Polson tennis doubles up for state
Berkley Ellis hits a shot as her partner, Qui Harlan, looks on during a doubles match at the Class A divisional tournament in Polson. The duo are Western A doubles champions. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Beau Decker of Ronan hits a shot during the Class A divisional tennis tournament in Polson last week. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Polson's Claire Todd hits a shot during a doubles match at the Class A divisional tournament in Polson. (Courtesy of Bob Gunderson)
Western A boys doubles champions Torrin Ellis, left, and Michael Smith of Polson are heading to the state tournament in Billings next weekend. (Courtesy of Bob Gunderson)
Four of Polson’s doubles duos advanced to the state tennis tournament this weekend in Billings following the Western A divisional tournament Wednesday through Friday in Lake County.
Polson advanced no singles players to state, and Ronan will send no athletes to Billings.
But the home team dominated doubles play.
Torrin Ellis and Michael Smith defeated Whitefish duo Aaron Dicks and Highland Lee-French 0-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 Friday to claim the boys divisional title.
Meanwhile, Polson landed the top three girls doubles seeds. Berkley Ellis and Qui Harlan defeated teammates Taylor Collinge and Clara Todd 6-2, 6-0 to claim the title, while fellow Lady Pirates Ara Mercer and Megan Rost won out through the consolation bracket to claim third place.
Collinge and Todd had beaten Mercer and Rost 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals.
Poor weather forced an early start to the tournament, and while Polson was the official host, several early-round boys matches were played at Ronan to keep things on schedule.
The Class A state tournament kicks off at 8 a.m. Thursday at Pioneer and Rose parks in Billings.
Western A Divisional
May 19-21 at Ronan and Polson
Girls team scores: Polson, 55; Whitefish, 46; Libby, 23; Columbia Falls, 20; Ronan, 12.
Girls Singles
Championship (both to state): Gracie Smyley (Whitefish) def. Hannah Schweikert (C. Falls) 6-4, 6-0.
Third-place match (both to state): Laneigha Zeiler (Libby) def. Lauren Brown (WF) 6-4, 7-5
Semifinals: Smyley (WF) def. Anyah Cripe (WF) 6-0, 6-3; Schweikert (C. Falls) def. Zeiler (Libby) 6-1, 6-0.
Consolation semifinals: Zeiler (Libby) def. Sierra Lundeen (Polson) 6-4, 6-4; Brown (WF) def. Cripe (WF) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6.
Consolation quarterfinals: Lundeen (Polson) def. Sarah Kinzel (Polson) 7-5, 6-4; Brown (WF) def. Skyler Shima (Ronan) 7-5, 6-2.
Girls doubles
Championship (both to state): Berkley Ellis/Qui Harlan (Polson) def. Taylor Collinge/Clara Todd (Polson) 6-2, 6-0.
Third-place match (both to state): Ara Mercer/Megan Rost (Polson) def. Hirsch/Workman (WF) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Semifinals: Ellis/Harlan (Polson) def. Aaliyah Decker/Alyssa PrettyOnTop (Ronan) 6-2, 6-0; Collinge/Todd (P) def. Mercer/Rost (Polson) 6-4, 6-3.
Consolation semifinals: Hirsch/Workman (WF) def. Decker/PrettyOnTop (Ronan) 6-2, 6-4; Mercer/Rost (Polson) def. Erickson/Martin (Libby) 6-3, 6-3.
Consolation quarterfinals: Hirsch/Workman (WF) def. Pierce/Cunnigham (Libby) 6-4, 6-1; Erickson/Martin (Libby) def. Trieweiler/Gunset (WF) 6-2, 7-5.
Boys team scores: Whitefish, 63; Columbia Falls, 31; Polson, 28; Ronan, 18; Libby, 14.
Boys singles
Championship (both to state): Jace Cripe (WF) def. Niells Gettz (C. Falls) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4).
Third-place match (both to state): Joe Brandt (WF) def. Michael Hollingsworth (L) 6-2, 6-4
Semifinals: Cripe (WF) def. Dillon Pretty On Top (Ronan) 6-1, 6-3; Brandt (WF) def. Gettz (C. Falls) 6-3, 6-4.
Consolation semifinals: Brandt (WF) vs. Jesse Burrough (WF) 6-1, 6-1; Hollingsworth (Libby) def. Pretty On Top (Ronan) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
Consolation quarterfinals: Burrough (WF) def. Brock Henriksen (Polson) 6-2, 6-4; vs. Hollingsworth (Libby) def. Beau Decker (Ronan) 6-3, 6-7 (1-7), 6-0.
Boys doubles
Championship (both to state): Torrin Ellis/Michael Smith (Polson) def. Lee-French/Dicks (WF) 0-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
Third-place match (both to state): Robertson/Kelch (WF) def. Schweikert/Morgan (C. Falls) 7-5, 7-5.
Semifinals: Ellis/Smith (Polson) def. Robertson/Kelch (WF) 6-0, 7-5; Lee-French/Dicks (WF) def. Trent Wilson/Owen McElwee (Polson) 6-1, 7-5.
Consolation semifinals: Robertson/Kelch (WF) def. Gunset/Stagg (WF) 6-2, 6-1; Schweikert/Morgan (C. Falls) def. Wilson/McElwee (Polson) 7-5, 6-3.
Consolation quarterfinals: Gunset/Stagg (WF) def. Vincente Ortega/Larenz Alvarez (Ronan) 6-1, 6-3; Schweikert/Morgan (C. Falls) def. Blickhan/Lang (C. Falls) 6-3, 6-4.
