Bigfork Vals Western B tennis champions

The Bigfork Valkyries took the Western B tennis title this weekend in Libby with the top two spots in singles play and second and fifth place in doubles play.

McKinze Shults took first and Kianna Wicklund took second after battling it out in Saturday’s Western B Divisional girls singles tennis championship match, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Alannis Stallknecht and Shelby Scoggins took second to Troy in a tough doubles championship, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.

“Both finals were really good tennis, both teams were really mixing it up, you know trying different things in the match,” Bigfork tennis coach Paul Wallin said. “Bigfork had a really good tournament this weekend, even the two girls that didn’t go played the best tennis of the year.”

Wallin said Wicklund had a tough go of it as she played her way into the championship. Her quarter-final game was played against a Ronan opponent she lost to in season play. The game lasted three hours.

Wicklund saw Jane MakePeace in her semifinal which she won in two sets, 6-1, 6-2.

Shults defeated Holli Higgins of Troy in her semifinal, 6-2, 6-1.

Brooke Bonner and Madison Fraley took fifth in doubles play and are headed to state with Stallknecht, Scoggins, Wicklund and Shults.

Stallknecht and Scoggins are out to prove themselves at State, since they didn’t make it out of divisionals last season.

“I’m really excited to go this year because I just want to prove that Shelby and I can do it,” Stallknecht said. “We started out (the season) kind of rough.”

Wallin thinks the Valkyries have a good chance in both doubles and singles play at State this year.

All six Vikes automatically qualified for state this year because this was the last year the boys side won’t have a Western B Divisionals tournament to qualify in.

Colter Mahlum is one of the top seeds going into state tournament singles play.

“I hope I can win. I think I can win,” Mahlum said. I got fifth (in State) last year, so I guess I feel like this is my year.”

Mahlum went 4-0 last weekend at a friendly tournament. Wallin feels like Mahlum is ready to play a good tournament and fight for a chance at the title.

Bigfork’s tennis teams loaded the bus Monday night after practice to head to State. The state tournament kicked off Tuesday in Missoula and runs through Thursday.