Polson Tennis: CONFERENCE CRUSHERS

POLSON — With divisionals looming, the Pirates and Lady Pirates picked up some impressive wins against their conference opponents that reinforced the notion they’ll be heavy favorites at the Northwestern A Divisionals May 17-18 in Polson. Whitefish got swept 7-0 by both the boys and girls teams, while the Columbia Falls girls were swept 7-0 and the boys lost 5-2.

POLSON — With divisionals looming, the Pirates and Lady Pirates picked up some impressive wins against their conference opponents that reinforced the notion they’ll be heavy favorites at the Northwestern A Divisionals May 17-18 in Polson. Whitefish got swept 7-0 by both the boys and girls teams, while the Columbia Falls girls were swept 7-0 and the boys lost 5-2.

“The kids have a lot of confidence against the division,” Polson head coach Bob Hislop said. “In my years of coaching here I can’t remember a time where we swept Whitefish 7-0, 7-0.”

That would be 10-time state champion Whitefish, which Polson faced on Thursday and both No. 1 singles players Brady Hislop and Whitney Zimmerman picked up 6-0, 6-0 victories over their opponents.

“It’s very cool,” Hislop said. “We’ve taken our fair share of lumps against Whitefish but I can’t remember getting swept 7-0, 7-0 by them.”

Polson did so well that they didn’t lose a single set against the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs. No. 1 boys doubles team Ian Laimbeer and Will Davey avenged a loss from earlier in the season to Whitefish’s Camp Kenyon and Connor Ellis.

“We worked on a few things in practice leading up to the weekend,” Hislop said. “We focused on consistency and they carried it out beautifully.”

On Friday, the Polson girls swept Columbia Falls 7-0 with Sara Robinson downing Gabrielle Stenger 6-2, 6-4 in the No. 1 singles spot.

“Sara handled her and played fabulous,” Hislop said. “Now Whitney and Sara should go into the divisional tournament seeded No. 1 and No. 2.”

Polson dropped only one more game in the rest of the singles matches, and the doubles teams only lost two games between them against C-Falls. The boys won their dual matchup against the Wildcats 5-2 thanks to singles victories by Brady Hislop, Sam Peel and Layne Zimmerman.

Dylan McCrumb and Hayden Congdon continue to be a powerhouse at No. 2 doubles with a victory while Sam Kinzle and Reed Hovenkotter won their matchup at No. 3 doubles as well.

“Hayden and Dylan have been sneaking along,” Hislop said. “They have beaten everyone they’ve faced and they’re really good. Everyone in the division should be watching them heading into the postseason tournament.”

Polson’s tennis teams also picked up 2-0 dual wins over Stevensville, with Brady Hislop, on the verge of picking up a big 7-6, 5-1 win over James Enzler before rain stopped the match, The first set was decided by a 7-0 tiebreaker.

“As a sophomore, Brady has had to face senior after senior,” Hislop said. “He had a good match against Enzler, who placed second in doubles at state last year. He’s definitely growing as a player.”

The duals were shortened to just two matches because of rain.

“We had kids that were playing in the cold but they weren’t happy when we got rained out,” Hislop said. “Everybody still wanted to play, that’s who we are as a team right now.”

Polson has a combined record of 30-3 on the season, an extraordinary feat between both the boys and girls team.

“We are in a good place right now and we like where we’re at,” Hislop said.

Polson will travel to Libby on Saturday.

Polson Boys 2, Stevensville 0

Singles — Brady Hislop, P, vs. James Enzler, S, 7-6 (7-0), 5-1 (suspended rain); Dylan McCrumb, P, def. Garin McGrann, 6-0, 6-0. Doubles — Will Day/Ian Laimbeer, P, def. Daltin Belcourt/Tyler Pandergast, 6-1 6-3.

Polson Girls 2, Stevensville 0

Singles — Whitney Zimmerman, P, def. Mersadiez Leese, 6-1, 6-0; Sara Robinson, P, def. Kayla Dufresne, 6-0, injury default. Doubles — Audra Engebretson/Karmen Borchers, P, vs. Rachel Coyle/Katelin Hancock, 6-0, suspended by rain.

Polson Boys 5, Columbia Falls 2

Singles — Brady Hislop, P, def. Brian Marcille, 7-5, 6-0; Sam Peel, P, def. Caleb Baumann, 6-2, 6-0; Layne Zimmerman, P, def. Gavin Thelen, 6-0, 6-1; Bailey Griffith, CF, def. Jared Gallatin, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8). Doubles — Parker Johnson/Miroslav Zvyagelskiy, CF, def. Will Davey/Ian Laimbeer, 6-2, 7-5; Dylan McCrumb/Hayden Congdon, P, def. Nathan Gedlaman/Andrew West, 6-3, 6-4; Sam Kinzle/Reed Hovenkotter, P, def. Mike Sandofer/Chris Wittcamp, 6-0, 6-2.

Polson Girls 7, Columbia Falls 0

Singles — Sara Robinson, P, def. Gabrielle Stenger, 6-2, 6-4; Whitney Zimmerman, P, def. Gabby Kellar, 6-0, 6-0; Kylee Wegner, P, def. Micinze Christopherson, 6-0, 6-1; Tegan Bauer, P, def. Hailey Sapa, 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles — Mollybeth Hendrix/Kenzie Clay, P, def. Kiersten Werdt/Courtney Seward, 6-0, 6-1; Audra Engebretson/Karmen Borchers, P, def. Sonesta Billow/Maggie Penasok, 6-0, 6-0; Jordan Quinn/Karly Rochin, P, def. Elizabeth Jackson/Jessica Ream, 6-0, 6-1.

Polson Boys 7, Whitefish 0

Singles — Brady Hislop, P, def. Austin Sattler, 6-0, 6-0; Sam Peel, P, def. Matteo barbuti, 6-3,6-1; Tommy Mercer, P, def/ Holden Roberts, 6-4,6-4; Layne Zimmerman, P, def. Kolter Larsen, 6-0, 6-0

Doubles — Ian Laimbeer/Will Davey, P, def. Camp Kenyon/Connor Ellis 6-3,6-4; Hayden Congdon/Dylan McCrumb, P, def. Sean Janni/Nick Jack, 6-3,6-2; Reed Hovenkotter/Tyler Dupuis, P, def. Simon Kaell/Hayden Eaton, 6-2,6-4.

Polson Girls 7, Whitefish 0

Singles — Whitney Zimmerman, P, def. Simone Craft, 6-0, 6-0; Sara Robinson, P, def. Caroline Carbo, 6-1, 6-3; Kylee Wegner, P, def. Sloan Ellis, 6-2, 6-3; Tegan Bauer, P, def. Anna Carpenter, 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles — Mollybeth Hendrix/Kenzie Clay, P, def. Megan Danczyk/Haley Craven, 6-1, 6-2; Jordan Quinn/ Karly Rochin, P, def. Ryan Chauner/Linsdey Viscomi, 6-2, 6-4; Audra Engebretson/Karmen Borchers, P, def. Maggie Frankino/Lauren Cain, 6-1, 6-4.