Lady Bulldogs sweep C-Falls to open season

The Lady Bulldogs finally got out on the court last week after weather delayed the season start.

Whitefish took down Columbia Falls 7-0 in its opening dual last Tuesday before heading down to Polson to compete in a weather-adjusted Cut Bank Invitational over the weekend.

Against Columbia Falls, it was highlights all around in the sweep.

Head coach Patrick Dryden said he was happy with how his kids looked for their first time out.

“Considering we haven’t been outside all year long, I was really pleased with how we performed,” he said.

Over the weekend, however, the team got some real competition.

Whitefish fell to Polson 5-2 but took down Cut Bank, Libby and Loyola.

While the team lost to the Lady Pirates, Dryden pointed to the No. 1 doubles win by Olivia Potthoff and Aubrey Hanks over Katy Garate and Taylor Jarrett as a highlight of the day.

Dryden said the Polson doubles team is expected to be a state-level competitor, so getting that win is a big early season victory.

A lot of tiebreakers over the weekend was also good to see, Dryden said.

“I think that’s good. The more of those you experience, the more comfortable you are,” he said.

This week Whitefish took on Ronan on Tuesday after press time. They’ll head to Libby on Friday for a rematch — sort of.

Dryden said while it’s nice his team beat Libby over the weekend, it wasn’t a full team. He is excited for the battle that will take place on Friday, though.

“We beat Libby 6-1 last weekend, and that’s very misleading, because they were missing almost their entire team, so we basically played a Libby JV,” he said. “I’ve been coaching 20 years, this will be the best Libby girls team I’ve ever seen when they get their whole team there, so that’ll be great for us. I think that’s how you improve your play, by playing people who are a little bit better than you.”

Girls

Whitefish 7, Columbia Falls 0

Singles — Claire Carloss, W, def. Anna Pickard, 6-4, 6-3; Aubrey Hanks, W, def. Hannah Schweikert, 6-4, 6-3; Autumn Roalson, W, def. Gwen Foust, 6-0, 6-1; Gracie Young, W, def. Kylee Dougherty, 6-0 6-0.

DOUBLES — Olivia Potthoff/Kit Anderson, W, def. Katy Garate/Taylor Jarrett, 6-2, 6-3; Hunter Grimes/Mackenzie Vick, W, def. Kelsey Wright/Shay Bonny, 6-0, 6-1; Jesse Grawunder/Anna Elm, W, def. Emily Carman/Martina Heupel, 6-0, 6-0.

Cut Bank Invitational

Polson 5, Whitefish 2

Singles — Shea McGuinness, P, def. Claire Carloss, 6-4, 1-6, 10-6; Berkely Ellis, P, def. Bella Wilson, 6-2, 6-2; Josie Peterson, P, def. Jesse Grawunder, 6-4, 6-3; Briana Forman, P, def. Gracie Young, 6-4, 4-6, 10-5.

Doubles — Olivia Potthoff/Aubrey Hanks, W, def. Kyler Lundeen/Qia Harlan, 6-3, 7-5; Kit Anderson/Autumn Roalson, W, def. Sharmaine Zempel/Elizabeth Violett, 7-5, 6-0; Ara Mercer/Megan Rost, P, def. Mackenzie Vick/Audrey Hyatt, 7-5, 6-2.

Whitefish 4, Cut Bank 3

Singles — Claire Carloss, W, def Cidney Claycomb, 8-4; Jaycee Frydenlund, C, def. Autumn Roalson, 8-5; Macee Barry, C, def. Bella Wilson, 8-7 (5); Gracie Young, W, def. Courtney Anderson, 8-0.

Doubles — Olivia Potthoff/Aubrey Hanks, W, def. Riley Bird/Megan Barrett, 8-7 (5); Katelyn Edinger/Madi Seifert, C, def. Mackenzie Vick/Jesse Grawunder, 8-1; Payton Kastella/Abigail Shaffer, W, def. Lily Overstreet/Shamia Schmidt, 8-5.