By Rob Everingham
by Rob Everingham
The Havre Daily News
Monday, May 17
Chester took top honors in both the single and doubles competition at the North-East B-C Divisional tennis meet held in Havre Friday and Saturday.
April Stubbs finished tops in the singles bracket, as she downed Janie Kelley of Chinook 6-2, 6-1 for the win. In doubles competition, the team of Devan Lalum and Nicole Anderson faced teammates Kali Wicks and Lisa Wickum in the finals, winning 6-0, 6-4.
In other singles action for the Coyotes, Sunni Spicher took fourth in the consolation final after loosing to Stubbs in the semifinals. Teresa Muncey also came back through the consolation rounds and finished sixth. Kali Nelson fell in the first round and then in the second.
Chester coach Bruce Cook said he was very pleased with the performances of all his athletes.
Cook said he was pleased with the mental toughness of Lalum and Anderson. Losses never seems to faze them, he said. Cook said Stubbs is the same way.
During the doubles final, Cook said, he had to go to the other side of the courts and not rout for one team or the other.
Now, Cook said, they are looking forward to state and the athletes want to get back to work on Monday.
They enjoyed it, but its not over. We still have one more goal to accomplish, Cook said.
Chinook came away with a second place in the singles, as Janie Kelley made her way to the finals. In the semi-finals, Kelley faced Lacey Schultz of Fort Benton and won in a close match 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. Beeter coach Brent Schellin called it Kelleys defining moment, as the two had split their matches during the regular season.
In doubles, the Beeter just missed out on a chance to go to state as the team of Cassie Jergeson and Kelsie Whitney took sixth and fell in their match, 6-4, 6-7 (7-2), 6-4.
Other singles players for Chinook were Bonnie Hall and Mandy Harbolt, who both lost out in two games. In other doubles action for Chinook, it was the team of Savannah Brown and Kelsie Altenhofen lost out in two rounds.
Schellin said Kelley played a real great match against Schultz, and was tired for the Stubbs. Schellin said the doubles teams were hoping to pull some upsets, and they did not quit.
Were a little young and too inexperienced, Schellin said.
Schellin said they got some very good experience this weekend and, with a young team, they should be stronger next year. The Beeters have seven freshman and three sophomores out of 13 girls.
As far as state and Kelley, Schellin said he is looking forward to it. He said out of the 32 players Kelley should be in the top 15.
Were hoping to be higher than that, Schellin said.
Big Sandy got a pair of girls qualified for state as Amanda Pokorny and Darice Grass took fourth place, losing in the consolation finals 6-1, 6-3. The other doubles team from Big Sandy of Michelle Fell and Heather Paul lost out in two matches.
In singles play for the Pioneers, it was Sherri Upham losing a close match in the first round and then lost by default in the consolation round. Laura Edwards also fell in the first round but came back to win one in the second before being put out. It was the same for Candi ONeal as she lost in the first round. ONeal won a consolation game before falling in the consolation round.
