Pirates, Lady Pirates get ready for state
POLSON HIGH School’s No. 1 tennis player Cassie Carlyle gets ready for her first round matchup in Kalispell hosted by Whitefish High School Thursday at Kalispell. (Photo by Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
The Polson boys, girls tennis teams qualified a total of 11 competitors as they prepare for the Class A state tournament May 26-27 in Kalispell.
One benefit for both teams is that they will be playing in close proximity to Polson, Pirates’ coach Bob Hislop said.
“It is very nice to be close to home,” Hislop said. “It’s very good that we get to sleep in our own beds and we like that. We would like to take advantage of it when you can because Montana is a big state and some years you have to travel so many miles.”
Hislop acknowledged at state, no matter who the Pirates, Lady Pirates will play, it is going to be “tough” at state.
“We know who we are playing and what is going on and as always, state is going to be tough,” Hislop said.
Hislop said you have to have a strategy for going into state and that strategy is to “keep it simple.”
“As far as strategy, we really work with our players on what we want them to do,” Hislop said. “We talk to them about how they play certain situations versus the kind of team that you have and hope all of those things go according to how you plan them.”
Hislop said he felt some of the higher-seeded players such as No. 1 singles player Cassie Carlyle will have an “easier” time in her quest for a state doubles title.
“Obviously, none of the matches are easy,” Hislop said. “She should have an easier route (to try to win a title). You kind of rest your legs and don’t have to go as many rounds as what you have to go. If you take care of yourself and do the work necessary, I think it helps a ton.”
Hislop said his team’s depth gives his boys a shot to capture state.
“It gives us a shot to win state,” Hislop said. “If a team is able to score 20 to 25 points with eight kids, that gives us many opportunities to score.”
Polson qualified Cadis Chowning/Matt Sitter in doubles, Jaron Morgan/Kaiden Forman-Webster, and Kabe Foreman-Webster/Carson McDaniel. Players that will compete in the singles include Colin Kenney and Johnny Moore.
The three girls that will compete are Cassie Carlyle, Olivia Hewston, and Kyler Lundeen.
“We just have a great group of kids,” Hislop said.