Schnackenberg, Wood qualify for state tennis

Libby High School’s top doubles duo, senior Jason Schnackenberg and freshman Cody Wood, qualified for the state tennis tournament Friday when they finished second at the divisional tournament in Kalispell.

The boys, who are also cousins, advanced to the final match when they defeated Polson’s Tyler Dupuis and Tommy Mercer.

“That team was actually ranked second going into the tournament,” Libby Coach Kyle Hannah said, noting Schnackenberg and Wood were ranked third in the tournament. “They had one less conference loss, but we expected to meet them in the semifinal and show them who the real second-place team was. They came out smokin’.”

 In the final, Libby met Polson’s Dylan McCrumb and Layne Zimmerman. Schnackenberg and Wood fell in the final, 6-2, 6-3, but Hannah raved about his team’s aggressive play.

“When they played them in Libby they took that team to three sets,” Hannah said. “I was very happy with the fact that they played loose and were swinging, not dinking at the ball.”

Schnackenberg and Wood will open play in the 16-team, double-elimination state tournament in Billings with a Thursday match against the Southwest Conference’s third-ranked team.

“I think they have a solid chance at finishing as a top-six team at state,” Hannah said.

Hannah also praised the efforts of his three girls doubles teams. Comprised entirely of sophomores, Libby’s coach sees nothing but good things in the future. The same can be said of freshman singles player Colin Maloney, who nearly qualified for state through the consolation bracket.