TAKING DOWN THE CHAMPS

by Brandon Hansen & Sports Editor
| April 12, 2012 9:00 AM

POLSON — The Corvallis boys tennis team came into the Mission Valley as the two-time defending Class A state champion but was handed a 4-3 loss by the up-and-coming Pirates Tuesday, April 3. Hayden Congdon and Sam Peel won their No. 2 doubles matchup against Turner Zsupnick and Alma Powell to clinch the victory for Polson.

“For the boys, it’s a very big thing,” Pirates’ head coach Bob Hislop said. “It’s a start in the right direction. I think it showed that we’re one of the teams that can give Corvallis a push this year.”

Corvallis was missing two players in the battle due to spring break, but the Pirates were also shorthanded in the matchup. Polson showed its depth against the state champions that had three of the best five players in Montana by Hislop’s estimation.

“They have a large indoor club in the Bitterroot Valley so they have kids that play tennis year round,” Hislop said. “We have really good athletes and eventually during the season they’re going to catch up to anybody’s level.”

In singles play, Dylan McCrumb dominated Corvallis’ No. 2 player, Josh Venema, 6-1, 6-1 and Sam Kinzle continued the run with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. 3 Mack Reichard. However, Tommy Mercer showed the most resolve in the No. 4 match for Polson, coming back from a 4-6 second-set loss to defeat Cameron Winsett 6-3 in the third set.

In doubles action, Polson No. 1 team of Will Davey and Ian Laimbeer bounced back from a first-set 6-3 loss to Tim Allsop and Drew Meyers to win the second set 6-3. Both teams battled to a close victory for Corvallis, 7-6 after the 7-4 tiebreaker.

“In Will and Ian’s match, it was cool for them to come back like that,” Hislop said. “In both the No. 1 and No. 2 matches, we were down and came back.”

Congdon and Peel’s victory in the No. 2 doubles match clinched the match for Polson. After winning the first set 6-4, Zsupnick and Powell won the second set in extra games, 6-7 thanks to a 7-5 tiebreaker. The Pirate duo showed a lot of mental toughness in the third set and notched the dramatic 7-5 victory.

“That was a huge win and that got us the dual,” Hislop said.

Polson planned to have a dual with Bigfork but in a strange turn of spring break-itis, the only Bigfork player that showed up to play was No. 1 singles player Colter Mahlum.

“Spring break is kids’ time off,” Hislop said. “We’re blessed we have kids that want to be here. We had the entire girls varsity here during spring break and not a lot of teams have that. We’re in a pretty good place but any spring sports coach will tell you that it’s a pain to have the break, but it’s part of the season.”

No. 1 Polson singles player Brady Hislop and Mahlum made up for the lack of matches with an epic battle. After losing the first set, 5-7, Hislop won 7-6 (7-4) and 10-7 for the victory.

“Colter is a long-time tennis kid and he would have played everybody if his coach and I had let him,” Hislop said. “He gave Brady a quality match.”

GIRLS TENNIS

POLSON — Whitney Zimmerman and Sara Robinson showed why they’re the top two singles players on the Lady Pirates’ roster. Polson picked up a pair of wins as a team against Bigfork and Corvallis last Tuesday.

Against Bigfork, Polson completed the 7-0 sweep with impressive wins by the entire varsity roster. Zimmerman, who’s lost just three games and is 3-0 in match play, picked up a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Kianna Wicklund in the No. 1 slot. Robinson picked up a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Shelby Scoggins in the No. 2 singles match.

“Both girls can compete with anyone at their level,” Hislop said.

Jordan Quinn took down her opponent 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3 and Karly Rochin blanked her competition 6-0, 6-0. The incredibly deep Polson doubles squads went to work against Bigfork’s duos. Hislop is rotating all three doubles squads because they’re all extremely talented as players. After Bigfork forfeited at the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles spots, Lauren Dupuis and Tegan Bauer picked up a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Mariah Bradstreet and Alex Hider.

Against Corvallis, Zimmerman posted a 6-1, 6-0 victory over No. 1 Emma Decker. Robinson picked up the “W” in the No. 2 match and Kylee Wegner won in the No. 4 slot. Bauer battled her No. 3 opponent but fell 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).

“With Tegan, it was more about her playing someone with a different style of play,” Hislop said. “Her opponent would just hit the ball back and there was no pace.”

In No. 1 doubles action, Sydney Madruga, who Hislop thinks is the best doubles player in the state, and Megan Lengyel picked up a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Karmen Borchers and Audra Engebretson.

“Madruga kind of caught Karmen and Audra by surprise,” Hislop said. “But they responded nicely. We’re really happy with where our doubles are at.”

Rochin and Quinn picked up a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the No. 2 doubles matchup, and Kenzie Clay and Mollybeth Hendrix notched the 6-0, 6-2 No. 3 doubles win.

“It seems like anytime we play the Bitterroot teams we have a tough time,” Hislop said. “So these two wins for the boys and girls are a big deal for us.”

COMING UP

Hislop and company will travel up to Columbia Falls on Thursday to face both Wildcats tennis teams. For the boys, state tennis player Parker Johnson should be a challenge whether he’s in doubles or singles. No. 1 doubles players Will Davey and Ian Laimbeer and No. 1 singles player Brady Hislop know Johnson well and faced him several times during basketball season. The girls team has two nice singles players and will be a nice test for the Lady Pirates. Hislop liked the opportunity to already face two out of the three conference opponents early in the season.

“It gives us a good chance to size up and play another divisional opponent,” Hislop said.