Tennis teams begin year with wins over CFalls

The Whitefish tennis boys and girls teams both defeated Columbia Falls last week by 5-2. The Bulldogs also played Dillon and Polson over the weekend.

“We got off to a slow start, it seemed like most every match the first set was a little rough and then I was impressed with the way the kids were able to just kind of dial it in for the second set… They really settled themselves nicely going into the second set (in Columbia Falls),” Whitefish coach Chris Schwaderer said.

Against Columbia Falls, the boys team saw success in all three of their doubles matches. At No. 1 doubles, Whitefish’s Mason Kelch and Jesse Burrough, both returning state qualifiers from last season, teamed up to take down Wildcats Will Pickard and Dale Blickhan in a three-set match. The Bulldog team won 7-6, 7-3, 6-3.

For singles play, Bulldog No. 1 player Jack Oehlerich, a freshman, put up a fight over CFalls’ Jax Ramage but ended up losing 6-3, 6-7 (7), (10-6). Whitefish got two more wins out of their No. 3 and 4 players Reid Pickert and Logan Hyland.

For the girls, Whitefish’s No. 1 doubles team of Ainsley Scott and Maggie Mercer defeated Wildkats Katie Crockett and Eloise McKeon, 6-3, 6-2. Whitefish went on to sweep the doubles play with wins from the team of Zoey Marzo and Gretel Vine, 6-0, 6-0, and Colby Wharton and Lizzy Holien, 6-2, 6-3.

In singles, Columbia Falls’ No. 1 player Cloey Ramage took down Bulldog Alivia Lusko in straight sets and in the No. 2 spot Wildkat Lexi Oberholzter won over Katherine Eckstom. Whitefish’s Camry Kelch, a freshman, defeated Zoey Byrd and Bulldog Fiona Shannahan won over Aliyah Arends.

Over the weekend the tennis teams played Dillon and Polson. The boys team won over Dillon 6-1, but lost to Polson 5-2; a number of the matches against Polson went three sets.

“The one thing that impressed me most about the whole weekend was just how well they improved, every game, every set they’re getting better,” Schwaderer said. “It’s just nice to be out on the courts.”

The team of Kelch and Burrough had a nice win over Dillon and an even more convincing win, 6-3, 6-3, over Polson. At No. 1 singles, Oehlerich lost both matches for Whitefish, but Schwaderer says he’s just getting started and is improving each day.

“He’s definitely developing, he’s young,” Schwaderer said. “I told him, he’s going to take some lumps this year, he’s 0-3 right now, but he is just improving dramatically… I think its going to be a really positive thing for him.”

The girls scores were not available against Polson and Dillon.

This week Whitefish was set to play in Libby on Tuesday after press time and will play in Ronan on Friday.

GIRLS

Whitefish 5, Columbia Falls 2

Singles - Cloey Ramage (CF) def. Alivia Lusko, 6-0. 6-0; Lexi Oberholzter (CF) def. Katherine Eckstrom, 6-2, 6-0, Camry Kelch (WF) def. Zoey Byrd, 6-1, 5-7, (10-7); Fiona Shannahan (WF) def. Aliyah Arends, 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles - Ainsley Scott/Maggie Mercer (WF) def. Katie Crockett/ Eloise McKeon, 6-3, 6-2; Zoey Marzo/Gretel Vine (WF) def. Fiona Bryant/Poppie Payne, 6-0, 6-0; Colby Wharton/Lizzy Holien (WF) def. Merrick Fairchild/Maggie Day, 6-2, 6-3.

BOYS

Whitefish 5, Columbia Falls 2

Singles - Jax Ramage (CF) def. Jack Oehlerich, 6-3, 6-7 (7), (10-6); Logan Heupel (CF) def. Aydin Mulholland, 6-2, 6-1; Reid Pickert (WF) def. Karson Warren, 4-6, 6-1 (10-4); Logan Hyland (WF) def. Rafe Rusche, 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles - Mason Kelch/Jesse Burrough (WF) def. Will Pickard/Dale Blickhan, 7-6, 7-3, 6-3; Dane Hunt/Johnny Nix (WF) def. Oliver McDonald/Silas Ypma 6-4, 6-3; Buren Brust/Walt Siegmund (WF) def. William Oberholtzer/Isaac Crockett, 6-1, 6-0.