Pirates, Dogs grab Class A tennis semifinal spots

Whitefish's boys doubles pairing of Mason Kelch and Dane Hunt tap rackets between sets against Dillon's Isaac and Zach Sandall at the Class A State Tennis Tournament at FVCC on Thursday, May 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Libby's Ryan Beagle charges the net in a boys singles match against Corvallis' Pierce Yaskus at the Class A State Tennis Tournament at FVCC on Thursday, May 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Whitefish's Dane Hunt hits a return in a boys doubles matchup with teammate Mason Kelch against Dillon's Isaac and Zach Sandall at the Class A State Tennis Tournament at FVCC on Thursday, May 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Whitefish's Mason Kelch hits a return in a boys doubles matchup with teammate Dane Hunt against Dillon's Isaac and Zach Sandall at the Class A State Tennis Tournament at FVCC on Thursday, May 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Whitefish's Maggie Mercer hits a return in a girls doubles match with teammate Ainsley Scott against Lewistown's Lexi Breidenbach and Lauren Plagenz at the Class A State Tennis Tournament at FVCC on Thursday, May 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Whitefish's Ainsley Scott hits a return in a girls doubles match with teammate Maggie Mercer against Lewistown's Lexi Breidenbach and Lauren Plagenz at the Class A State Tennis Tournament at FVCC on Thursday, May 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Whitefish's Alivia Lusko hits a return in a girls singles match against Hamilton's Tallulah Pinjuv at the Class A State Tennis Tournament at Logan Health Medical Fitness Center on Thursday, May 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Columbia Falls' Lexi Oberholtzer hits a return in a girls singles match against Corvallis' Ava Wilcox at the Class A State Tennis Tournament at Logan Health Medical Fitness Center on Thursday, May 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Bigfork's Tessa Troyer hits a return in a girls singles match against Corvallis' Dakota Powell at the Class A State Tennis Tournament at Logan Health Medical Fitness Center on Thursday, May 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Polson's boys doubles pairing of Otto Lund and Tate Barentsen walk off the court after advancing to the second round past Dillon's Jon Hernandez-Puga and Carson Fluckiger at the Class A State Tennis Tournament at FVCC on Thursday, May 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Polson's Tate Barentsen hits a return in a boys doubles match with teammate Otto Lund against Dillon's Jon Hernandez-Puga and Carson Fluckiger at the Class A State Tennis Tournament at FVCC on Thursday, May 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

by JON ALLEN
Staff Writer | May 24, 2024 12:00 AM

Polson’s Katie Smith and Julia Bernard earned a three-set victory over Hardin’s Trinity Lefthand and Avery Schubert of Hardin to advance to the girls doubles semifinals at the State A tennis tournament Thursday.

Smith and Bernard took set one in a tiebreaker before dropping the second set 6-4. In the third set, Smith and Bernard seized control early to take a 6-2 victory to move on.

“We came out pretty strong, high energy and intensity,” Bernard said. “We kind of got down when they brought it back and we were both being really vocal out there, but in the end we came out on top and that’s what really matters.”

The duo started the day with a victory over Glendive’s Piper Knoll and Bridget Litwiller 6-0, 6-0.

“I think our first match really got us ready for our second match though,” Smith said. “We had a pretty easy first match, but the girls we faced second match brought a lot of competition to the court.”

Bernard and Smith face Hardin’s Taiya Guptill and Johana Limberhand in the semifinals.

Polson’s Torrin Ellis also grabbed a semifinal spot in boys singles, defeating Butte Central’s Owen McPartland, then defeating Miles City’s Jake Larson. Ellis squares off with Hardin’s Jameson Noteboom Friday morning.

Whitefish’s boys pairing of Mason Kelch and Dane Hunt found their way into the semifinals with a pair of straight-set victories. First beating Dillon’s Isaac and Zach Sandall, then racing past Livingston’s Houston Dunn and Logan Jorgenson.

“Had kind of a rough start, but our coaches once again told us we are at our best when we are moving around,” Kelch said. “Now we are waiting for tomorrow bright and early. I think we are first match on, against Billings Central, who we want to somewhat get back on.”

Brayden Petermann and Aiden Sorenson are the opponents for the Whitefish pair Friday morning.

Libby’s Ryan Beagle earned a semifinal spot also, defeating Pierce Yaskus from Corvallis and Chase Wells of Hardin in boys singles. Beagle faces Hamilton’s Andy Purcell Friday morning for a spot in the championship match.

Still alive on the one-loss side of the bracket is Whitefish's Jack Oehlerich, who faces Ronan’s Beau Decker for a chance to play in the consolation semifinals.

In boys doubles, Columbia Falls’ Logan Heupel and Will Pickard take on Livingston’s Dunn and Jorgenson, while the Whitefish duo of Jesse Burrough and Buren Brust take on Polson’s Otto Lund and Tate Barentsen.

In girls singles, Whitefish’s Alivia Lusko looks to stay alive against Tess Cocotos of Livingston.

An all-Whitefish match-up awaits in the girls doubles bracket as Camry Kelch and Zoey Marzo square off with Maggie Mercer and Ainsley Scott for a spot in the consolation semifinals.