Ronan tennis teams prepare for divisional tourney
RONAN HIGH School Morgan Brooks works on her serves during a recent practice at Ronan High School. Brooks, and her Maidens' teammates, will participate in the Class B-C Divisional that starts Thursday and ends Saturday at Ronan High School. (photo courtesy of Jim Blow)
RONAN HIGH School tennis player Bailey Moss returns a forehand in a recent tennis match. The Chiefs will enter the Class B-C Divisionals beginning Thursday at Ronan High School. (photo courtesy of Jim Blow)
At stake are spots for the Montana Class B-C state tournament, which will be held in Missoula the following week.
Chiefs, Maidens’ coach Jim Blow has expressed confidence in his team headed into Divisional play.
When the Chiefs’ competed in the Missoula Invitational tournament hosted by Valley Christian on May 5-6, Bailey Moss led the boys with two singles wins on Friday and a strong performance in the invitational. Coleman Taylor also swept through his dual matches and battled to second place in the No. 2 singles bracket Saturday.
“Bailey and Coleman earned a lot of praise from their opponents and coaches during the tournament,” coach Jim Blow said. “Their patience and court strategy is impressive. They aren’t the best early-morning players but we’re working on it. Both of those boys are really improving every week and peaking at the right time with Divisionals looming ahead of them.”
Moss is the top seed in the boys singles bracket.
The boys doubles team of Thomas Yellowbird and Garrett Anderson also had a great Friday, splitting their two matches. They opened Saturday with a very good win before falling to two very good teams from Conrad and Great Falls Central.
“Thomas and Garrett were playing extremely well as a team on Friday,” Blow said. “They were level headed and played smart tennis in some tough matches. They lost some confidence early in their final two matches against some very good teams but I’m hoping they realize that they can play with the better teams in the state if they stay focused. When they work together, they really are a formidable team.”
Maidens double tandem gets ready for Divisionals
Ronan’s BreAnna Turpin and Maddy Sevier also looked solid in battling to wins against some good competition. Senior Turpin and Sevier, a freshman who has played singles most of the year, are teaming up to make a run in the post season as a doubles team.
“Both players are really working well together and their progress as a double pair has been amazing,” Blow said. “BreAnna is helping Maddy learn the unique positioning and strategies of doubles. The results have been impressive and they are a fun team to watch.”
Turpin and Sevier swept all of their dual matches on Friday, including a three setter against Broadwater. They also went 2-1 in pro-set matches on Saturday, cruising past Fort Benton and Cutbank teams. Their only loss was an 8-4 semifinal against a very good squad from Condon that went on to win the championship.
Morgan Brooks, Ronan’s lone single entry, lost her matches on Friday and Saturday but is continuing to make improvements in preparation for this week’s Divisional play.