By Boots Gifford
The 5th annual Bob Crowe Memorial racquetball tournament attracted 69 competitors from around the state. The three-day event opened Friday evening with the championship round held on Sunday.
The Bob Crowe Memorial Sportsmanship award went to Robby Gunderson of Butte and Debbie Friesen of Sunburst. Havres Ty Hedalen was awarded the most improved player award and received a $50 gift certificate sponsored by Dave Andrews of Medicine Hat.
Havres Lance Reithmeier placed second in the mens open, falling to reigning state champion John Kennis of Butte.
Reithmeier paired with Boots Gifford of Havre to top the mixed doubles division with a win in the finals over Bucky Lindstrand of Great Falls and Carrie Rule of Helena. Reithmeier also claimed the consolation final in mens open doubles partnered with Gunderson, while Gifford was second in the womens B/C.
Havres Don Roseberg captured the Mens B title with a victory over Walt Mackin of Helena
In the mens C division, Havre Highs Dusty Heath topped Cut Banks Jeff Olson.
Emi Sasaki, Havre, defeated Friesen for the womens B/C consolation win. Sasaki, paired with Susan Benner, Havre, placed second in the womens doubles.
In the novice division, Hedalen downed Brett Cline of Cut Bank for the title.
Kyle Baltrusch, Havre, was second in the juniors bracket.
Mens Open:
Championship: John Kennis, Butte over Lance Reithmeier, Havre (score not available)
Consolation finals: Dennis Prody, Helena over Ron Brenna, Havre, 15-6, 8-15, 11-4
Mens A
Championship: Jay Mook, Medicine Hat over Dennis Prody, Helena, 15-12, 15-6
Consolation finals: Joe Sisk, Helena, over Toby Shannon, Butte, 15-6, 15-13
Mens B
Championship: Don Roseberg, Havre over Walt Mackin, Helena, 15-9, 15-12
Consolation finals: Randy Deck, Helena, over Toby Shannon, Butte11-9, 11-3
Mens C
Championship: Dusty Heath, Havre, over Jeff Olson, Cut Bank, 15-13, 15-4
Consolation finals: Bart Wilson, Havre vs. Kyle Lammerding, Havre (yet to be played)
Womens Open (round robin)
1. Kathy Schmauch, Kalispell
2. Carrie Rule, Helena
3. Janet Kessler, Helena
Womens B/C
Championship: Karla Kemm, Kalispell over Boots Gifford, Havre, 14-15, 15-4, 11-4
Consolation final: Emi Sasaki, Havre, over Debbie Friesen, Sunburst,15-11, 14-15, 11-4
Novice
Championship: Ty Hedalen, Havre over Brett Cline, Cut Bank, 11-4, 11-3
Consolation finals: Josh Pyette, Cutbank over Kyle Baltrusch, Havre, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7
Juniors
Championship: Brett Cline, Cutbank over Kyle Baltrusch, Havre (score not available)
Consolation finals: Cody Pyette, Cutbank over Bryan Heath, Havre,11-0, 11-2
Mixed Doubles
Championship: Lance Reithmeier/Boots Gifford, Havre over Bucky Lindstrand, Great Falls/Carrie Rule, Helena, 15-7, 15-11
Consolation finals: Karla Kemm/Dan Schmauch, Kalispell, by forfeit
Mens Open doubles
Championship: Clay Morse, Billings/John Kennis, Butte over Bucky Lindstrand, Great Falls/Roger Rowsey, Helena, 15-13, 15-14
Consolation finals: Lance Reithmeier, Havre/Robby Gunderson, Butte over Jay Mook, Medicine Hat/Al Williams, Bozeman, 21-18
Mens B/C doubles
Championship: Jerry Paddock/Ken Stephens, Helena over Don Roseberg, Havre/Gary Friesen, Sunburst
Consolation finals: Jason Sinclair, Havre/Walt Mackin, Helena by forfeit
Womens doubles
Championship: Carrie Rule/Janet Kessler, Helena over Susan Benner/Emi Sasaki, Havre, 15-12, 15-8
Consolation finals: Brett Cline/Cody Pyette, Cut Bank, over Debbie Friesen, Sunburst/Anna Toner, Havre, 11-8, 11-5
