Boys and girls tennis teams ready to play outdoors

Hungry Horse News

Winter is wrecking practices for the Columbia Falls High school boys and girls tennis teams.

Both teams have not been on a tennis court since their season began more than two weeks ago. Instead, the teams have been hitting balls in the Ruder Elementary School gym.

Until his players get outside, coach Jerry Smalley said it's difficult to evaluate exactly how the teams are shaping up.

"I'd like the kids to get on the court to allow themselves to beat up on each other a little bit," Smalley said.

About 15 boys and 25 girls have joined the teams. Smalley said they're a great bunch to coach and should meet their primary goal.

"We'll be fine," he said. "Our goal is to have fun and to learn how to play tennis, and we're right on course."

Smalley said he has some ideas about where players will fit, but isn't sure for many of them.

For the girls, seniors Nikki Freebury and Crystal Nieves will be one of the doubles teams. Freebury and Nieves came within one match of qualifying for the state tournament last season.

Smalley said he is unsure who will comprise the other two doubles teams.

Freebury and Nieves missed qualifying for state action because of a loss to teammates Amy Fredericks and Kate Marcille, who were the only competitors from the girls or boys teams to make state last year.

Fredericks graduated, but Marcille is back.

"She's a competitor," Smalley said of Marcille. "She stays focused."

Smalley said Emily Emmert is the only player that is surely playing singles. Marcille might compete in singles, too, he said.

The boys won't have their top player from last year. Tait Rocksund, who came within one match of making state, graduated.

Smalley said their strongest player this year should be Frederich Schweinitz, a foreign-exchange student from Germany. Schweinitz has taken tennis lessons since he was a child.

"He's just had far more experience than our other kids," Smalley said.

Smalley said junior Josh Kaplan will probably be playing singles behind him.

But for the most part, Smalley doesn't know who will be playing singles or doubles for the boys.

He said Clayton Johnson, Chuck Sheddon and Michael Karper are some of the more improved players on the team.

This is only the second year for the boys program. The team appears to be progressing.

Smalley said there are some athletic freshmen coming up. If they stay with the sport, they should be solid as juniors and seniors, he said.

The boys open their season at 11 a.m. April 9 at Libby. On April 12 at 3 p.m. they play at Polson.

The girls start at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Eureka. On April 9 at 11 a.m. they play against Libby and Eureka in Libby.