The Corvallis Blue Devils have good numbers out for the season this year, according to boys’ coach Chris Maul-Smith and Mike Fehr, the girls’ coach. There are over 20 boys out for the season and 26 girls playing this year.
Maul-Smith said he has a lot of freshmen playing and a lot of seniors, some for the first time. There is a core group of players, mainly juniors, that is leading the team. Of those, Gabe DeLeo is the No. 1 seed for the boys. Maul-Smith said, “He’s been working really hard all year and it’s starting to pay off.”
The number one doubles team has only been playing together for a month and one, Justin Catanach, has only been playing varsity tennis this year. He has teamed up with Alec Sangster and the duo has been having good success. “They’ve paired off and are real good athletes,” said Maul-Smith. “Alex has played before so they are learning from each other. Justin was a goalie in soccer. So when I say ‘keep the ball from getting past you’ he’s like, ‘alright, I can do that’.”
The Blue Devils went up against a tough Beaverhead team on Saturday morning. Maul-Smith expects Dillon, Corvallis and Hamilton to battle for the divisional championship. Corvallis didn’t have much success on Saturday but Maul-Smith said if everything lines up, they do have a chance.
Corvallis girls’ coach Mike Fehr is very enthusiastic about his team. Emma Picket and Olivia Fehr are the top individual players. Both are juniors but have had quite a bit of experience. Emily Thomas and Kristin Saturday have the top listing for the doubles.
“We are really solid,” said Fehr. “They are all doing a great job.”
Corvallis 5, Butte Central 2 – Girls
Singles: Emma Pickett, C, def. Sullivan, 3-6, 7-5, 13-11; Olivia Fehr, C, def. Burton, 6-3, 6-4; Healy, BC, def. Molly Gale, 6-2, 7-9, 10-8; Esther Jankunas, C, def. Sullivan, 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles: St. John/Joyce, BC, def. Emile Thomas/Kristin Saturday, 7-5, 6-0; Connie Watt/Claire Pickett, C, def. Davis/Weldon, 6-2, 6-4; Joyce/Riordan, BC, def. Bailey Zsupnik/McKenzie Jessop, 4-6, 7-3, 12-10, exhib.
Corvallis 6, Butte Central 1 – Boys
Singles: Gabe DeLeo, C, def. Hartwick, 6-1, 6-0; Cayden Ayres, C, def. Magee, 7-5, 6-1; Andrew Simkins, C, def. Harrington, 6-2, 6-3; Lester, BC, def. Cassons, 6-1, 6-4.
Doubles: Justin Catanach/Alec Sangster, C, def. Johnson/Ossello, 6-4, 6-4; Brennan Williams/Dylan Josey, C, def. Johnston/Petritz, 6-4, 6-2; Avery Walden/Caleb Warnken, C, def. Callahan/Kline, 6-0, 6-2.
Corvallis 5, Dillon 2 – Girls
Singles: McClure, D, def. E. Pickett, C, 6-4, 6-1, Fehr, C, def. Hritsco, D, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, Gale, C, def. Mirgoradskia 6-1, 6-1, Jankunas, C, def. Delosries, D, 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles: Sawyer/Southam, D, def. Thomas/Saturday, C, 6-3, 6-0, Zsupnik/Jessop, C, def. Belderrain/Sandoll D 6-2, 6-0,Watt/Pickett C won by forfeit.
Polson 4, Stevensville 3
Singles: Carlyle, P, def. Erin Bartlett, 6-0, 6-2; Lundeen, P, def. Ashley Eyre, 6-1, 6-0; Speckert, P, def. Brianne Bartschi, 6-0, 6-0; Tavenner, P. def. Emma Blyton, 6-3, 6-1.
Doubles: Shelby Spokas/Jackie Westman, S, def. Violette/McGuiness, 6-2, 6-3; Alex Deschamps/Kayla Eyre, S, def. Perez/Peterson, 6-4, 6-3; Jaymen Beller/Kylie Burlingham, S, def. Croft/Forman, 6-2, 6-4.
Darby 4, Clark Fork 1 – Girls
Singles: Ruthford, CF, def. Kimber Schlapman 6-2, 6-2. Emme Anderson, Darby, def. Courser, 6-0, 6-0. TeAnna Rouse, Darby, def. Prasertsim, CF, 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles: Jessie Finks/Casey Smith, Darby, def. Hopwood/Shaske, def, 6-0, 6-1. Mikayla Weidow/Kayla Lambert, Darby, def. Courser/Shaske, 6-3, 6-2.
Dillon 7, Corvallis 0 – Boys
Singles: Rakich, D, def. Gabe DeLeo, 6-1, 7-5. Leonardson, D, def. Andrew Simkins, 6-1, 6-2. Jones, D, def. Colton Nason, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0. Knight, D, def. Jaymark Liedle, 6-3, 6-3.
Doubles: Nordahl/Wilson, D, def. Justin Catanach/Alec Sangster, 6-3, 6-1. Peterson/Southam, D, def. Josey/Williams, 6-2, 6-4. Leonardson/Sawyer, D, def. Avery Waldon/Caleb Warnken, 7-6, 6-7, 7-3 (6-2).
Corvallis 1, Darby 0 – Boys
Singles: Dylan Josey, C, def. Bridger Ernsberger, 6-0, 6-1.
Corvallis 3, Valley Christian 3 – Boys
Singles: Christiaens, V, def. DeLeo, 6-1, 6-3. Hartzell, V, def. Williams, 6-4, 4-6, 11-9. Matt Powell, C, def. Goldbar, 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles: Catanach/Sangster, C, def. Colwell/ McCloy, 6-1, 6-3. Hawkins/Woods, V, def. Warnken/Walden, 6-3, 1-6, 11-9. Weston Cassons/Julian DeHoog, C, def. Streit/Harkin, 8-6, 1-6, 10-8.
Polson 7, Stevensville 0 – Boys
Singles: Kenney, P, def. David Haacke, 6-2, 6-2; Moore, P, def. Tucker Weber, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2; Forman-Webster, P, def. Sam Hale, 6-0, 6-2; Schultz, P, def. Braxton Craythorn, 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles: Morgan/Sitter, P, def. Haacke/Weber, 6-2, 6-2; Forman-Webster/McDonald, P, def. Ben Hale/Tom Trangmoe, 6-1, 6-4; Chowning/Forman-Webster, P, def. Breneman/Hale, 6-2, 6-0.