glacier is sending two boys singles players and four doubles pairs, two each for boys and girls, to the tournament.

Harrison Sanders, who was third as part of a doubles pair last year at state, was second at the divisional to CMR’s Luca Alvisi. Sanders drew Ashton Shipley from Helena Capital as his first-round opponent.

Also representing the Wolfpack is Will Rudbach, who shared No. 1 singles duty with Sanders this season. He has a tough draw in Ryan Ashley of Capital in the first round.

This being the state tournament, that kind of thing is to be expected.

“The kids that qualified are ones that we expected to qualify,” Munro said. “There are a couple of tough draws for sure and a couple places we’ve got opportunities to make a move but its state, and there are no easy matches at state.”

Another divisional runner-up, doubles pair Alex Galloway and Timmy Glanville figure to make some noise this week. The two are joined by Ethan Woods and Trey Engellant, who were fourth at the divisional.

Divisional girls doubles champions Haven Speer and Sarah Downs have Gallatin pair Aydan Paul and Molly O’Connor in the first round, which starts at Fort Missoula today at 10 a.m. Colette Daniels and Katy Bitney, fourth at divisionals, will face Bozeman’s Hailey Buss and Nora Schrank.

Boys singles and doubles are set to tip off at 10 a.m. today at Playfair Park.

Alexis Kersten is Flathead’s representative at the state tournament after winning the girls singles divisional crown. Kersten was consistent and came out on top of matches against tough opponents, especially later in the season.

“She was tested, she had a few really good matches with the Gallatin and Bozeman girls,” first-year Flathead coach Travis Cattron said. “She had maybe half the season where she grinded out wins. I think definitely both of us are feeling confident but we know the state tournament is the top dogs.”

Class A

The Whitefish girls were undefeated in duals this season, but coach Patrick Dryden thinks it’ll be a grind to win a team title, one the Bulldogs are certainly capable of accomplishing.

There are six girls representing Whitefish in Bozeman.

“That’s the most I’ve ever sent,” Dryden said. “We’re real pleased with the number of kids that we qualified.”

Anyah Cripe and Lauren Brown were second and third respectively at Northwest A divisional in girls singles. Cripe was second to Polson’s Clara Todd, who was fourth in doubles at state last year.

If the Whitefish girls have any weakness, it's the lack of a Gracie Smyley-type player (Smyley was the girls singles champ last year) — one that’s absolutely dominant.

“It’ll truly be a team effort to get contributions from everybody because we don’t have that superstar,” Dryden said.

Whitefish expects to get points from its divisional champion doubles pair Emma Trieweiler and Tallory Workman. Elliette Haigh and Ashley Gunset, fourth at divisionals, could also make a splash.

In addition to Todd, Polson has doubles pair Camilla Foresti and Katie Smith, who were third at the divisional.

Columbia Falls’ Cloey Ramage, fourth at divisional (she lost to Brown in the third place match) faces a tough test right off the bat with Eliana Foss of Hamilton in the first round.

Ronan has one girls doubles team, Aaliyah Decker and Alyssa Pretty on Top, divisional runners-up to Trieweiler and Workman.

Bulldogs Aaron Dicks and Mason Kelch were paired up late in the season and ended up winning the divisional boys doubles title by defeating the top seeded Trent Wilson and Owen McElwee of Polson.

“I just think there were some great things that happened at divisionals,” Whitefish boys coach Chris Schwaderer said. “They came in the tournament and ended up beating the one seed…They came together quickly.”

Whitefish’s other boys doubles pair at state is Finn Stagg and Jesse Burrough, and in singles is senior Joe Brandt, fourth at divisional. Schwaderer believes Brandt could play at a level well above his seeding.

“Joe is a player that could have come in as a No. 1 seed but came in as a four,” Schwaderer said. “He had a good (divisional) tournament, I think he’s definitely at a point where he’s looking to regroup and recharge. I think he’s really looking forward to all the possibilities of the state tournament. He plans to leave it all out there on the court.”

Columbia Falls’ Cade Morgan and Cody Schweikert beat Stagg and Burroughs for third at the divisional and could play the spoiler on their side of the bracket.

Ryan Beagle of Libby served up one of the biggest surprises last week by defeating top-seeded Torrin Ellis of Polson for the divisional boys singles title. Beagle gutted out a three-set victory against Brandt in the semifinal and won a first set tie break against Ellis in the championship match.

Ronan’s Beau Decker comes in as a three seed after winning the third-place divisional match over Whitefish’s Brandt.