Bulldogs tennis ready for state
MISSION HIGH School tennis player Warren Castor returns a serve in a regular season match at Ronan High School. Castor is part of the the Mission Bulldogs’ tennis team that qualified for the MHSA Class B state tournament May 17-19 at Great Falls. (Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
The Mission High School boy’s tennis team has all qualified for the MHSA Class B-C State tennis May 17-19 in Great Falls.
According to Bulldogs’ head coach Kimimi Ashley, her boy’s team has improved on a weekly basis.
“They’ve all come a long way in being brand new to the game and the biggest thing right now is that they are getting experience,” Ashley said.
Ashley said her Bulldogs team will face a very competitive field at the MHSA Class B state tournament.
“They have concentrated on their improvement and State experience this year,” Ashley said. “Warren is one of our top tier on the boys team and he will have to fight tooth and nail to get there. That is what is good about where the state of tennis is at right now. We have the capability confidence-wise. He has done doubles last year and this year. He is doing singles this year and that is a totally different game in that respect.”
Ashley said she felt she was “pleased” about how her team performed in order to qualify for State.
“I was more pleased with the way they performed on the court,” Ashley said. “Some of my players are still learning the distance between them and the ball. Our players’ confidence has just grown. Sometimes you look more at the wins and losses and how they’ve grown as a player and a young man. It’s amazing to me and my volunteer coaches. It is fun to watch.”
Bulldogs’ No. 1 player Warren Castor placed first at Divisionals while his teammates Riley Hutchin placed third and Trevyon Carter placed fourth in individuals at Divisionals.
Lalo Bravo and Laurenz Ehlers also qualified for State in doubles.
“Qualifying for State is huge,” Ashley said. “We had one of our seniors and the rest of our team are freshmen. I think the anomaly this season is how good the players are in singles and doubles. It is good for them to see there is no easy path to the State meet.”
Ashley said she is “confident” in all of her players as they enter one of the most competitive MHSA Class B State tournaments in recent times.
“Last weekend, we had a tournament and the top players got to see how tough it going to be,” Ashley said. “They are all playing really well going into the State. We are trying to teach them to play to their strengths and work on all of the positives. They have a really good chance.”