Shima the hunter at state

by Dylan Kitzan & Leader Reporter
| May 24, 2012 10:00 AM

MISSOULA — The Ronan Chiefs and Maidens wrapped up their first season in Class B with a handful of noteworthy performances at the state tournament in Missoula last weekend.

The best of those belonged to the Chiefs’ top singles player, Hunter Shima, who ran through four opponents to reach the championship match before being downed by Bigfork’s Colter Mahlum 7-6 (3), 6-1. Before that, Shima dominated three of his four matches. Valley Christian’s Cameron Morton was Shima’s first victim, falling 6-4, 6-0. Shima made quicker work of Conrad’s Konnor Bjelland 6-1, 6-0, then rallied from a set down to defeat Creede Garcia of Troy 6-7, 6-4, 6-0. Cut Bank’s Issac Matt was next to go down to Shima, losing 6-2, 6-2.

“He realized he needed to turn it up a notch, he focused and played very smart tennis,” Ronan head coach Gordan Cummings said. “I was listening to others say how he attacked other players’ weaknesses. He dug down for something he needed to do.

“His championship match could have gone either way,” Cummings added. “The first set was a make or break set for both players. Hunter played a fantastic first set.”

Payton Adams won two of his four matches in exhausting fashion, rallying to down Cut Bank’s Jerry Pittman 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in his opening round before ousting Mission’s Felix Sonntag in a loser-out match 6-3, 0-6, 6-3.

“One thing that hurt him was playing only a half a season,” Cummings said. “Next year, he’ll be ready. He’s a fantastic athlete - it’s pretty grueling to play three matches in one day.”

Spencer Sucha and Kyle Yankey both won a loser-out match as part of their state runs, with Sucha eliminating Mission’s Troy Bontrager 6-1, 6-3, while Yankey’s 6-3, 6-2 win took out Gunnar Boose of Bigfork.

“I got to watch each of their last matches and they have nothing to be ashamed of,” Cummings said. “I’m really proud of those guys.”

In doubles action, Daniel Aylesworth and Tyler Anderson opened up with an impressive 6-0, 6-1 win before losing two close matches later on, while Joey Dresen and Ronny Cullis dropped a pair of close matches, 6-0, 6-4 to Valley Christian and 6-4, 6-3 to Loyola.

The Maidens were led by their top doubles team of Katelyn Matkovich and Taylor Courville. The duo downed Chinook in the first round 6-1, 6-3 and won a loser-out match 6-3, 6-3 against Forsyth. They nearly ousted a Fairfield team that finished fifth overall, but were upended by a rally, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 and their only other loss came against the eventual state champs, they second year in a row they’ve battled against future title holders.

“They played well,” Cummings said. “Their match against the eventual state champs was tough, but on any given day, things could have gone differently. They played really good tennis.”

Amber Metzger, the Maidens’ top singles player, and the team of Seri Smith and Darian Blixt-Leo, played in first set tiebreakers in their opening matches, but were defeated in two matches. Metzger fell to Whitehall’s Sophie Grieger 7-6 (4), 6-2 and Cut Bank’s Paige Larson 6-2, 6-2, while Smith and Blixt-Leo were downed 6-3, 7-6 (3) and 6-0, 6-0 against Jefferson County and Troy, respectively.

Looking back, Cummings was thrilled with how his season turned out and is excited for the next campaign, despite losing nine of his 16 players to graduation.

“They’ll be tough to replace,” Cummings said. “I look at where the girls have come in four years and I’ve had a lot of fun coaching them. I’m really proud of all the kids and the work they’ve put in. The underclassmen have come a long way.

“I’d also like to give a special thanks to assistant coach Ryan Wells for his positive attitude,” Cummings added. “He lets the kids know what it takes to win and it’s been great having him on board.”