By Rob Everingham
by Rob Everingham
Chester and Chinook hosted their annual tennis Invitational this weekend here in Havre. The event was delayed some due to the weather and finished up in the dark.
Chester took first place in the team scores with 52 points, Fort Benton was second with 34, Chinook was third with 19. Chouteau took fourth with 10 points, Big Sandy finished fifth with eight points and the Havre JV took sixth with six points.
In the varsity singles, it was April Stubbs of Chester beating out Lacey Schultz of Fort Benton for the title. In third place in the tournament was Janie Kelly over Meagan Wedum of Chouteau.
Chester also wrapped things up in doubles as the team of Devan Lalum and Nicole Anderson beat teammates Kali Wicks and Lisa Wickum for the doubles title.
Sunni Spicher for Chester had a bye in the first round and then beat Kelsie Whitney of Chinook, but fell to Schultz in the quarterfinals. Spicher then returned to face teammate Teresa Muncey, who she beat but fell to Kelly in the consolation semifinals.
Kali Nelson won her first match for the Coyotes, but then fell to teammate Muncey. Muncey had won two earlier round matches before falling to Kelly.
In doubles for Chester, along with the teams of Anderson and Lalum and Wicks and Wickum, it was Kali Matkin and Amanda Kolstad winning their first match, but then losing their second.
In the JV tournament, Chesters Kayla Matkin won the event.
Chester coach Bruce Cook said the meet went really well and he was very happy with the play of Kayla Matkin.
Cook also said the doubles teams played very well and he was happy with all of them.
The Coyotes have just one more weekend and one of the most important tests of the year against Conrad on Tuesday night.
We will be challenged in every game and Im looking forward to that, Cook said.
Chester will end the regular season at the Fairfield Invitational in Great Falls. Cook said it should be a great tournament with great competition.
For Chinook, it was Kelly finishing third. Other Chinook players in singles were Savannah Brown, who lost her first match and then lost the second. Cassie Jergeson had a bye in the first round and then won her first match, but fell to Stubbs in the quarterfinals. Jergeson did come back to the quarterfinals in the consolation round. Whitney won her first round match but fell in the second round. In the consolation round, Whitney won two matches before falling to teammate Jergeson.
In doubles for Chinook it was team of Beth Stucker and Susan Thackery. The two lost their first match and then had a bye and fell in their second match. The other Chinook doubles team of Bonnie Hall and Kelsey Altenhofen had a first round bye and then lost in the second round. In the consolation they had another bye before falling.
Chinook coach Brent Schellin said he was happy the way the tournament started and the fact they got all the matches in. Schellin said the tournament had 24 in singles and 10 in doubles.
Overall, Schellin said he was happy with the overall play and happy with how Kelly played and pleased she took third.
Schellin said the team is young, but still coming along nicely.
Kelly and Jergeson are both in the top 10 in the division and Schellin said they are ready for the divisional tournament.
Everybody is coming along, Schellin said.
The Sugarbeeters play in Chinook tonight, then travel to the Fairfield Invitational in Great Falls this weekend. The Beeters will lose five players due to state music festival this weekend.
Big Sandy was also in attendance this weekend. The Pioneers had Amanda Pokorny win her first match, but lost in the second round. Pokorny lost in the first round of consolation matches as well. Laura Edwards won her first match before falling to Schultz. Edwards then won her next match, but then fell to Whitney of Chinook. Darice Grass had a bye in the first round, but lost in the second round. In the consolation round Grass also lost.
In doubles for the Pioneers, the team of Michelle Fell and Heather Paul won their first-round match, but then fell to Anderson and Lalum. In consolation play, the pair fell in their first game.
