Boys take fourth at state tennis, girls seventh
The Columbia Falls boys tennis team took fourth and the girls took seventh at the state A meet in Great Falls last week.
Top finishers for the boys team were brothers Vadim and Miroslav Zvyagelskiy, who took fourth, losing to Dallas Lussier and Aidan Goodman, of Livingston, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3. In singles, Parker Johnson took fifth.
On May 26, Gabrielle Stenger lost in the first round to Mary Conwell, of Hamilton, 6-0, 6-1. Stenger then beat Kristen Parker, of Lewistown, but lost to Dylan Balanda, of Livingston, 7-5, 6-2.
The doubles team of Lexie Bartkoski and Marissa Getts also had a tough time. They beat Jennifer Cichosz and Jade McCormick, of Havre, 6-1, 6-3, but then lost in the quarterfinals to Sydnee Madruga and Lairen Phinney, of Corvallis, 6-4, 6-1.
In the consolation bracket, Bartkoski and Getts beat Audra Ingebretson and Karman Borchers, of Polson, 6-3, 6-7, 8-6 (10-5), but then lost to Stella Quinlan and Kelsey Della Silva, of Hamilton, 6-3, 7-5.
"All our girls played well and represented Columbia Falls proudly, both on and off the courts," girls coach Jerry Smalley said. Smalley noted that Conwell, who beat Stenger, went on to win the state championship.
Smalley also gave kudos to volunteer assistant Jake Ronish.
"Jake did a great job feeding balls and helping with drills this spring," Smalley said.
Smalley said his most valuable player was Stenger. The Wildkat spirit award went to Getts, and most improved was Gabby Keller.
On the boys side, the Zvyagelskiys did well in the opening rounds. They beat Butte Central's Brad Wilson and Greg Noctor 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-1. In the quarterfinals, they beat Eric Troyer and Lane Baumann, of Hardin
In singles, Parker Johnson won his first round match against Ty Albert, of Hardin, 6-3, 6-0, but lost in the quarterfinal against Bob Huppert, of Hamilton, 6-0, 6-0. In the consolation round he beat Justin Jensen, of Havre, 4-6, 6-3, 10-8, and Ethan Bent, of Fergus County, 7-5, 6-1, but then lost to Rusty Burshia, of Hardin, 7-5, 6-1.
That set up a final match against Libby's Alex Cislo for fifth and sixth place. Johnson had never beaten Cislo this season, but at state he got the job done, downing the Logger 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.
"All in all, I'm pretty proud of our boys. The brothers played well," coach Gary Yee said. "Parker was pretty gutsy coming through the back side (of the bracket)."
Yee said there were tough conditions, with 30 mph winds.