Ronan tennis punches ticket to state
RONAN HIGH School boys No. 2 singles player Coleman Taylor was one of the Chiefs that qualified for state. (photo courtesy of Jim Blow)
RONAN NO. 1 singles player Bailey Moss hopes to capture All-State honors as he finished second in the singles competition at Class-B divisionals at Ronan High School. (Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
First-year Ronan tennis coach Jim Blow couldn’t have finished the regular season and started the postseason any better than he did last week. Virtually his entire team qualified for the Class-B state tennis tournament Thursday through Saturday at Playfair Park and the Peak Health and Wellness Club in Missoula.
“I thought we did very well as we had seven players in the tournament and all of them placed, except for one of our singles players,” Blow said. “Basically, we are taking all seven of our players to state and I am really happy about it.”
Blow said he felt his kids have done everything he has asked them to do.
“This is all a coach can really ask for from his kids is that they are getting better every time you go out on the court,” Blow said. “They are a bunch of great and coachable kids. They are the kind of players that you look forward to coaching. (They) take your advice and recommendations and build on their weaknesses and build skill sets.”
The Chiefs’ tennis team consists of contributors that continue to improve, according to Blow. The Chiefs’ No. 1 singles player Bailey Moss took second at Divisionals, and according to Blow, really “pushed” the Darby singles Divisional champion Kyle Wall.
“Bailey pushed Wall all the way to the end,” Blow said. “They are really familiar with each other and Kyle got a little bit of pay back because Bailey beat him in last year’s Divisionals.”
The other players that qualified include Garrett Anderson (2nd place, boys doubles), Morgan Brooks (state alternate), Bailey Moss (2nd place, boys singles), Maddy Sevier (2nd place, girls doubles), Coleman Taylor (3rd place, boys singles), BreAnna Turpin (2nd place, girls doubles), and Thomas Yellowbird (2nd place, boys doubles).
Blow said he has prepared his team as thoroughly as they can for the magnitude Some of our players will be able to see what it takes to be able to play at the upper level. Now it’s a matter of channeling the mental aspect and fine-tuning their tactical ability in order to deal with disappointment that happens in competition. Hopefully, we start out well with every point and get a winning mental edge on the court has been developed well enough throughout the season.”