Polson Tennis opens season with wins

You can't call it a slow start. Not in the least. But you can call it a snowy one.

“If the kids were affected by the cold, you couldn’t tell,” Polson Head Coach Bob Hislop said. “They performed very well. I was happy with the scores. Early season matches really help the coaches find out what kids need to work on.”

Polson Tennis picked up both boys' and girls' victories over Loyola and Corvallis to kick off the 2023 season. However, Montana didn't relent with the weather, as snow visibly fell on the tennis courts during the contests.

POLSON GIRLS

Against Loyola, the Polson Girls Tennis Team picked up a 5-1 victory, anchored by three singles and two doubles victories.

Clara Todd picked up a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Morgan Neibauer for the No. 1 singles battle. Todd finished third for Polson in the state tournament last year. In No. 2 singles action, Piper Hoxie picked up a 6-0, 6-0 sweep over Loyola's Amalee Schenider.

In doubles play, No. 1 Polson doubles squad of Karli Owens and Hope Morrison defeated Morgan Neibauer and Amalee Schenider by scores of 6-2, 6-0. No. 2 Polson doubles squad of Tia Mercer and Lauren Collinge also downed their Loyola opponents, 6-1, 6-2.

Against Corvallis, the strong singles play helped the Pirates clinch the 5-2 victory.

Todd defeated state participant Dakota Powell 6-3, 6-3 to pick up the No. 1 singles win.

“I thought Clara’s win over Dakota was a great early season test,” Hislop said. “It was Clara’s third match of the day, but she made it through in straight sets.”

Piper Hoxie downed Alana Watt 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 2 doubles matchup.

In the No. 4 singles battle, Collinger downed Corvallis' Lopta Schildt, 6-1, 6-2.

In doubles action, No. 3 doubles squad of Hope Morrison and Josie Henriksen trounced Corvallis' Annalee Renose and Kiley Debuff 6-0, 6-2.

POLSON BOYS

Against Loyola, Polson's Chris Lake pulled out a classic 4-6, 6-4, 10-3 win over Sam Caras in No. 2 singles action to help secure the 3-0 win.

Fifth-place finisher at state, Torrin Ellis, picked up the No. 1 singles win over Loyola's Nathaniel Read-Smith 6-1, 6-0.

“Torrin and the doubles had a great day,” Hislop said.

The doubles squad of Tate Barentsen and Ruger Ellis won for Polson in a battle, 7-6(3), 6-7(6), and 11-9.

Against Corvallis, Polson notched a 6-1 victory over their fellow Class A foe.

Ellis swept the No. 1 singles matchup 6-0, 6-0 over Christoper Jessop. In No. 2 singles action, Polson's Tate Barentsen defeated Jackson Chavez 6-0, 7-5. In No. 4 singles action Polson's Noah Trsoper defeated Hadley Jessop 6-0, 6-1.

Polson's No. 1 doubles team of Brock Henriksen and Trent Wilson defeated Grant Wilcox and Emmet Allsop 6-1, 7-6(3). The No. 2 doubles squad of Owen McElwee and Colter Wilson defeated Corvallis' Brannon Fehr and Christian Gividen 6-0, 6-0. To round things out, the No. 3 doubles squad of Taegen Gage and Branson Moss downed their Corvallis foes 6-2, 6-0.

Saturday, March 25, at Polson

Polson vs. Loyola

Boys

Polson 3-0

Torrin Ellis(P) def. Nathaniel Read-Smith 6-1 6-0

Chris Lake(P) def. Sam Caras 4-6 6-4 10-3

Tate Barentsen- Ruger Ellis(P) def. Nathaniel Read Smith – Sam Caras – 7-6(3) 6-7(6) 11-9

Girls

Polson 5-1

Clara Todd(P) def Morgan Neibauer 6-1 6-1

Piper Hoxie(P) def. Amalee Schneider 6-0 6-0

Tammy Nguyen def. Addison Bahr(P) 7-6 (3)

Josie Henriksen(P) def. Annie Caras 6-1 6-1

Karli Owens-Hope Morrison(P) def. Morgan Neibauer-Amalee Schneider 6-2 6-0

Tia Mercer-Lauren Collinge(P) def. Tammy Nguyen – Annie Caras 6-1 6-2

Polson vs. Corvallis

Boys

Polson 6-1

Torrin Ellis(P) vs Christopher Jessop 6-0 6-0

Tate Barentsen(P) def Jackson Chavez 6-0 7-5

Braden Gaeger def. Chris Lake(P) 4-6 7-5 10-6

Noah Trosper(P) def. Hadley Jessop 6-0 6-1

Brock Henriksen-Trent Wilson(P) def. Grant Wilcox-Emmet – Allsop 6-1 7-6(3)

Owen McElwee-Colter Wilson(P) def Brannon Fehr Christian Gividen 6-0 6-0

Taegen Gage-Branson Moss(P) def. Gabriel Stroud-Atticus Chavez 6-2 6-0

Girls

Polson 5-2

Clara Todd(P) def. Dakota Powell 6-3 6-3

Piper Hoxie(P) def. Alana Watt 6-2 6-2

Kenzie Bartel(P) won by forfeit.

Lauren Collinge(P) def. Lopta Schildt 6-1 6-2

Brecklyn Jessop def. Tia Mercer-Karli Owen(P) 6-1 4-6 10-3

Johanna Muscheid-Ara Wilcox def. Addison Bahr-Mary Agliano(P) 6-4 6-0

Hope Morrison – Josie Henriksen(P) def. Annalee Reynosa-Kiley Debuff 6-0 6-2