Teaming up for a tourney

ST. IGNATIUS - Every Tuesday during the offseason, Mission High School tennis coach Kimimi Ashley has open courts for her players at the high school.

"That's good for them," she said. "If they come, there's always someone to hit with."

For Good Old Days last weekend, Ashley decided to up the ante by hosting the "Wimp"leton Tennis Tournament. While it was a small tournament, it was a chance to get a few of the 25 players on the team some competitive reps.

"It was fun even though it was small. I hope it grows," Ashley said. "We've tried starting regular ones before. If we can grow, it becomes something that people can do during Good Old Days."

After a three-hour battle with St. Ignatius senior and 2010 state champion Spencer Ahlborn, Ashley took first place in the tournament with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Ahllborn.

"He's a smart player," she said. "He can sit out there and out think people."

Ahlborn took second, while sophomore Kyle Schock took third place.

"He's really into it and really smart," Ashley said of Schock.

Shock's older sister, Emily, played tennis and got him hooked. He's been playing for six years.

"I can clear my mind of everything else," Schock said. "When you first start out it's all work, then it's all fun."

Freshman Karl Daniels took forth and is also from a tennis family. His brother Hugh Daniels plays tennis at the University of Montana.

"The tough part is trying to get the right footwork," Daniels said. "I practice a few times a week with my dad."

Tournaments like these will help Daniels and the others learn important lessons for the upcoming season.

"When you see people out there playing, it looks so easy, and it's not," Ashley said.

Results:

1st place

Kimimi Ashley,

def. Kyle Schock 6-0, 6-0

def. Karl Daniels 6-0, 6-1

def. Spencer Ahlborn 6-0,

6-2

2nd place

Spencer Ahlborn

def. Kyle Schock 6-2, 6-0

def. Karl Daniels 6-1, 6-0

3rd place

Kyle Schock

def. Karl Daniels 6-4, 6-4

4th place

Karl Daniels