Lundins take fourth at state

Troy Lady Trojans Katie and Kellie Lundin ended their heralded prep athletic careers Saturday when they claimed fourth in the Class B state tennis tournament.

The twin sisters, who will attend Lewis-Clark  State College in Lewiston, Idaho, entered the tournament on a first-round bye. While that was supposed to be a benefit, the girls ended up waiting three hours before their first match, which they lost to Cut Bank’s Alex Kraft and Duana Gobert.

“After we lost, (Troy Assistant Coach) Steve (Prieve) said we only had to win three games tomorrow and two the next day,” Katie Lundin said. “You know, no big deal. That was a daunting task.”

The Lundins responded by winning all three matches Friday. The girls continued their winning ways against Choteau to begin their Saturday competition, setting up a rematch against Cut Bank.

“That was the most fun match my sister and I have ever played,” Katie Lundin said. “We played with absolutely nothing to lose. We were more aggressive and played a lot better at the net.”

The girls said their goal for the season was to improve on their sixth-place finish at last year’s state tournament. By finishing fourth, they feel fulfilled.

Allison Lundin said it was bittersweet watching her girls put a wrap on their high school athletic careers.

“It’s been a lot of basketball and volleyball and tennis for four years,” Allison Lundin said. “It was fun to watch.”

Also finishing highly in Missoula were Troy’s Bruce Metz and Luke Haggerty. The senior doubles duo finished fifth.

“Bruce was not going to play and then he came back to play with his good friend,” Assistant Coach Nancy Prieve said.

Reflecting on her years with the Lundins, Haggerty and Metz, Prieve said it would be difficult to replace the seniors.

“The girls were very coachable over the years, and all the seniors left the courts saying that was some of the most fun they had ever had. That’s all you can ask for.”