Bulldogs clean up at tennis divisionals

Boys are champions; Whitefish is sending nine players to state tourney in Polson

By DAVID ERICKSON/Whitefish Pilot

After countless hours battling in the hot sun on the courts over the weekend, the Whitefish boys are once again Northwestern A divisional tennis champions. They will send three singles players and two doubles pairs to the state tournament in Polson this weekend.

The Whitefish girls took second place behind Polson, but two girls qualified for state, Brielle Menegazzi and Kate Klundt.

"The kids performed well, it was a good tournament," said head coach Kathy Cummings. "We had some heat-related, hydration problems like cramps. But overall, it was a fun weekend, and we are looking forward to state."

For the boys, Chilean exchange student Renzo Caimi claimed the singles championship. He was undefeated all season and lost only one game at the tournament. Caimi took the title in an all-Bulldog final against Ryan Rottenbiller, 6-0, 6-0.

Along with Rottenbiller, Ian Hosek will be making the trip to state. Hosek defeated Phillip Myers of Bigfork in the consolation bracket final, 6-2, 6-1.

To advance to the final, Rottenbiller had to battle Phillip Myers of Bigfork, as well as some severe cramping issues because of dehydration.

"Ryan's match was heart-wrenching to watch, because he was in so much pain," Cummings said. "Just watching his perseverance, and the pain he was in, it was hard to watch."

In doubles action, Whitefish's Matt Harris won his third straight divisional title. This year was his first as a doubles player, teaming up with Brendan Viscomi to defeat Grant Getts and Cody Maynard in a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 epic battle.

Kyle Jacobson and Trey LaGrandeur are also heading to state after making it to the consolation final but losing a heartbreaker to a Bigfork duo, 3-6, 7-6, (7-3), 3-6.

On the girls side, Brielle Menegazzi battled her way into the championship match to face her arch-nemesis Jackie Mee, of Libby. Menegazzi faced Mee in the title match last year as well.

The two girls have battled each other on both the volleyball and tennis courts all year, but this time the Lady Logger prevailed. Menegazzi just couldn't get a handle on Mee and lost 1-6, 3-6 to take second place.

Kate Klundt defeated Columbia Falls star Sarah Marcille in the consolation final, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, to earn her trip to state.

"Kate had a great match with Sarah, who she hadn't played because (Sarah) is usually a No. 1. It was probably my favorite match to watch," Cumming said.

Cummings said Anne Miller, a sophomore who didn't qualify for state, had a great tournament.

"She really played her heart out," Cummings said.

The state Class A tennis tournament begins this Friday in Polson.

Team totals

Boys: 1. Whitefish 79; 2. Bigfork 33; 3. Polson 21; 4. Columbia Falls 18; 5. Libby 9

Girls: 1. Polson 55; 2. Whitefish 39; 3. Bigfork 34; 4. Libby 31; 5. Columbia Falls 11

Boys singles

Championship: Caimi, W, def. Rottenbiller, W, 6-0, 6-0

Quarterfinals: Hauck, L, def. Engebretson, P, 6-1, 6-3; Mahlum, B, def. T. Hosek, W, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2

Semifinals: I. Hosek, W, def. Hauck, L, 6-3, 6-3; Myers, B, def. Mahlum, B, 6-1, 6-0

Finals: I. Hosek, W, def. Myers, B, 6-2, 6-1

Boys doubles

Championship: Harris/Viscomi, W, def. Getts/Maynard, CF, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4

Quarterfinals: Jacobson/Lagrandeur, W, def. Whitehead/Deister, W, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5; McCrumb/Hovenkotter, P, def. Cooper/Lipko, P, 6-1, 6-4

Semifinals: Jacobson/Lagrandeur, W, def. Roberts/Roberts, P, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2; Butts/Taylor, B, def. McCrumb/Hovenkotter, P, 6-2, 6-4

Finals: Butts/Taylor, B, def. Jacobson/Lagrandeur, W, 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3

Girls singles

Championship: Mee, L, def. Menegazzi, W, 6-3, 6-1

Quarterfinals: Bosic, B, def. Rochin, P, 6-1, 6-4; Sekecri, W, def. Reilly, P, 6-2, 6-1

Semifinals: Klundt, W, def. Bosic, B, 6-4, 6-1; Marcille, CF, def. Sekecri, W, 6-3, 6-4

Finals: Klundt, W, def. Marcille, CF, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4

Girls doubles

Championship: Erickson/Hislop, P, def. Grebetz/York, P, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4

Quarterfinals: Ward/Rochin, P, def. Lepper/Barrett, B, 6-1, 6-1; Cullen/Birgensmith, W, def. Wirth/Peterson, B, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5

Semifinals: Ward/Rochin, P, def. Newman/Dinning, L, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-1; Averill/Thurman, B, def. Cullen/Birgensmith, W, 6-1, 6-3

Finals: Averill/Thurman, B, def. Ward/Rochin, P, 6-4, 0-6, 6-3