Polson tennis teams defeat Stevi, Ronan

The Polson tennis teams served up some home cooking, racking up four victories in home matches against Stevensville and Ronan on Thursday, March 27. The Lady Pirates, in particular, showcased their depth and consistency with two convincing wins, while the boys’ squad showed resilience to edge out tough opponents.

Lady Pirates cruise past Stevensville and Ronan

Polson’s girls wasted no time asserting their dominance on the court, dispatching Stevensville 6-1 in their opening dual.

Returning standout Summer Newman led the way at No. 1 singles, overpowering Avery Sacry with a 6-1, 4-0 victory before the match, and several others were called due to weather. Vivian Grainey followed up with a solid 6-2 win at No. 2 singles, and Maddie Lake battled through a second-set challenge to win 6-1, 6-4 at No. 3. Zoe Shroeder made quick work of her opponent at No. 4 singles, notching a 6-2, 6-1 win.

On the doubles side, Polson’s only loss came at No. 1, where Stevensville’s duo of Hulling and Scary squeaked out a super tiebreaker win over Hinkley Moss and Baylee Lemm, 6-3, 4-6, 10-7. But the Pirates bounced back quickly — Josie Henriksen and Karly Smith rolled to a 6-2, 2-1 win at No. 2 doubles, and Lindy Dupuis and Chloe Tucker capped off the win with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 3.

Later in the day, Polson’s girls added another win to their belt with a 3-0 decision over Ronan in limited action.

Newman was nearly flawless again at No. 2 singles, blanking Chevy Reum 6-0, 6-0. Moss followed suit at No. 3, defeating Loren Olson 6-0, 6-1. Ronan’s highlight came at No. 4 singles, where Amy Thoft powered past Kate Johnson, 6-1, 6-1, to earn a point for the Maidens.

Pirate boys hold off Stevi, Ronan

Polson faced stiff competition on the boys’ side, but still came away with narrow team victories over both Stevensville (5-3) and Ronan (4-3).

Against the Yellowjackets, the Pirates dropped their top two singles matches in close fashion. Ruger Ellis pushed Riccardo Slanzi to the brink at No. 1 before falling 6-1, 1-6, 10-7. No. 2 was even more dramatic, as Bransen Moss went down in a marathon match to Jeremy Madruga, 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(8).

But Polson rallied behind a strong performance in the back half of the lineup. Truman Sawyer earned a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles, and Parker Hendricksen pulled off a three-set comeback to win 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(9) at No. 4.

Doubles play proved decisive. The No. 1 pair of Max Violett and Marcus Lucas were in sync, taking down Madruga and Slanzi 6-4, 6-0. The No. 2 duo of Strider Coage and Aristo Cannen came through in another tight match, rallying from a set down to win 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(8). Although Stevensville claimed No. 3 doubles, Polson had already clinched the dual.

Later, against Ronan, the Pirates followed a similar script. Polson’s singles lineup was rock solid again — Branson Moss handled Tristan Burkallew 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1, and Coage notched a straight-set win over Tobias Cantlon at No. 2. Sawyer stayed perfect on the day, dropping only three games in his 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 3.

Ronan’s Rowan Parks outlasted Hendricksen in a tight 7-5, 7-6(4) match to pick up a point, and the Chiefs capitalized in doubles with wins at No. 2 and No. 3. But Polson’s No. 1 duo, Violett and Lucas, remained unbeaten on the season with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 win that sealed the 4-3 team victory.

March 27, 2025

POLSON DEF. STEVENSVILLE GIRLS, 6-1

No. 1 Singles - Summer Newman (Pol) def. Avery Sacry 6-1, 4-0

No. 2 Singles - Vivian Grainey (Pol) def. Nika Hulling, 6-2

No. 3 Singles - Maddie Lake (Pol) def. Jackie Reed, 6-1, 6-4

No. 4 Singles - Zoe Shroeder (Pol) def. Eloise Neprjachin, 6-2, 6-1

No. 1 Doubles - Nika Hulling/Avery Sacry (Ste) def. Hinkley Moss/Baylee Lemm 6-3, 4-6, 10-7

No. 2 Doubles - Josie Henriksen/Karly Smith (Pol) def. Kirrah Anderson/Jackie Reed 6-2, 2-1

No. 3 Doubles - Lindy Dupuis/Chloe Tucker (Pol) def. Gracelyn Godfrey/Lilian Hays 6-2, 6-2

POLSON DEF. STEVENSVILLE BOYS, 5-3

No. 1 Singles - Riccardo Slanzi (Ste) def. Ruger Ellis 6-1, 1-6, 10-7

No. 2 Singles - Jeremy Madruga (Ste) def. Bransen Moss 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6 (8)

No. 3 Singles - Truman Sawyer (Pol) def. Spencer Moore 6-3, 6-1 

No. 4 Singles - Parker Hendricksen (Pol) def. Edward Breussov 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9)

No. 1 Doubles - Max Violett/Marcus Lucas (Pol) def. Jeremy Madruga/Riccardo Slanzi 6-4, 6-0

No. 2 Doubles - Strider Coage/Aristo Cannen (Pol) def. Spencer Moore/Drake Tully 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(8)

No. 3 Doubles - Edward Breusson/Jeremiah St. Germain (Stevi) def. Cade McConnell/Conner Turner 6-1, 6-3

POLSON DEF. RONAN GIRLS 3-0

No. 2 Singles - Summer Newman (Pol) def. Chevy Reum 6-0, 6-0

No. 3 Singles - Hinkley Moss (Pol) def. Loren Olson 6-0, 6-1

No. 4 Singles - Amy Thoft (Ron) def. Kate Johnson, 6-1, 6-1

POLSON DEF. RONAN BOYS 4-3

No. 1 Singles - Branson Moss (Pol) def. Tristan Buckallew 6-3, 6-2

No. 2 Singles - Strider Gage (Pol) def. Tobias Cantlon 6-3, 6-3

No. 3 Singles - Truman Sawyer (Pol) def. Gordon Stewart 6-2, 6-1

No. 4 Singles - Rowan Parks (Ron) def. Parker Hendricksen 7-5, 7-6 (4)

No. 1 Doubles - Max Violett/Marcus Lucas (Pol) def. Brady Hout Koda King 6-3, 6-0

No. 2 Doubles - Mason Parks/Kaden Buck (Ron) def. Connor Turner/Aristo Cannen 6-1, 6-1

No. 3 Doubles - Tobias Wilson/Hayden Tussell (Ron) def. Cade McConnel/Evan Tolley 6-1, 6-2

    Polson senior Branson Moss prepares to serve versus Ronan. (Kaleb Unger/Leader)

    Polson's Baylee Leman makes a backhand return during doubles action against Stevensville. (Bob Gunderson photo)