Schnackenberg and Wood take sixth at state

While driving the 600 miles to Billings to compete in the Class A state tennis championship, Libby High School’s Cody Wood and Jason Schnackenberg told their coach, Kyle Hannah, that they had already achieved their goals for the season. Considering they were playing with house money, a sixth-place finish is not too bad.

The cousins who double as a doubles duo went 3-3 on Thursday and Friday.

“Their play was up and down during the competition,” Hannah said. “I think they had a little bit of nerves playing with them. They were overhitting at times, and against quality comeptition, your opponent will capitalize on that. You have to place the ball just right or the other side will put it away.”

The Loggers ended their season with a defeat in the fifth-place match to Havre’s Ned Malone and Brian Smith, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.

Hannah said he figured his team was among the top six, and his impression proved spot on. The coach also praised his players for their concentration while playing six games in two days under 82 degree heat.

“The teams that beat them were better,” Hannah said. “I am proud of how they comepeted.”

Hannah, an elementary school teacher, also made sure to find time for history lessons on the long drive, stopping at the old Butte mine on the return trip.

Looking forward to next season, Hannah said he was beyond impressed with the development of his younger players. Citing an unprecedented demand for tennis, he plans to host open-court opportunities for youngsters to improve their skills this summer.

“The tennis bug is definitely there,” Hannah said. “This has been an incredible group of nice, smart and coachable kids that I have enjoyed the heck out of coaching. From where we started on Day One to where we are now, the kids have exceeded my expectations.”

While Schnackenberg, a senior, has played his last match as a Logger, Wood is only a freshman. Joining Wood in the youth movement are fellow freshmen Colin Maloney and Sarah McBride, who Hannah mentioned was making great progress as the season went on.