Score to Settle: Glacier's Speer, Downs chase doubles title
GLACIER'S SARAH DOWNS hits a return during a singles match against Helena High on March 30. Downs and teammate Haven Speer make up a formidable doubles team for the Wolfpack. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
“We hate to be second, we love to win,” Sarah Downs said.
Following a 2023 season that saw Glacier’s dynamic duo lose just one match, Downs and partner Haven Speer are ready to take the top step of the podium. That one loss: the state championship match to Missoula Hellgate’s Brooke Best and Laine Banzinger.
“We have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder,” Speer said. “We are coming into it (2024) ready to be super competitive.”
Both ladies have a competitive nature in all that they do, be it in class, or playing sports. The pair played together in volleyball and basketball as well.
“It is very powerful to be on the court together because we both have that same energy,” Downs said.
The partnership dates back to freshman year when Speer — new to Montana after moving from California — and Downs joined Josh Munro’s program.
“It used to be easier to recruit because I taught a mandatory freshman class. Now I don't do that anymore,” Munro said. “One of the best things at Glacier is the coaches are at everything, it's really a great atmosphere. With that you get to know a lot of the kids.”
Neither played tennis competitively before joining Glacier’s squad; for Speer it was the first time picking up a racket.
Downs spent some time growing up hitting balls when her mother and brother played before taking the court for the Pack.
“They were two that, as freshmen, we knew they had a lot of potential,” Munro said. “They have a lot of athleticism.”
In the time since joining the program, Speer qualified for state all three seasons, while Downs earned a spot for the past two years — both with Speer as a partner.
From the beginning both felt a chemistry on the court that grows each time they play.
“We kind of know what each other is going to do before we do it,” Downs said. “Like when we are switching we understand each other, our communication is great.”
“It’s grown a lot more as we have been able to play together more, but it's always been a strong connection,” Speer said.
In 2022, the pairing made their first appearance at the state tournament, making their way to the semifinal round before settling for a fifth-place finish. In 2023 the duo did not drop a set before falling in straight sets in the championship.
“They got to the state final and tasted the success of a really good season.” Munro said. “Now they are embracing the challenge of getting back. They were a relative unknown last year, and now there is a target on them.”
To get back to the championship match the pair need to be on the top of their game, and to prepare them Munro has them facing new opponents in practice.
“We have gotten to play at a faster pace and a higher level,” Downs said. “We have gotten to practice with the guys a bit, and they hit at the same speed as our opponents last season. We are really hoping this practice helps us take that next step.”
To take that next step the duo needs to qualify for the state tournament at the Western AA divisional, held at FVCC on May 16 and 17. Before that the Wolfpack has a Crosstown tennis dual with Flathead Thursday at 3 p.m., at FVCC.