Vikings serve up win over Libby;

Girls tennis team wins two of three

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

"It's hard to see with snowballs in your eyes," Philipe Meyers said after his 6-3, 6-3 loss Monday afternoon.

Meyers and the rest of Bigfork's tennis team played in conditions that were more like a snowglobe than a tennis match. While the sun broke through the clouds sporadically during the Vikings' matchup against Flathead High School, the snow and wind continued to wreak havoc.

"The lines don't dry as fast as the court," Meyers said. The last time the Vikes played at home on April 10, there were puddles on the courts.

The Vikes lost to Flathead 5-2. Bigfork's wins came courtesy of Bridger Mahlum and Sean Barrett.

Bigfork defeated Libby 5-2 to start its week, but was handed a 7-0 sweep from the Whitefish Bulldogs as Whitefish denied the Vikes a single win.

"It was a good experience to play the Whitefish boys," Bigfork coach Paul Wallin said. "They're more experienced than we are."

Seth Gordon was topped by Lucas Peace 6-3, 6-2 in Whitefish. Cole Francisco lost 6-1, 6-4.

Meyers and Mahlum both won their singles matches against the Loggers. Mahlum's was close against Steven Hauck, but he won 6-3, 7-5. Meyers topped Hunter Sheffield 6-1, 6-2.

Zach Hansen secured a win in Libby. He blanked Lewis Brossman 6-0, 6-0.

Winning in the doubles department were Tyler Butts and Scott Taylor, along with Evan Jordt and Ryan Gembala. Butts and Taylor went to three sets against Cyrus and Cree Maloney. The Vikes won the first and third sets 6-3, 6-2 while losing 6-4 in the second set. Jordt and Gembala won 6-2, 6-2.

Bigfork hosts Polson today, April 24, at 3 p.m. and travels to Hamilton/Corvallis for non-conference action at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. tomorrow.

"They're learning to execute more and do something with every shot, not just put it in the middle," Wallin said of the Vikes.

Meyers agreed.

"It's getting easier. I think more practice and more games will help me and the team."

Boys

Bigfork 5, Libby 2

SINGLES — Bridger Mahlum, B, def. Steven Hauck, 6-3, 7-5; Philip Meyers, B, def. Hunter Sheffield, 6-1, 6-2; Jess Ramos, L, def. Jordan Sabo, 6-1, 6-2; Zac Hansen, B, def. Lewis Brossman, 6-0, 6-0.

DOUBLES — Tyler Butts/Scott Tyler, B, def. Cyrus Maloney/Cree Maloney, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2; Levi Edwards-Myslicki/Nate Broden, L, def. Seth Gordon/Cole Francisco, 3-6, 6-4, 7-3; Evan Jordt/Ryan Gembala, B, def. Cody Ercanbrack/Joe Fremont, 6-2, 6-2.

Whitefish 7, Bigfork 0

SINGLES — Renzo Caimi, WF, def. Philipe Meyers, 6-2, 6-0; Matt Harris, WF, def. Bridger Mahlum, 6-1, 6-1; Lucas Peace, WF, def. Seth Gordon, 6-3, 6-2; Tanner Hosek, WF, def. Cole Francisco, 6-1, 6-4.

DOUBLES — Kyle Jacobson/Ryan Rottenbiller, WF, def. Tyler Butts/Scott Taylor; Ian Hosek/Brendan Viscomi, WF, def. Jordan Sabo/Sean Barret; Matt Whitehead/Zachariah Deister, WF, def. Evan Jordt/Ryan Gembala.

They may be young, but Bigfork High School's girls tennis players aren't playing scared.

The Vals nearly secured two road wins before beating Flathead High School 4-3 at home on Monday. Bigfork defeated Libby 4-3 and fell to Whitefish by the same margin.

"The girls are extremely young, but they're making progress with their skills," Bigfork coach Paul Wallin said.

Ariana Shults and Lisa Kelecy won their singles matches against Flathead. Bigfork also won the No. 1 and 2 doubles matches.

"We played pretty well with them," Bigfork coach Matt Porrovecchio said. "The kids made the most of it."

Bigfork split its singles matches in Libby. Nicolette Peterson and Kelecy notched the singles wins by scores of 6-4, 6-3 and 6-0, 6-1 respectively.

Peterson was repeat winner. She and Jen Wirth defeated Whitefish's Steffi Osland and Becca Rozar later in the week 6-2, 6-4.

The doubles team of Quindee Averill and Roxy Thurman won both their matches on the road with tie breakers. Libby's Nichole Newman and Riley Dining forced the first into a 7-5 tiebreaker. Averill and Thurman won that set 7-6 and the second set 6-2. In Whitefish, Bigfork's No. 1 doubles won their tiebreaker 7-5 again and the two sets 6-6, 6-3.

While Jade Bosic teamed up with Kelly Deaton for her first win of the week, she won her next match single handedly. Bosic and Deaton topped Margeaux Zwang and Anna Valentine 6-1, 6-2 in Libby. Bosic got the best of Anne Miller with a 6-2, 6-1 victory in Whitefish.

Bigfork's top spots remain stable and set as the Vals continue their busy and frigid season.

"There won't be a lot of movement in the upper spots," Wallin said.

Averill and Thurman hold the Vals' top doubles' spot while Bosic and Deaton and Peterson and Wirth round out the other doubles positions. Lisa Kelecy and Shults add to the top singles spots.

Bigfork hosts Polson today, April 24, at 3 p.m. and travel to Hamilton/Corvallis tomorrow for 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. competition.

Girls

Bigfork 4, Libby 3

SINGLES — Jackie Mee, L, def. Jennifer Wirth, 6-0, 6-0; Veronika Cislo, L, def. Ariana Shults, 6-0, 6-0; Nicolette Peterson, B, def. Audra Poppen, 6-4, 6-3; Lisa Kelecy, B, def. Cassi Moog, 6-0, 6-1.

DOUBLES — Quindee Averill/Roxy Thurman, B, def. Nichole Newman/Riley Dining, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2; Jade Bosic/Kelly Deaton, B, def. Margeaux Zwang/Anna Valentine, 6-1, 6-2; Katie Horelick/Lindsey Kehn, L, def. Logun Koch/Clair Wilken, 6-2, 6-3.

Whitefish 4, Bigfork 3

SINGLES — Brielle Menegazzi, WF, def. Kelly Deaton, 6-3, 6-2; Jade Bosic, BF, def. Anne Miller, 6-2, 6-1; Almi Sekecri, WF, def. Ariana Shults, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3; Ellie Opel, WF, def. Lisa Kelecy, 6-2, 6-3.

DOUBLES — Quindee Averill/Roxy Thurman, BF, def. Kate Klundt/McCara Cullen, 6-6(7-5), 6-3; Nicolette Peterson/Jennifer Wirth, BF, def. Steffi Osland/Becca Rozar, 6-2, 6-4; Chelsi Birgersmith/Hannah Weaver, WF, def. Hanna Barrett/Cassie Lepper, 6-3, 6-4.