Bulldogs take down Loggers, Wildcats
The Bulldogs dropped conference foes Libby and Columbia Falls last week, but fell in a nonconference battle with Flathead.
Whitefish swept Libby on Tuesday and beat Columbia Falls 6-1 on Thursday.
Flathead handed the Dogs their lone loss of the week, 5-3.
Brendan Buls and the duos of Mark Anderson and Colter Upton and Ian Calaway and Carver Gilman picked up the team’s wins against the Braves.
All of them went undefeated on the week.
Head coach Chris Schwaderer said despite the score, it was nice to get a shot at a Class AA team at this point in the year.
“That was a fun match,” he said. “Even though we lost, a lot of the matches I thought were really close.”
Schwaderer pointed to Buls’ play so far this year, saying he saw things continue to come together in the Flathead match on Thursday.
“I was really happy to see how Brendan Buls played at No. 1 singles. He just continues to have a really solid game. He’s playing his match and playing his style and trying to dictate the pace of the matches, which I think is important as we get deeper in the season,” Schwaderer said.
This week is traditionally a turning point in Schwaderer’s eyes.
On Friday they’ll take on Hamilton and Corvallis in a doubleheader, and the following day they’ll get even more court time at the Bitterroot Invitational.
As the season inches toward divisionals and the state tournament, Schwaderer says he’s comfortable with how his guys are playing right now.
“I think the doubles are really looking pretty solid right now from top to bottom. This is going to be a really good chance for us to play a lot of tennis. It’s a good chance for the doubles teams to really get to know each other,” he said. “As far as singles, we’ve got a couple of experienced kids at one and two. We’re still a little bit unsure about what that bottom part of that lineup is going to look like. But this weekend should really help us to firm up how we’re going to look in May.”
Whitefish 6, Columbia Falls 1
SINGLES — Brendan Buls, W, def. John Gilk, 6-0, 6-0; Jayce Cripe, W, def. Niels Getts, 6-0, 6-4; Trey Perkins, CF, def. Jack Robertson, 6-4, 6-1; Highland Lee-French, W, def. Malachi Brower, 6-0, 6-4.
DOUBLES — Mark Anderson/Colter Upton, W, def. Camryn Lingle/Dillin Washington, 6-2, 6-1; Carver Gilman/Ian Calaway, W, def. Colton Byrd/Bobby Dewbre, 6-0, 6-1; Joe Brandt/Jackson Carson, W, def. Caleb Reinsberg/Greg Williamson, 6-2, 6-2.
Flathead 5, Whitefish 3
SINGLES — Buls, W, def. Ethan Hawkins, 6-1, 6-0; Joston Cripe, F, def. Jayce Cripe, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; Ryan Thomsen, F, def. Robertson, 6-2, 6-2; Gabe Felton, F, def. Lee-Cripe, 6-1, 6-2.
DOUBLES — Anderson/Upton, W, def. Nolan White/Brett Thompson, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5; Calaway, Gilman, W, def. Brian Wells/David Marburger, 6-2, 6-3; Liam Rehbein/Evan Sevaly, F, def. Brandt/Carson,7-6, (7-4), 6-2; Owen Shilling/Drew Lowry, F, def. Pierce Janssen/Tate Brenda, 6-2, 7-5.
Tuesday At Libby Whitefish 7, Libby 0
SINGLES — Buls, W, def. Zach Carter, 6-0, 6-0; Cripe, W, won by forfeit; Robertson, W, won by forfeit; Lee-French, W, won by forfeit.
DOUBLES — Anderson/Upton, W, def. Cayman Lee/Ryker McElmurry, 6-1, 6-0; Calaway/ Gilman, W, def. Trey Thompson/Colton Halvorson, 6-1, 6-0; Carson/Brandt, W, def. Tyler Serna/Ryan Collins, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.