Clean sweep: Polson netters serve up divisional titles
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POLSON — The Polson boys’ and girls’ tennis teams made history last week. For the first time, both teams won divisional titles in the same year. It’s the sixth straight year the girls have claimed the honor, but according to head coach Bob Hislop, it’s the first for the boys since 2005.
“It’s very exciting,” said Hislop, who’s in his 21st year coaching Polson tennis.
And with nearly all the varsity athletes headed to the State tournament, the season will go down as at least a tie for the best in Polson tennis history, he added. The combined record for the boys and girls is 31-3; the girls only lost once all season and the boys twice.
After battling through several early rounds Thursday in the Northwestern A Divisional Tournament hosted by Polson, the home team was clearly on top. On Friday, three of four championship matches featured Polson players pitted against each other.
Lady Pirates Whitney Zimmerman and Sara Robinson faced off in the girls' singles final, with Zimmerman earning the win, 6-1, 6-0. Doubles partners Mollybeth Hendrix and Kenzie Clay defeated teammates Audra Engebretson and Karmen Borchers in the championship, 6-4, 6-2, while Karly Rochin and Jordan Quinn beat Whitefish's Megan Danzyk and Lindsey Viscomi for the consolation championship.
Brady Hislop won the boys' singles crown, defeating teammate Sam Peel 6-0, 6-1. Hayden Congdon and Dylan McCrumb fell to Whitefish's Camp Kenyon and Connor Ellis, 6-3, 6-3, in the boys' doubles championship. Polson's Will Davey and Ian Laimbeer lost their consolation championship match to Parker Johnson and Miroslav Zvyagelskiy of Columbia Falls.
Zimmerman, Robinson, Kylee Wegner, Hendrix/Clay, Engebretson/Borchers and Rochin/Quinn will all compete at the State A tournament starting Thursday in Great Falls. For the boys, Hislop, Peel and Layne Zimmerman qualified, as well as doubles pairs Congdon/McCrumb and Davey/Laimbeer.
"It's been a joy coaching (the Polson tennis players) all spring," Hislop said.
He noted that community support was key in hosting a successful divisional tournament and thanked everyone who contributed to the event.
Northwestern A Divisional
Friday at Polson
GIRLS
Team scores: Polson 65, Whitefish 21, Columbia Falls 17, Libby 10.
Singles
Semifinals – Whitney Zimmerman, P, def. Mackenzie Thomas, WF, 6-0, 6-0; Sara Robinson, P, def. Gabrielle Stenger, CF, 1-6, 6-1, 6-1.
Championship – Zimmerman def. Robinson, 6-1, 6-0. Consolation championship – Stenger def. Kylee Wegner, 6-3, 6-4
Doubles
Semifinals – Mollybeth Hendrix/Kenzie Clay, P, def. Megan Danzyk/Lindsey Viscomi, WF, 6-3, 6-4; Audra Engebretson/Karmen Borchers, P, def. Karly Rochin/Jordan Quinn, P, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
Championship – Hendrix/Clay def. Engebretson/Borchers, 6-4, 6-2.
Consolation championship – Quinn/Rochin def. Danzyk/Viscomi, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
BOYS
Team scores: Polson 54, Whitefish 29, Columbia Falls 22, Libby 17.
Singles
Semifinals – Brady Hislop, P, def. Layne Zimmerman, P, default; Sam Peel, P, def. Brian Marcille, CF, 6-3, 6-4.
Championship – Hislop def. Peel 6-0, 6-1.
Consolation championship – Marcille def. Leggins, 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles
Semifinals – Hayden Congdon/Dylan McCrumb, P, def. Parker Johnson/Miroslav Zvyagelskiy, CF, 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4; Camp Kenyon/Connor Ellis, WF, def. Will Davey/Ian Laimbeer, P, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (2), 6-3
Championship – Kenyon/Ellis def. Congdon/McCrumb, 6-3, 6-3
Consolation championship – Johnson/Zvyagelskiy, CF, def. Laimbeer/Davey, P, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-2.
